Easter Monday Tradition

"Smigus Dyngus" or Wet Monday. If you are in Poland or many other Eastern European countries this day (Easter Monday), watch out for buckets of water being tossed about. Traditionally it is a fertility ritual from way back. The custom of pouring water was an ancient spring rite of cleansing, purification, and fertility, and now-a-days, is practiced by young males towards young females. But we were warned that even the opening doors of the city tram sometimes would open to "hoodlums" and their buckets of water.






http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/21/6507371-annual-watering-of-the-girls-goes-back-centuries

the monument to man's best friend

here his name is Dzok, pronounced Jaque, or Jock. This is outside of our apartment.
I just love going by here everyday, someone is always looking at him or taking his photo.
In case you can't tell, it is a dog being held inside a pair of giant open hands.

Wawel's Chakra

We live next door to a dragon, Hank has stated such in his travel blog. And we really do ! And the dragon lives in a cave, under the castle. Wawel Castle's Towers are within shouting distance of our apartment. But the most mysterious aspect of Wawel dwelling is the "chakra stone". To Buddhism, and Hindu followers, I think this would be considered an important site.

Chakra's are energy fields. A place of serenity and self knowledge. There are 7 chakras on the earth. And our dear Wawel Hill hides one of them. Any time that I go into this courtyard there are people standing in the corner, where the chakra is said to be. Or is said to be buried.

All you have to do is absorb the energy. But if you ask the guides about it, they may profess they know nothing about it! This is a Catholic nation, and since there is a national cathedral right here, on the castle grounds, not many believe in the "energy" of the stone.

In the photo, you can see a man leaning against the wall reading a paper. He may be a believer in the energy force. You can see that the area has been roped off. But look to see the wall and how it is discolored where people have been.

All I can say is that when I am there, my teeth rattle.

20 January, 2009

Today we sit here watching the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States. The television is showing Indonesia, Kenya, New York City, and even Memphis. Poland is also watching, with the world.
We are watching with personal interest. Living abroad has opened our eyes to other ideologies, other ways of life. But also renewed our pride of being "Amerikanski" We were proud to send in our absentee votes for the republican candidate. And we are proud to hear our new President tell the world that our country will be strong, and just, and "a friend to each nation that seeks a future of peace and dignity."
This country's, Poland's, freedom was denied them for decades, but not their dignity. Living here has made us more aware of our precious freedom. The peaceful transition of power, is an example to the nations, today Keith's co-workers noted that they had seen the polls that stated 80% of the American people were supporting Obama. It is a strong probability that here, the opposing party would not receive support after an election.
America is a young nation, and I know we will continue to be an example of putting aside our differences, to be united.

A double "toast" to Krakow

These guys walk through town handing out coupons for-

you guessed it - piwo. Hardly ever see two of them together.

And yes, we still have decorations up.

It is still the season, until the 2 or so of February

Our fire breathing Dragon, our neighbor

his name is Smok, "dragon" in Polish

We did, did you?

It took some persistance, but we got the ballot and it has

been sent. We feel very global, living in one place and

having our voice "count" in another...

Pied Pipers

traditional folk musicians, being followed by

one of the many field trips

that visit the Wawel Castle

bread of life

traditional obwarzanek seller

in front of St. Peter and St. Paul's

Lining up for Lody

ice cream is worth waiting for

Skalka Sanctuary

King Boleslav II killed

bishop Stanislav here in 1079,

because the bishop had exposed him

as a excessive tyrannical ruler.

You can still see the blood on the walls

Buggy procession on Grodzka

carrying members of a wedding party

Dragon's Bone

a rib bone?

in memory of Elvisa Presleya

I can't tell you how excited I was when we ran across

this monument to Elvis! We were out riding our bikes

and took a detour to avoid a busy road and there he was!

The name of the street is Aleja Elvisa Presleya,

Elvis Presley Avenue. There is a little tavern

across from the monument, and family gardens

are tucked away along the street.

So, since tomorrow is the anniversary of his death,

this is our tribute to Elvis, from Poland.

I have an entry on our travel blog about Graceland

and tribute week 2007. Have a look

http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Tennessee/Memphis/blog-215191.html

Happy Ending

What would a legend of

Dragon be unless there
were the princesses and

the brave knights?

more draggin' tails

Dragon Day

In May the town celebrates Dragon Day.
In case you didn't know, we have a dragon that
lives at the base of the Wawel Hill,
in a cave under the castle.
A fire breathing dragon, named Smok.

Along with the carnival atmosphere,
by the river, there is a parade through town.
All the schools have entries, of their version
of the dragon.




















The littles kids are recruited
to be the dragon tails! By the time they got around
to our side of the square,
the dragon tails were draggin'!

Planty intersection

Keith has taken to riding his bike to work.

Is this commuter him?

No, but looks like it could be him!

after work

Scripture on the door posts

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart;
ז וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ, וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם, בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ, וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ.
7 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
ח וּקְשַׁרְתָּם לְאוֹת, עַל-יָדֶךָ; וְהָיוּ לְטֹטָפֹת, בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes.
ט וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל-מְזֻזוֹת בֵּיתֶךָ, וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ. {ס}
9 And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates

Book of Deuteronomy


There were decades that Kazimierz was left to deteriorate.
After the war was over
The communists didn't allow the rightful
owners to move back.
Now there is a renaissance going on
and many buildings are being restored.
Some are leaving the door frames
and preserving the places where the mezuzahs were.
(the little diagonal areas held the family's mezuzah)




















I should put a disclaimer here -
obviously I'm not Jewish,
and I don't know how accurate
my statements are. They are only my
interpretations.