Nice to hear from you I thought your trip must be coming to an end about now and was hoping we would hear from you again before you returned home. I love your shrewd and perceptive observations of Polish society and culture. As is your way, you throw yourself into experiencing the way of life of the country you are in including trying to speak the language. I can tell from what you write and how you sound that you have had a fun trip and I'm so glad.
re: Legacies of War Thanks very much for your thoughtful post, Grzegorz. I am indeed aware of the many things you mentioned, but I often find myself writing for a long time and then realising I have to go before I can check that I have gotten everything. I have studied the history and know about the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact and its secret protocols dividing Poland and the Baltic states, as well as the Massacre at Katyn.
I don't think Polish people are anti-Russian in particular (that is, that they hate every Russian) but there does seem to me to be a general dislike of Russia as a whole, with, I would say, some valid reasons. I am also aware of Memorial and have studied Soviet dissidents. You are also quite right to point out that many 'westerners' (including much of 'western Europe' as well as Americans) view all the Slavic countries, other Balkan countries, and the Baltics as automatically 'Eastern Europe' even though, for instance, the former Yugoslav countries are as far west as Greece is, and the Baltics as far west as Sweden and Finland. Poland is I think rightly called Central Europe. The whole East-West thing was always, in my opinion, more political than geographic, and did not fully recognise that there are differences among Slavic peoples. I know this also as I am of Slovene background-- if I try to explaint that it is Slavic, the response is usually, "So, you're Russian?" (or sometimes, "Oh, you're Polish?" or "Do you speak Slovakian?")-- when it is also a distinct place with its own language and culture.
Thank you again for your very thoughtful and thought-provoking reply!
best,
~Nadja
History I don't know much about what happened in Warsaw during the uprising so this was very interesting. It is sad to think that they haven't completed the building for the Warsaw ghetto uprising though.
Happy Birthday Sweetie I'll be back later to read this post properly and take a good look at all the photos, but I just wanted to wish you a very Happy Birthday, sweetie. Have a great day!
Interesting views ! Very interesting reading, Nadja .
We have been looking to the worlds West of us most of the time, but this is very interesting reading indeed.
Beautiful pictures !
Hand Kissing Yes, I remember the delicious food, which after practically starving in Russia, we much appreciated. I remember the kindly and courteous people too. I was desperate to be introduced to a Polish man . . . any man . . . just so I could get my hand kissed:)
Beautiful! Both the insides and the outsides of these buildings are amazing! I love all the intricate decorations. The salt chapel is incredible too - I never knew salt could be so beautiful. Do the mine workers still pray there? Do they have to do anything to keep it from being damaged by moisture? Anyway, I'm really enjoying the blog so far! Sounds like you're having a great time! :)
Wow! Wow, Poland sounds like a wonderful place! I knew Katelyn loved it there, but she didn't go into all these details to explain why. Now I understand how it charmed her. If a place has great food and friendly, courteous, faithful people (who obviously possess a bunch of other qualities enabling them to be such good parents), what else really matters? (The gorgeous buildings are just a bonus. . . .) I really want to go to Poland now ;) I hope you'll add more to this entry - I can't wait to find out more about it! :)
Messy! LOL! How messy of the killers to scatter poor Stanislaw that way. At least we buried Beckett in one piece, albeit somewhat punctured:)
Thank you for the interesting bits of history and the fascinating photos!
Lovely to hear from you! Thank you for the heads up, though I occasionally glance at your blog anyway in case you are off on one of your adventures again:) The pics of Warsaw are a lovely reminder of my own visit to that splendid city in 1973. You mentioned the Royal Palace. They were collecting money to rebuild it when I was there. There were huge glass coffers on the streets. I remember contributing some Zlotys. I would love to see it now it is complete. The Poles are a remarkable people. You will know that, having stood in the old square. It is hard to believe the Nazis razed it to the ground and the Poles have re-built it. Have fun, dear girl and taker good care of yourself.
oh nooo.... Oh no, cockroach! Those things terrify me, and the ones here are usually just one or two centimeters long (and lo, the Sasa did use metrics!)...I'm glad you had a trusty person to help you out, hehe.
Happy Birthday for the 13th Champ! So, you are a native dancing champion now, huh? I'm glad your village adventure was so interesting, and you certainly do your best to absorb the culture, don't you?
I hope you had a lovely birthday on the 13th, sweetie. We didn't post your birthday on the BV boards as you weren't able to get on-line on the day to see it. We'll post you a belated greeting now.
"Shoeful blow" That epic was hilarious! I hope the fun of writing it made up for the parlous dolor of the occurrence itself. And ECOPOLE sounds like an awesome program.
lovely fabrics The tailor-made clothes sound like terrific fun. It sounds as if the fabrics were a bargain too! Are they lovely colours? I'm glad your tum is settling down. I'm looking forward to your village adventures.
Goree Well, you have taught Tom and I something which we ought to have known anyway. The city of Liverpool is just across the River Mersey from us, and in the 18th Century Liverpool's wealth was derived, at least in part, from the slave trade. Down near the waterfront is the place where the slave selling block was located and the busy road that runs across it is named after the block. It is called The Goree and now, thanks to you, we know why:)
So sorry you've been feeling sick, sweetie, feel better soon. I shall report back to all your other cyber-aunts in the BV group, who love to hear of your adventures.
Haggling LOL!!! Nzie, Tom and I are helpless with laughter at your haggling techniques. Pretending to be a Russian student...well that is only half a fib I suppose after your adventures in St Petersburgh and Moscow. I hope you find some lovely things to remind you of this memorable trip.
I've been really fortunate to be able to travel a lot and even live abroad. These entries are largely from college study abroad, but since then I've lived in Moscow, and am currently working in Azerbaijan. Facebook has become the primary way for me to update friends and family, but for my summer internship I'm expected to keep a blog, so it put me in mind of this one and I'll be posting them here as well.
Thanks to everyone who reads and comments!
~Nzie (Nadja)... full info
Linda
non-member comment
Nice to hear from you
I thought your trip must be coming to an end about now and was hoping we would hear from you again before you returned home. I love your shrewd and perceptive observations of Polish society and culture. As is your way, you throw yourself into experiencing the way of life of the country you are in including trying to speak the language. I can tell from what you write and how you sound that you have had a fun trip and I'm so glad.