Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Poland - Warsaw, Krakow & Auschwicz

Spent two nights in Krakow as it would have been a long trip from Warsaw to visit Auschwitz.  Krakow goes back to the 7th century and was the capital of Poland until 1596.  The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  We stayed in an Airbnb and next door was a jewelry shop that had a feather ring in it that caught my eye.  I looked at that for 2 days and then went in and bought it.  Just another instance of John's being there, so many feathers.

I took an early morning walk around the city and saw the walls which in places were 8 feet thick and 32 feet high.  There was a 72 foot wide moat.  Pretty amazing.  Much of the wall was pulled down in the 19th century, but the main city gate "Brama Florianska" survived together with three adjacent towers.


A stately and very interesting building I found on my walk was the The Opera Krakowska. Still active today, it was founded postwar in 1954, but it sure looks older than that.

We took a day trip out to Auschwitz and Birkenau where there is a guided tour.  Of course seeing the grounds and buildings is a solemn event and one that will not be forgotten.  A day to think about what mankind is capable of and it was moving and emotional.  I had been to Dachau, Germany in 1980 with John and that was a day to remember too.   This site has been very well preserved and is again a UNESCO site.

We took a tour of the city in a little golf cart like vehicle with a fun young driver.  He had lived in the U.S. for several years to attend college, but wanted to return home.  It was only the 3 of us so I requested we eat something my Polish friend, Magda recommended. It is called zapiekanka. It is a halved baguette topped mainly with mushrooms and cheese and toasted. Can also order it with other things like meat and veggies.  Known as a French bread pizza.  Our driver knew the best place to take us and in all of my trip to Europe this was my favorite food. I want one right now. We ate several during the week back in Warsaw, but none was as good as the one in Krakow at the round kiosk in the market square. 

Warsaw

My friend Magda was not in Poland but she was so kind to introduce me to her sister-in-law, Ela, who I got to spend time with.  She took me walking and showing me sites and we rode the metro.  That is not something I'd want to do alone.  It is small, but just seemed very confusing.  We had a great walk and went up on top of a university library and had a wonderful view of the river and surrounding area.  We also met one evening and she brought her little baby girl, Milena.  It was a fun evening with a great dinner and a pretty good rainstorm and we had no umbrellas.  A night to remember.  That was so great to get to make such a nice friend and I thank Ela for meeting up with me.

When Mike, Cheryl and I came in via taxi from the airport there was an interesting building that we commented on to our cab driver, saying "Oh wow, that is quiet a building."  His response was something like "that is shit and I hate it".....as it was a building built during the communist years by Stalin.  Interestingly enough, there are 6 or 5 of these Stalin architecture buildings in Moscow.  (I saw several of them when I was in Moscow later on the trip)  They are really amazing.  The one in Warsaw, while hated by many for the memories, is really something to behold.  It really fascinated me and I walked to it and spent quite a bit of time taking pictures.
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/may/08/warsaw-palace-of-culture-stalin-a-history-of-cities-in-50-buildings-day-32

I did have a visit to the doctor, which thank goodness doesn't happen often when I travel.  I was stung by a wasp and seemed to have a sensitivity to that and my hand was really swelling up like crazy and two of my fingers started turning purple.  On the side of caution I went to doctor and was given a prescription and some cream.  That hand itched so bad and I was clawing at it.  Mike would look over at me and say, "Gena, stop that."  So I did while he was watching me and then begin again.  That damn thing itched so bad, but as in all things healing started and it was a real relief.

Krakow:

We took the train to Krakow.  Nice to see the countryside.  Felt that this little city was slow moving and very pleasant.  The downtown is very walkable, cobblestones everywhere and many varied ethnic restaurants.  We spent three days here so we weren't too rush.  We planned a tour day trip out to Auschwicz.  Stayed in a nice Airbnb, and it was right next door to a jewelry store that had some gold jewelry in the window.  I saw a gold feather ring that I looked at every day trying to decide if I "needed" it.  Finally, on my last day I went in and bought it.  Means so much to me, John was there I felt.  It is 3/19/19 and I'm still wearing it.  So glad I got it.

I walked around the city and took pictures.  The old walls are so interesting, along with the huge main plaza.  Grand churches and a lovely park.  We took a tour with a fun Polish guy who had lived in Chicago for several years.  Cheryl's knee by this time was really bad and really not an option to do lots of walking.  We rode on a large golf cart thing and he showed us all the various areas of the city. 


I really did love visiting Poland and would like to go back again.  Actually I did go back to Warsaw when I was going to fly to Russia I spent two days.  I spent a day walking downtown and taking pictures.  I loved seeing the Stalin building up close and took many pictures there.  Actually went shopping and bought a blouse.  The next day I went to the National Museum of Warsaw, a good walk from my hotel.  That evening I met up with Ela and she brought her little baby girl, Milena.  It was a fun evening with a great dinner and a pretty good rainstorm so walking without umbrellas was a wet, but fun experience.  A night to remember.  That was so great to get to make such a nice friend and I thank Ela taking her time to meet up with me.

So guess I still want to go back.  Much more to see and I really do like it there.  I was glad I got to experience the old historic center and then the more central downtown.

I usually buy a magnet and postcard from where I travel, but I could not resist so many beautiful items in Poland.  I bought several pieces of beautiful amber jewelry and traditional dolls and pieces of china.  The colors and designs on their work was irrestible to me so I weakened and had to mail an entire box of goodies home.  I think being with Cheryl on my first time there encouraged me to buy more than I normally would as she is a shopper, but I'm glad I have all my treasurer and while it took a very long time to get my box in the mail, it did finally arrive and everything was intact.

I will never forget my time in Poland as there was a diversity in the areas I visited and it was most enjoyable.  I highly recommend visiting Poland.










FFI Suncoast hosts Long Island

FFI hosting Long Island, New York Ambassadors 2/14 - 2/20/2019

What a great visit we had from Long Island.  A great, perky group with good spirits and happy, ready to go attitudes.

Vicky hosted two ladies, Kathy and Michele, and they were great guests.  We went to the airport to pick them up and as we were parking they called and said they were at the curb.  Nice greeting and we went off to lunch at Molly Goodheads.  We all had coconut shrimp, my favorite and then ventured over to the coolest antique shop ever.  We spend quite a bit of time there.  It was Valentines Day and the shop had decorated sugar cookies from J. J. Gandy (famous of their key line pies), but their pies could not be better than those cookies.  Next non-diet occasion I have I'm going to go get some.  Best cookies I ever had.

That night we had our welcome party of then.  We used a member's clubhouse and it was chicken and then the rest was pot luck.  Nice dinner.  Guests all received bags with information and some treats and water.

The adventures we had and the wonderful trip planned for them by Jane and Gertrude was the best and all the timing was perfect.  I had such a fun time and it was great getting to know some new people.

Day two took us all to Tampa.  I was a day host and drove and stayed with two ladies who were super fun, Brenda and Bobby.  We started at noon at a newer place in Tampa Bay called the Armature.  A refurbished industrial building that formerly housed the TECO streetcars.  They did a nice job and I'm glad they were able to save the building and repurpose it into a hall of food vendors.  Very nice.  They have everything from sushi to nitrogen ice cream.

After lunch, guests hopped aboard the Pirate Taxi and took a tour of the Hillsborough River.  The guide gave out a lot of interesting information and Long Island seemed to really enjoy that trip.

Next on to Ybor City to learn about the history, culture (many diverse nationalities), a visit to the Museum that is housed in the Ferlita Bakery opened in 1896 and was active until 1973.  This museum is fascinating and you can learn everything you want to know about making cigars.

Then on to the main street in town, E. 7th Avenue.  Here you can see cigars being rolled by several "Torcedors" - Cuban word for cigar roller.  There are cigar store Indian statutes that are fun to have your picture taken with.  There is a resemblance to New Orleans with the iron work that is quite beautiful.  There was even an iron works company right in Ybor.

Winding down the day we all had dinner at the famous Columbia Restaurant.  We also were entertained by the flamenco show that was enjoyed by all.

A very full day filled with many different tastes, sights and we all learned some new things about Tampa Bay.  A drive home and a good night's sleep after all that activity.

The list of things done:

Tarpon Springs including St. Nicoles Greek Orthodox Church with tour
lunch at Mama's Restaurant.  The group also went on a boat ride and was shown sponge dividing from the old days in Tarpon - hard hat diving.  It was interesting for our guests.

Each ambassador was treated to two home cooked dinners during their time here which was hosted by members.  I was a first-time dinner host and enjoyed our evening together with the host family, Art and Gretchen, and their guests Jerry and Lori Axinn.  We had lots of fun visiting and they said the dinner was good.

There was a wish day where guests could pick to do something they were interested in.  Many went down to Sarasota to Ringling for the day.  I'm not sure what everyone did, but I'm sure they had a good time.

One day was spent in the St. Petersburg area, but I did not go.  I think that was the day of Sue's Tea that had been planned for a year and I wasn't going to miss that.  Ambassadors were given their choice of seeing our most wonderful Dali Museum, or the Raymond James Western Museum, which is relatively new.  I haven't even see that yet, but hear it is very special.  Since I'm from the West I've seen lots of Western art, but I do plan on getting over there.

Day in Safety Harbor, toured Spa and went to tiny but interesting museum.  This was the last day and it was followed up with a Farewell Dinner.  I think our visitors had a good time and enjoyed themselves.  It was my first time helping host ambassadors and I enjoyed meeting new people and making friends.  We will hope to see them again.


Welcome Dinner for Long Island Ambassadors
February 14, 2019

Vicky enjoying her delish ice cream

Lunch at Armature Works, a pretty new place
in Tampa, was fun with good foods.

All aboard!!!!

Group had a Pirate Taxi ride in Hillsborough River
and saw some of the city from a different perspective.

Dinner at Columbia House

Flaminco show at Columbia Restaurant,
Ybor City


We all had fun posing in front of
the cigar store - a tradition.



Ybor City where the chickens roam free
They sure are pretty

Can use a shot of caramel






Sign in front of Antiques & Uniques

Arrival day, Feb. 14th.  Lunch at Molly Goodheads
and some antique shopping.

Had a tour of Safety Harbor Spa, a place
with a long history

Lunch in Safety Harbor at Bar Fly

President of FFI Long Island, Jerry and his wife
in the back.  Nice folks.  I hosted this group for a dinner.