Category: Uncategorized
-
Poland: Back in the Shtetl Again.
Post No. 6. Kraków (Part 2) May 11, 2023 We had this morning free of East-West Tour experiences. Some of the folks went to the Salt Mines, but I opted for the “Walkative!” tour of “Jewish Kraków.” Met up with our tour guide, Krzysztof, at the Stara Synagoga (“Old Synagogue”) at Szeroka St. #24. The…
-
Poland: Back in the Shtetl Again.
Post No. 5. Kraków and Auschwitz May 10, 2023 This morning saw us on a tour of Wawel Hill and the Royal Cathedral. This was the place where Polish kings were crowned and buried. Can’t remember how many impressive crypts we saw, including those of Wladislaw Jagiełło and his first wife, Jadwiga (who was originally…
-
Poland: Back in the Shtetl Again.
Post No. 4. South to Częstochowa, Zakopane, and Kraków. May 8, 2023. Forgot to mention one item from Sunday. Before heading to Chocolate Land, we attended a piano recital in the Old Town. A Bolivian-Polish pianist named Mauricio Silva played some Chopin waltzes, mazurkas, and a polonaise. Very good; he played much better than I…
-
Poland: Back in the Shtetl Again.
Post No. 3. Warsaw. May 8, 2023. Glad I was able to solve the problem of the photos (whew). Today, we got the full Warsaw treatment. Up and out by bus to Royal Łazienski Park. By the way, the Polish “Ł” is pronounced as a “W,” so it sounds like “Wazienski Park.” There they have…
-
Poland: Back in the Shtetl Again.
Post No. 2, redux (photos) Okay, gang, figured out how to attach photos to posts. This is for the one I sent yesterday. This is the restaurant where the group met for dinner: This is the scene at dinner, including Jennie covering my head with her shawl: And the close-up (as I may have suggested,…
-
Poland: Back in the Shtetl Again.
Post No. 2. Premium Economy. MAY 5, 2023 Trigger warning: For this post I was able to import one photo, but then the system started being unable to access my Google Photos. I’ve sent out a message to the platform (“HELP!!!!”). But until they get back to me, no more pix. When it gets fixed,…
-
Poland: Back in the Shtetl Again
Post No. 1: Preview of trip starting May 5, 2023 East-West Tours calls this “Magic Poland.” I prefer to call it “Back in the Shtetl Again.” My mother’s family came to the U.S. from “Russia.” We never knew anything more specific, so we don’t have any idea where in “Russia” (which is a big place).…
-
Bali, Borneo & Beyond
Final Post (No. 11). If it’s Friday, this must be the end. This way to the egrets; on to Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Friday, March 31. Okay, finally figured out how to insert a map (thanks to Val, my Blog Mentor). Here it is: Arrived in Singapore (1) via Taipei. Then to Bali (2). On…
-
Bali, Borneo & Beyond
Post No. 10. If it’s Monday, this must be Sukau (cont’d). Monday, March 27. This one will be a quickie. After the last post, an experience of note was a night cruise yesterday evening (March 26) on the Kinabatangan River. The goal was to see nocturnal wildlife. Our guide drove the boat slowly along the…
-
Bali, Borneo & Beyond
Post No. 9. If it’s Sunday, it must be Sepilok to Sukau. Monkeys and hornbills and bears, Oh My! Friday, March 24. We drove to Labuk Bay, the mangrove forest that covers about 400 acres for Proboscis monkeys. Truly one of the most peculiar looking animals ever. They are exclusively found in Borneo; they are…
Something to Declare 