--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2018 CLASSIC POLAND July 12-22, 2018 ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JULY 12-22 CLASSIC POLAND BY GATE 1
POLAND FLAG
July 12-13 NEWARK*WARSAW
Flew LOT Airlines from Newark to Warsaw after a couple hours delay, which mercifully my traveling companions (Deanna, Linda and Nenita) and I were able to spend at the Art & Lounge. Grey Goose vodka and some appetizers whiled away the hours.
Arrived at Warsaw-Chopin Airport, drove to the city with our Gate 1 pick-up, checked in at the Sheraton and went for a walk in the neighborhood. Bought some beers and a small bottle of vodka then went to the Welcome Cocktails and Dinner.
July 14 WARSAW CITY TOUR
This morning is the city tour of Warsaw. First stop was at the Lazienki Park where we saw the Chopin Monument with our local Polish tour guide.
Some Warsaw buildings and monuments.
We also went to the Jewish Ghetto Memorial.
Next we visited the Old Town with the reconstructed Royal Castle, Castle Square, St John's Archcathedral, Rynek Starego Miasta (a busy square lined with burgher houses and eateries).
Had tripe soup and pivo in an outdoor restaurant in Old Town before returning to the bus for our afternoon tour of the Wilanów Palace, a royal palace which survived Poland's partitions and both World Wars. It was built for king John III Sobieski in the last quarter of the 17th century. After the death of John III Sobieski in 1696, the palace was owned by his sons and later by other famous magnate families. Between 1730 and 1733 it was a residence of Augustus II the Strong, also a king of Poland and after his death the property came to Sieniawska's daughter Maria Zofia Czartoryska. Wilanów Palace
Tonight is the Chopin Concert with pianist Maria Korecka Soszkowska.
July 15 MALBORK CASTLE*GDANSK
This morning we’re traveling to Gdansk and stopping along the way at Malbork Castle, the biggest castle built by the Teutonic Knights. The Castle and fortress, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, is a classic example of a medieval fortress and, on its completion in 1406, was the world's largest brick castle. Malbork Castle
Inside Malbork Castle.
Checked in at Gdansk’s Radisson Blu and went for a walk by the river. Stopped and had a beer by the ferris wheel.
After dinner at the hotel, went for a walk and took pictures of the city at night.
July 16 GDANSK*SZYMBARK (KASHUBIAN DINNER)
Gdansk City Tour starting with a bus trip to learn its trading past as one of the great ports of the Hanseatic League to the place where Solidarity was born.
Followed by a walking tour of the city.
This afternoon we went to Szymbark, a village located in the Pomeranian province on the Kashubian territory, located in one of the most beautiful tourist places in the Kashubian "Switzerland". Among the attractions were the upside down house, several historical buildings, a recreated bunker used by the resistance during the occupation, a full size three car train with a real Soviet steam engine, a building housing the longest board in the world (used as a table), a Kashubian trapper farm from emigrants in Canada, a church, and a well stocked gift shop. Also on site is a hotel and a micro-brewery/restaurant where we had our Kashubian Dinner accompanied by very good beer from the brewery.
July 17 TORUN*POZNAN
Departed Gdansk for Toruń, located on the Vistula River, which was founded by the Teutonic Knights and served as a trade center for the Hanseatic League. The Old Town, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered one of the best-preserved medieval towns in all of Europe. We saw the house where world-famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born; a couple of old churches; Copernicus' statue. Walked through the cobbled streets of the impressive Old Town (Starówka )and even tasted Toruń's famous pierniki (gingerbread).
Toruń
Poznań is a city on the Warta River in western Poland. It’s known for universities as well as its old town, with Renaissance-style buildings in Old Market Square. Poznań Town Hall houses the Historical Museum of Poznań, with exhibits on the city. The town hall's clock features mechanical goats that butt heads at noon. The Gothic and baroque Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral is built on an island called Ostrów Tumski.
Poznań
July 18 WROCLAW
This morning we traveled to Wrocław, the largest city in western Poland. It lies on the banks of the River Oder in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Europe. Our city tour included a walk around the Salt Market Square where we saw the Old Town Hall and beautiful tenements around the square. We also saw some of the more than 300 Dwarf Bronze sculptures all over the city.
Wrocław
Lunch was at O Sole Mio on the square where I had a nice Caprese Salad and a beer.
Boarded the bus and drove to Ostrów Tumski, the oldest part of the city of Wrocław, crossed the Tumski Bridge and visited the Opera House and the Wrocław Philharmonic where we saw the dwarf bronze Philharmonic Orchestra. It was formerly an island (ostrów in Old Polish) known as the Cathedral Island between the branches of the Oder River, featuring the Wrocław Cathedral built originally in the mid 10th century.
July 19 CZESTOCHOWA*KRAKOW
First stop today is Częstochowa. It is a city in southern Poland on the Warta River. The city is known for the famous Pauline monastery of Jasna Góra, which is the home of the Black Madonna painting, a shrine to the Virgin Mary. Our guide was a Paulist monk named Fr. Roman.
Częstochowa
Next was Kraków where we checked in at Andels Hotel right next to the Galleria Krakowska. We then went for a walk to the center of town for a little sightseeing on our own.
Dinner was at an Art Deco restaurant, Loża, in the market square (Rynek Glówny). Started wwith a Campari and soda then I had duck breast served with roasted potatoes, tomatoes and cranberries.
July 20 KRAKOW CITY TOUR*AUSCHWITZ
This morning's tour of Kraków includes the former Jewish district, with its ancient synagogues, main square of the former ghetto and Helena Rubinstein's house. Next we visited the Ghetto Heroes Square to view the Jewish Ghetto Memorial, called "The Lonely Chairs."
Kraków City Tour
Next was the historic 16th century Wawel Royal Castle District. The Wawel Castle, built at the behest of King Casimir III the Great, consists of a number of structures situated around the Italian-styled main courtyard. The Wawel Royal Castle and the Wawel Hill was declared in 1978 a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Historic Center of Kraków. For centuries the residence of the kings of Poland and the symbol of Polish statehood, the Castle is now one of the country’s premier art museums.
Next was the Market Square where we saw St. Mary's Church (St. Mary's Trumpet Call, played every hour on the hour, four times in succession in each of the four cardinal directions, by a trumpeter on the highest tower), the Old Town Hall and the Renaissance Cloth Hall where traders offer a variety of wares as their predecessors did many generations ago.
Lunch was at Hawelka in the town square. Ordered a beer tasting and mushroom soup. Three different kinds of piwo complimented the creamy, delicious soup which was served in a bowl made of bread.
This afternoon we journeyed to the town of Oswiecim where the Nazis built Auschwitz, their largest concentration and death camp. The stories of those who were sent there, and who perished in this place, emphasize the scope of Hitler's extermination efforts. After an introduction and historic film, the solemn visit includes a guided tour of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp Museum. We next stopped at the former Birkenau Extermination Camp before returning to Kraków.
Auschwitz and Birkenau
July 21 WIELICZKA SALT MINE*FAREWELL DINNER
This morning our optional tour was to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, on the UNESCO World
Cultural Heritage list, located in the town of Wieliczka in southern Poland. Opened in the 13th century, the mine produced table salt continuously until 2007, as one of the world's oldest salt mines in operation. Commercial mining was discontinued in 1996, and it was designated an official national Historic Monument. Attractions include dozens of statues and four chapels carved out of the rock salt by the miners.
Wieliczka Salt Mine
Lunch at a wonderful Michelin Guide restaurant on the main square of Kraków, Szara Restauracja. Started with Veal Tongue in caper sauce then Salade à la Szara with marinated salmon, grilled shrimps, eggs, avocado, mixed greens. Both were delicious! Plus a wonderful French street singer doing Piaf songs!
Tonight we had our Farewell Dinner at another Szara Restaurant in Kazimierz, the old Jewish Ghetto neighborhood. Afterwards I went shopping for Goldwasser at the Galeria Krakowska then watched a little bit of the free outdoor movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio (Inception) in the park between the hotel and the Galeria.
July 22 KRAKOW*WARSAW*NEWARK
Flew from Kraków to Warsaw then to Newark. Very nice trip and company!
