Dzień dobry (good day or good morning) must have been the first piece of Polish I ever learned. At the time I didn’t think about it too literally, being more concerned with how to say it. (dz is pronounced like the ds in odds, according to my text book)
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I gazed in awe at Plac Zamkowy, Castle Square, with its serene Royal Palace, barely believing that this was all reconstruction. I said that I don’t have an emotional connection to this city but it would be impossible not to be moved by what transpired here. Following almost total annihilation, in 30 years, working from paintings and old photographs, the Old Town was painstakingly resurrected in all its glorious colour.
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What a time we had, strolling in Kraków’s medieval square, Rynek Głowny, Aunt Anna’s arm tucked alternately into mine or Dad’s. It was Easter week and there were flowers, corn dollies and special Easter bread rings on the stalls, in the pale wintery sunshine. We had coffee and cake at celebrated Hotel Wierzrynek- so special, Yehudi Menuhin, George Bush, Lech Wałęnsa and Polish royalty are among those who have dined there. http://www.wierzynek.com.pl/ For one day only I had celebrity status.
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Placu Narutowicza, Bełchatów
It was a glorious hot August day and we had been informed that a nearby park was having it’s official opening so we strolled in that direction first. It had the kind of fountains that squirt high in the air unexpectedly, to the great delight of the local children. I could happily have stood under a jet of water myself but instead we bought a drink and hitched up on a wall to watch the rehearsals for the evening performance. A Michael Buble song …
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My story starts with an Aunt…
When I first looked at her photograph, 5 years ago this month, I felt a jolt of recognition. It was not unlike looking at myself in the mirror, but maybe a few years down the line. I was already 57 but had never met her- had not even known that she was still alive. But it was due to her persistence, and refusal to believe that my Dad was dead, that we finally came together as a family.
Aunt Anna- I was named for her. Click here to read more…
There are folks out there who’ll think I’m greedy, or just a glutton for punishment- I’m not sure which? Couldn’t help myself, I just had to raise a hand in the air and shout “me, me!” when the prospect of a personal A-Z of Poland came along, even though I had already committed to a Portuguese A-Z.
You see, the Polish journey for me is a relatively new and very special one. It’s just 5 years ago this month that I discovered that I had any Polish family at all, apart from Dad …
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