Julia - globetrotter

Being served a delicious cup of coffee at this Internet Caffe, i'll continue my notes.
Trotting toward the end of my journey: today I wanted to visit the places , where I spent the early years of my life. I took the tram to Praga, crossing Vistula river to the other side of Warsaw. That was the side where the Russians stopped at the beginning of the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, and "watched us bleed"
I wanted to see the hospital, where I took my nursing schooling. The hospital is there
, allright,but the name is differrent, there are no Sisters in their blue habits and white, wide headdress ( I forgot the neme of it) No one could tell me anything about the past of the hospital. One man, tending the little store with candies and other incidental, pointed to me the corridor, where there were old photographs with the history of the hospital from 190 tirties to the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. There were the pictures all right with the Sisters of Charity, in their blue habits and white, wide bonnets, tending to the sick. At least one proof!
One nice lady passerby, whom I asked about directions, pointed to me the bouilding, where there was the orphanage, being tended by some nuns. I rang the bell, and a young nun , dressed in black habit and black vail opened the door and invited me in. She was very pleasant and sweet, lisening to my inquiries. But she didn't know anything aboth the Sisters of Chariry, or my Nursing School.
My next place of recollection would be ul. Szpitalna Nr. 6, where my father lived,next to Wedel chocolate factory.
Again i stopped another lady passerby. She was very pleasant and willing to tell me the history of that place. And of course, I told her story( all in Polish) about my childhood, how I yearned for those delicious chocolates, looking just through the window, but not having money to buy it.
I entered the store, which by now has and very elegant and modern restaurant. The young lady , dressed in a chocolate color dress and a little apron, seated me at a little table. i ordered a hot milk chocolate. It was sweet, and thick. It was refreshing to sit in an elegant place, resting my feet after a long stroll. Then i poceded to purchase some sweets for my dear ones in USA.
The rest of the afternoon I strolled along Nowy Swiat ( New World street) and Krakowskie Przedmescie, snapping pictures of churches and monuments of polish heroes.
I am leaving Warsaw tomorrow at 9 30 AM and arrive in Chicago at 3.15 PM (same day!)
Till I see you again, love Mama

My dear ones,the weather here is so changable,it started gloomy with some sprinkles of rain, but in the afternoon I had to tie my raincoat round my waist, getting somewhat too warm.
I've visited Frideric Chopin Museum, purchased a CD of the winner of 2005 Polish Competitor's ( I don't remember his name), then I trotted to Stare Miasto again. In the afternoon I took a good nap!
Tomorrow I am planning to go to Lazienki, where there is a famous statue of Chopin's. Or maybe I'll go to my old Nursing school. I travel by trams. they are very crowded and it is difficult to get information, which tram or bus to take. People are very polite, on two occasions someone gave me the seat. ( Do I really look so old?)
I am not too sure if I will write again. I am leaving Warsaw on June 1st, 9.25 am. change plain in Zurich and arrive in O'Hare @ 3.45 PM.( same day!) Then I'll take Van Galder bus to Madison. I should be home some time that evening. Love you all. Julia

Here I am in the Internet Cafe again. I had a beautiful day today. I learned how to use trams. The day started cold and gloomy, but ended sunny and pleasant. Knowing Polish helped me to ask for the directions, stopping pedestriants, who gracefully headed me in the right directions.
I found Ul. Hoza, where I took care of the wounded soldiers duringWarsaw Uprising, but those places and times are gone, replaced with massive , big buildings, wide streets, with the zooming traffic. Taking my time I stopped at the beauty shop, then went to the cafe, which as I was told was the best in Warsaw. I noticed several young ladies and men in the buisness suits, and young ladies quite smartly dressed.
I was served very elegantly with bread and cheese, followed by red barszcz with tiny pierogi in it. For desert I had delicious charlotka, which is an apple cake.
Then I took a tram , wanting to visit Chopin's Museum, but learned that it is closed on Mondays, so I'll go there tomorrow.
I hopped into another tram,
, which took me to Stare Miasto( Old Town)
The sun came out lighting the column of Zygmunt, the buildings and the towers of the churches( which names I do not know at this time)
I took several pictures, until I got out of the space on my memory cards.That's pity. So I bought an aquarelle done by the local artist.
I am looking to another advanterous day tomorrow. I hope that the weather will cooperate. The weather is so changebable here. Love to you all. Julia, the Globetrotter!

Here I am in Warsaw, my last leg of the Elderhostel tour of Eastern Europe. Budapest, Praga were beautiful, with ancient bouildings, castles and narrow streets. The food was great. Entering Poland we stayed overnight in Zakopane in a very luxiorious hotel overlooking Tatra mountains with the high peak of Giewont. The morning was clear and sunny. We strolled through the market, then visited countryside,old setlement house and barn with thatched roofs. Krakow,with old market,Church of St. Mary, from which the tower we lisened to the "hejnal". Inside was famous triptic , carved in wood engraved with gold, done by Wit Stworz. We visited museums with magnificent paintings by Wyspianski, Matejko and Mahofer.
On the way we stopped in Lancut, the magnificent estate of Potocki's, with great furnishing and parquet floors, also we seen the display of old coaches.
Now in Warsaw, what a different city! Huge bouildings, wide streets, could match any american city, a lot of international firms. It's not my city of old times. I am staying here for onother three day, to go to ul. Hoza, where I stayed during the war, where our field hospital was during the Warsaw Uprising, I plan to take a train to Pludy, where I spent my childhood years, and go to my old Nursing School, which still exists. But it is miserable wether, cold and rainy, so I don't know if I expose myself to it.
Yesterday I visiterd the Museum of Warsaw Uprising. There were crowds of visitors.
I am stay in a laxiorious hotel. I changed my date of the departure to June 1st ( with Extra $$$) to be able to reminisce the old times, but I am overwhelmed with the grandiosity of a new Warsaw, so I am not sure if I will satisfy myself. I love you all, Globetrotter Julia

Hi Stas and Jane, since I am already in europe, i decided to extend my stay in Poland 2 or 3 days longer to visit in Pludy, and roam in Warsaw. Budapest is beautiful, weather is great, tomorrow we going to Prague. Love you, Mama

I am packed and ready to go. Stash and Jane are coming to see me off. We will go to Blue Plate for lunch, then I am going to catch the Van Galder bus to take me to O'Hare at International Airport to fly by Swidish Airlines.
The weather turned unseasonably cold. I hope that it will be warmer in Budapest. Bye!

It's only about one week to my big trip to Europe.

I signed up with Elderhostel for the program "Fine Arts of Central Europe". We will visit Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland. I wonder how much Warsaw has changed since I left it about 62 years ago after that disasterous fiasco of 1944 Warsaw Uprising.

The trip starts on May 13th and ends on May 29th. After I'll come back I will try to have my own Web page. My daughter, Irene, allready introduced me to the Blogger, by giving me a Christmas gift of our family cookbook, which can be seen at: http://potocki.blogspot.com and now she will guide me to my own Website with my photos and stories of that new adventure.