Warsaw Ghetto Wall

Because I have read so many accounts of the Jewish uprising in the Warsaw ghetto during World War II, I was most anxious to see it, as were most of our group.  Our Polish guide was somewhat reluctant to include this on our tour.  Our Fun For Less guides and our local guides discussed this most all of the day.  One conversation I heard between a fellow traveler and the local guide may explain his reluctance.  As they were talking our American friend referred to the concentration camps as "Polish  Camps".  The local guide was quick, and a bit angry as he pointed out that they WERE NOT Polish but German.  I do understand his concern that we not remember his country solely on the extermination camps.  Also the Jewish Ghetto was totally destroyed by the Germans so there is not really much to see.

I'm happy to report though that we did get to see a few locations.  Here is a marker showing where one of the walls of the ghetto once stood. The ghetto was about 1.3 square miles and the number of Jews who were forced inside the walls was about 350,000- 400,00.

Starvation and disease sent a great number to their deaths.  Thousands more were transported to death camps.  It was when the Germans made their final push to 'liquidate' the ghetto that a Jewish 'army' resisted..  For just under a month a small number of Jewish freedom fighters held off the mighty German army. In fact they actually expelled the Nazis from the ghetto for awhile.  In the end, of course, they were defeated and were killed.

One part of the original Ghetto wall survived and we were able to see that.

We also had a short visit to the garden located on the spot where the first armed resistance by Jews to the Nazi army took place.  The monument to the heroes of the resistance is pretty impressive.

"Though it be to die we will fight....not for ourselves but for future generations. Although we will not survive to see it, our murders will pay for their crimes after we are gone. And our deeds will live forever" Izhak Katznelson Ghetto Freedom Fighter - executed at Aushwitz.

Polish Bubbles

In the pursuit of HAPPINESS:

Don't expect the worst.

Happiness is a bubble 

and negative thoughts cause it to burst!

To the delight of children and tourists visiting the town squares of Warsaw and Krakow there were bubble makers aplenty!

These entrepreneurs had huge homemade bubble makers.  They were actually quite simply made from fishing poles and cord.

Several of us tried to buy the already made contraptions but nothing doing! Although they did say that anything was for sale at the right price!

I gave it a go!  It was not hard and was actually quite fun!  I wonder if I can find a pattern to make my own on Pinterest!

Fun and Culture in Minsk

Never thought I'd be spending a day in Minsk, Belarus!  When I was in high school  attending the Model United Nations I represented Belorussia.  It was easy to know how to vote on anything.  All I had to do was watch how the delegates from the USSR voted and do the exact same thing.  I never imagined that I would someday actually go to Minsk. 

When Nikita Khruschchev visited Minsk soon after World War II he asked to be taken to the old city.  When he was told that their old city had been destroyed by bombs during the war, his comment to them was 'well build another one'.  That is what they did!  And they work hard to make a visit fun for the tourists.  Two actors followed us around all day pretending to be a thief and the sheriff.  We learned the story of the thief's crime and subsequent rise to prosperity.  At the end of our tour there was an opportunity to join them in a traditional dance and a photo op. 

In America when taking a photo we might say, "1, 2, 3 CHEESE".  In Belarus they say "3,4" and then everyone shouts "Hohh!"

After all this fun we were ready for some culture so we went to the beautiful Bolshoi Ballet house. 

I learned that 'Bolshoi' actually means large!  The Soviets didn't like ballet at first as it was considered decadent. All that changed when someone wrote a 'socialist' ballet!  I don't know exactly what that would be like but if it worked that is great!  You can still see the soviet influence in the decorations of the great hall

It was so fun to see a rehearsal but we were not allowed to take photos.  One of the principle dancers seemed to be having a bad day.  She kept making faces and stopping in obvious distress.  After looking at the slippers they wear so that they can stand on their toes, I understand this distress.   Finally the director took her aside and talked to her for quite awhile attempting to comfort her.  I know that the term prima donna refers to the opera but I think it might apply here too!

And of course any self respecting Catalan would have to have their photo taken with St. Jordi - even if he is called by his Russian name!

Latvia to Lithuania

A super foggy drive from Latvia to Lithuania on a narrow two lane road! I'm glad I wasn't the bus driver.

The scenery looked like home to me.  The flat green land reminded me so much of central Arkansas and the drive from Little Rock to Lonoke.

Of course there aren't too many castles in my homeland!

Trakai Castle which was built in the 14th century was damaged in the wars of the 18th century. I found it interesting that this was the ancestral home of the Radziwill family, although they lost possession of the castle during World War II.  Jackie Kennedy's sister Lee married into the Radziwill family!  I guess the Kennedy family is as close as we come to royalty in the US!

A Rainy Day in Tallinn

Tallinn, Estonia is a charming town.  You certainly notice the Russian influence in some of the churches.

The long climb to the top of the city hall was worth it for the view! Two church steeples. - one looking very 'northern European' in contrast to the onion domed Russian Orthodox church!

 

How's you Estonian?  Any self respecting tourist should be able to read this one. 

Wonder if the Lexington Hills homeowners association would approve this downspout on our house?

Notice that the outdoor cafes provide blankets for their patrons to wrap up in!  And this was September!

This lovely lady is playing a bandura which is actually a Ukrainian instrument. Lovely sound from a lovely young woman!

Even rain didn't stop this artist from his work!

Wonderful day in Tallin!

Gratitude #9 - Travel

Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely love to travel!  I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to go to so many places, most recently to the Baltic countries where our first stop was Tallinn, Estonia.

A definite favorite of our time in Tallinn was the Pirita convent which was dedicated on August 15, 1436 and only operated until 1575 when it was brutally destroyed by the Russians and left in ruins for more than 300 years.

Excavations began in 1934 and continued into the 1960s.

Since the main activity of the nuns was praying and singing, the sisters at Pirita convent can be called the first large women’s choir in Estonia. Gathering in the church seven times daily the sisters sang the entire Old Testament book of Psalms each week, 150 psalms.  Singing is an important part of the Estonian culture.  Every school child is required to participate in choir.  Estonian songs often stressed the will of the free nation to battle foreign forces and one popular song called upon anyone who dreams about freedom, to escape.  

The sisters never left the convent and upon their death were buried in their own church.