The midday train ride from Berlin
unsurprisingly
turns out to be very 'social'.
unsurprisingly
turns out to be very 'social'.
The German man . . (returning to Warsaw after a few days in Germany)
. . married a Polish woman less than 2 decades ago . .
They live in Warsaw where he has a privately owned business.
In seconds we are deep into European history.
This cute Polish gal from 'Posnan Glowny'
(where we change trains)
is working in Berlin . . at the Polish Embassy.
She's headed for Warsaw to spend the weekend with friends.
Prior to this job . .
she completed a number of short 'study' stints
in a few nearby countries
in a few nearby countries
. . learning their languages along the way . .
which led to this
Embassy opportunity.
which led to this
Embassy opportunity.
She is eager to tell us all about her Polish homeland
. . and with an easy smile . .
adds a number of . . Polish - born - viewpoints . .
to the stories and opinions
freely shared by this German man.
adds a number of . . Polish - born - viewpoints . .
to the stories and opinions
freely shared by this German man.
She also asks us to note that 'everything' . .
on the German side of the border
on the German side of the border
. . has a big dollar sign on it . .
"You will know when we are on the . . Poland side . .
water and snacks
will be offered to passengers "free"
will be offered to passengers "free"
She is right.
A "Be - Aware" . . introduction
. . to our 1st visit here
. . to our 1st visit here
( Pride is alive . . Some Tension still remains )
Changing trains in Poznan Glowny turns out to be 'social' too.
This young Pole introduces himself saying . .
"I am Conductor . . I vil help you find right 'vagon' ( coach ) "
It is obvious he loves his job . . and maybe also . . this close - by . . brunette.
This young Pole introduces himself saying . .
"I am Conductor . . I vil help you find right 'vagon' ( coach ) "
It is obvious he loves his job . . and maybe also . . this close - by . . brunette.
We Check - In . . to a private room at
' Orange Hostal '
in the . . Old Town . . section of a city
that . . dates back to the . . 1400s
called
' Torun Glowny '
Just as spic - n - span as the earlier 2 places . .
but . . this one . .
is about 1/3 the cost of the good place in Oranienburg !
No Breakfast here
. . however, unlike the 1st 2 places
this one has . . Free WiFi . . throughout the building . .
and help - yourself . . hot coffee . . 24 / 7
No nice sitting areas either . .
but this atmospheric . . walkable - sized town . . begs to be explored
So we'll be hunting down all the nooks and crannies . .
in between samples of local . . eats
Torun . . is famous for it's
hometown boy . .
Nicholas Copernicus . .
who first theorized that
the . . SUN . . is the Center of the Universe
Copernicus
was . . born here . . in . . Torun, Poland
Since this land has been held also by other countries . .
there is some dispute about
whether Copernicus is . . Polish or . . Prussian . . or ?
Nonetheless . . He . . IS . . Torunian !
And his name is on . restaurants . streets . businesses . foods
People are . . Proud
Copernicus University
student body of 30,000
student body of 30,000
Joseph Stalin
and
their own Polish Pope John Paul II
both attended school here
( NOT roommates . . NOT admirers of each other . . for sure ! )
Just to prove . . WE . . sat on the steps of . . Copernicus' HOME
Tasting . . Polish . . ' dumplings '
filled with a variety of . meats . veggies . cheese
They're baked . served with ' dips '
A little bowl of . . dill pickle pieces . . usually arrives . . first
with 3 thin slices of homemade bread
and a little pile of ( not butter ) . . what we think
might be . . soft ' Lard '
stirred with a few seeds and bits of pickle or cucumber
We can't pronounce the word the way they do . . but this is the . . most common
Polish "BREW"
Just as typical . . is . . HOT BEER . . with something like cloves added
We're trying it . . It's pretty interesting
and maybe makes sense . . in a cold climate
Now we switch to . . Polish ' ZIOTY ' . . for local payment
200 PLN ( for Poland ) . . equals a little less than . . $50
Dividing their number by 4 gives a quick ( close enough ) estimate
So 100 zl . . is close to . . $25
Polish CURRENCY & Conversion
50 zl is $12.50 - 20 zl is $5 - 10 zl is $2.50
Everyone can probably guess THIS Polish word
Most public toilets require a coin . .
( paid to an attendant . . or . . put into a machine )
unless you're eating in a restaurant . . or . . have paid an entrance fee to a site
( Berlin charges 1 Euro per person per trip . . In U.S. dollar that's $1.12-15 )
On a Saturday late afternoon
we notice hundreds of young people . . pouring out of one of many Catholic Churches
singing a . . Polish melody so easy - to - love that
we have to stand still . . and . . listen
From there they move to a nearby square . . where a giant screen is mounted
next to a covered stage area.
Nuns are ' into it ' . . with the kids
story - telling motions . . with arms . hands . feet
And when the . . dancing . twirling - with - linked - arms . . gets going
Priests are right ' in there ' with the rest
everyone shouting out the ' whatever - they - were - saying '
with joyful abandon !
"If Only . ." we knew ' Polish '
A very up - beat occasion
. . on a Saturday evening . . in an Ancient town . . in Central Europe !
At the
Polish . . GINGERBREAD MUSEUM
Instruction Begins With
a little more . Wheat Flour than . Rye Flour
. Cinnamon (for . . Aroma)
. Cloves (as . . Preservative)
Add
. Nutmeg ( too much has a . . 'drug' effect )
Add
. Ginger Root ( powdered ) . . and . Black Pepper
Don't forget the . .
. Honey !
✓ ( Sugar . . didn't exist in medieval times )
' Amounts ' of each item were determined by the . .
Feel of the Cook's Hand . .
and the AROMA and FLAVOR and TEXTURE . . the Cook Preferred
In the pic below . .
the big and little Guys will hold each end of the bowl
while the Gals stir . . Flour . Spices . Water ( small amount )
into a thick ball
During a break . .
these two fill us in on the traditional way to make
. . old - fashioned Gingerbread
NO . . Baking Powder
NO . . Sugar
The ball of dough is then . . wrapped and . . stored in
an . . old oak barrel . . for 3 months
in a cool place . . to blend flavors
Thickness or Thinness of the dough doesn't matter
Three months pass . .
Little bits of dough are ready for each visitor
. . to roll out on a floured board
Everyone is enjoying the hilarity of these . . Polish slipper - footed Demonstrators
. . dressed in ancient costume
There are several tables . . so everyone gets to have a . . rolling pin
Only ONE RULE : "not for hitting the spouse !"
The dough is rolled just big enough to lay over each wood block design
then . . pressed . . with fingers and heel of hand
down into the design
flipped over
removed . . from wood block . . edges cut away
We each put our . . dough design . . on the baking sheet
About 12 minutes later . . each one claims their own . . Gingerbread Cookie
One of many . . Gingerbread Houses
Definitely a FUN place !
Near our . . 55th Anniversary
" M & M Gingerbread "
We end the day . . up 175 steps . . in the . . Old Town Hall Tower
Enjoying the . . Polish Spires and . . Red Roofs
Waiting for . . the Polish Sunset
We leave Torun tomorrow . .
Find the . . Tri - Cities of . . Gdansk - Sopot - Gdynia . . on your map
This will be our . . northern - most spot
Rusty and Wrinkles join you next in a city where a . .
Polish shipyard worker
named
. . " L E C H " . .
was
" sick and tired . . of being . . sick and tired "
and
did something . . that . . changed . . HISTORY
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