Sept. 30-in Minsk

Subject: In Minsk

We arrived here in Minsk late yesterday afternoon by plane from Warsaw, and were met by our driver who whisked us off to our hotel near the city center. There have been many changes since we were here briefly 15 years ago with a bus tour. Lots of new buildings, wide boulevards, and green space.

This am our guide took us to an old farm called Dudutki that is on the idea of King's Landing or Sturbridge Village. Had lunch in a traditional log building and when we got back, took a long walk around one of the central city squares here in Minsk.

Concert Hall Entry Stained Glass

Minsk Traffic

Minsk High Rises

Reconstructed Apartments/Offices

Dudutki Corner with Icon and Embroidery

Warsaw to Minsk

Today we left our elegant hotel, the Polonia Palace, on our flight to Minsk, capital city of Belarus.

Polonia Palace lobby, Warsaw

City view from our hotel-Science and Culture Center

Entryway in Old Town

Kazimierz Dolny market/Warsaw 9/28

Farm produce in Kazimierz Dolny Square

Reconstructed building, Warsaw New Town

Bryant looking kingly in front of Royal Palace, Warsaw

Martha near Old Town and Palace, Warsaw

Buildings in Old Town Square, Warsaw.

Visited the little market in Kazimierz Dolny in the am....great produce and flowers. Then a 3 hour drive to central Warsaw...a beautiful city which has been rebuilt and restored after having been 96% destroyed in the war. Lovely old town and vibrant new town too. We are staying at the Polonia Palace Hotel in downtown Warsaw, which is very elegant!

More Kazimierz Dolny

My favourite Mary of the trip, found in old churchyard

Kazimierz Dolny Cathedral

Nice old door, of which there were many in Poland.  Note hinges.

Main Square, Kazimierz Dolny

Bryant and Wlad relax over espresso before the rain

Here are a few more pictures from our day. Tomorrow morning the market here, then to Warsaw before going to Minsk on Saturday.

Sept. 27, Kazimierz Dolny

Decorative flowers made with dyed wheat

Sign silhouette-roosters seem to be the town's mascot

Rooster image in bread - sold everywhere in Kazimierz Dolny

Kazimierz Dolny castle ruins

Building carving with lobsters (?), main square

A lovely day until about 4:30 when it started to rain as we were heading back to the hotel. Kazimierz Dolny is a touristy spot, with picturesque old houses, a square with several outdoor cafes serving excellent coffee and pastries. The castle and main church are under reconstruction, but still deserved a look. An afternoon boat ride with about 100 grade 1-3 school kids was memorable!  Made us happy to be retired.  We were surprised to see the lobsters carved at  the fellow's feet on one of the main buildings on the square.

Lublin-just a sampling

Arched gate to Old Town, Lublin

Memorial picture of Lublin resident lost in World War II

Memorial remains of Lublin Cathedral destroyed in the war

Lublin street lamp

Window decoration, Lublin

So many interesting and beautiful parts to this city of 300,000 that it is hard to choose five pictures. These are obviously in the old city.  Not a lot of building restoration has been done here, and we felt fortunate to have been able to see "the real thing" before beautification.  Though it is commendable that so many cities in Europe have spent the time and money to rebuild and restore the Old Town centers, some of the patina of history is always lost in the reconstruction.  The history of the Jewish community (50,000 or so before the war) here is particularly sad. Today there are only 10 Jews who live in Lublin - all men.

Zamosc-UNESCO World Heritage

City Hall, Zamosc

Our guide in main square, Zamosc

Decorated Armenian trader's house on main square

Reconstruction of Synagogue

Bryant, before dinner, Zamosc

Cave restaurant, Zamosc

Had a city tour of Zamosc this morning, built as the "ideal city" by a wealthy noble in the late 1500's. You can see the blue sky as a backdrop.  Our city guide and her husband own the restaurant where we ate last night, which is housed in the basement of the green building in the photos.