Kinda Like a Hippie

"Quick close the drapes and lock the door. I see her coming."

I feel rather like I have invited you over for a nice pot roast dinner and just as you are settling in for what you think will be a yummy dessert suddenly you realize that you will not be able to escape until you have viewed our slides from Europe. (Just in case any of my younger friends are reading this blog... slides were transparent images in a small square frame that were viewed on a screen with the use of a projector. Usually these were accompanied by commentary from the amateur photographer of the household.)

Oh, if only you were such a captive audience! But since you have the keyboard at your command and can be gone in a single finger movement I will try to be discerning with my photos and comments.

Poland, with the exception of the Auschwitz visit, was a wholly pleasant experience. (The tour of Auschwitz was conducted well and very professionally, but there is just no way to make that anything less than terribly disturbing.)

We made great new friends.

We ate lots of great food. I would weigh 10 pounds more were it not for the 1200 miles we walked and the numerous entries and exits of the bus.

We went, 19 of us, as a part of a sister city/sister school program. My little town was founded by Polish immigrants and many people living here (not me) trace their lineage to the area of Poland we visited. The woman who was responsible for the sister city thing has done a lot of research and has visited Poland several times. Last August she arranged for a group from Poland to visit our town and area. I was responsible for hosting and showing them around our school. Of course they invited us to see them. So, long story- short, we did.

And we were treated like dignitaries. They were the most gracious and accomodating hosts you could imagine. We stayed in homes of the community members. I was especially lucky and feel like I have new friends who just happen to live in Poland. I hope we will be lifelong friends.

We had tours everyday of various villages and local sites (and sights). We were fed wonderful food almost continually. It was extremely well organized and executed. I can't imagine the work that went into it.

Poland is a beautiful, very clean country. The people I met were gracious and warm and friendly. I hope to return again someday.

And now, the moment you have all been waiting for..... pictures! (You can click on the pics to see them larger.)

This is part of the Corpus Christi (not the town in TX) festival which we attended the first morning after our arrival. It seems to be a lot like Easter, only more religious. There was a flower path that the priest walked on to 4 different areas around the church where prayers were said, chanting was done and much kneeling and incense swinging occurred. Being neither Polish nor Catholic I was a little confused but it was very interesting and the girls in white dresses dropping flower petals were awfully cute and made me almost have wedding dreams.

Picking, and eating Polish strawberries.

The Church In Strelzce

Hippiekid playing football (soccer) with a group of Polish kids at a playground. He's the small one in green. Soccer is his favorite sport and he loves it that in Europe he can always find someone to play with.

The Hippiekid being shown how to pound red hot metal at an outdoor museum. The museum was a large area with recreated Polish homes and churches of the ages.

Shopping in Opole.

From the bus.

Just some of the entertainment provided for us.This was a group that performed when we met with the town officials.

On top of a ski mountain.

The castle in Krakow.

Street performers in Krakow.

And I have so many more, over 1300 pics! It was a great trip. A once in a lifetime experience. Even if I go back it will not be as such an honored guest. Thanks to everyone in Poland for the wonderful hospitality.

Polska

We are in Poland right now.  This is the first time since leaving on the 5th that I have been online. We are staying in a hostel in Kracow tonight and will leave VERY early in the morning. I will update more and bore you with my slides of Europe upon my return. Besides, this keyboard is wearing me out. You have to hit the z kez to get a y and vice versa. Havent figured out where the heck the apostrophes are hiding. When you hit the key you get this ą and this ę.

Going to stuff my last minute purchases in now.

Of festivals, hair cuts and traveling plans

Probably this should be three shorter posts, but I just can't manage that. Instead you will once again get the rambling disjointed conglomeration I pass off as information. (I struggled to find a better word there. Information seems to connote that someone would actually be able to use this or perhaps even ponder a moment in thought while reading. Neither of those seems likely.)

I love a fest, don't you? I will attend almost any outdoor festival. I've been to all the major fruit festivals (apple, strawberry, blackberry, peach, watermelon), several Czech Festivals, a wide array of art and other such wonderfulness, but my fave is a music fest.

We are lucky enough to have a great one close by, and it comes equipped with the requisite hippies.

I have been attending for about 16 years now. It has really grown, but still maintains most of the same flavor. I introduced one of my good friends to it and she embraced it and became a total festifarian. She goes out for the land run the week before it starts and claims her camping spot with all the other diehards. Luckily for me she lets me spend a night or two.

We had so much fun and it was a great official start to our summer.  The Hippiekid loves it.

That's him, number 3 (not a shy bone in his body), joining in a game of hacky sack with the older, bigger hippie boys.

At this festival they have afternoon concerts tailored to the kids. Yet again, Hippiekid is front and center (wearing orange).

Every year I say I am going to plan better and go set up my own camp and stay for a week. Perhaps something like this:   Um, maybe not. Too much work.

Probably not this either- still way too much work.

I know it won't be one of these lovelies.

I'll have to work on it. If only I could focus that long. Seems I alwyas forget and plan a trip that I have to get ready for right at festival time.

Which brings us to the fact that we (Hippiekid and I) are leaving for Poland in about 10 hours. We'll be gone 2 weeks. We are very excited. I am actually almost all the way packed.

I hope this angel is sending Traveling Mercies my way. I'm not too good with that whole airpalne concept. I gave her a dollar. Damn, I forgot I have to cross an ocean... shoulda dropped a five on her I guess.

Are ya wondering about the haircut? Yep I did it. I am no longer a mock mennonite. After having long hair my whole life I decided to actually lighten the load on my head and go for a style. (ha! How long do you think that will last?)

Pictures taken by my wonderful festifarian friend.

Thanks Tamasita!

Bye y'all. Be back in two weeks.