Our World

We left May 14th from Calgary to London. After waiting for few hours we caught our plane to Warsaw. In Warsaw my dear friend Bolek and his lovely wife Dorotka were waiting for us. By the time we reached our temporary apartment (courtesy of Bolek and Dorotka) it was really late. Bolek worked everyday so Dorotka looked after us. She took us to Lazienki, Wilanow, Old Town. After few days my dear classmate Marlena and her husband Chris took over. We spent with then a week. During that time we went to a small fishing village in Mazuria lake district where we fished day and night for 3 days straight. We had fantastic time there, thank you Marlena and Chris indeed. On our way back to Warsaw we stopped at their friends place in the middle of nowhere right by Narew river. One would think that he died and went to heaven this is how beautiful it was there. Place should be called “Heaven” (Raj). Few days later we went to a birthday party hosted by Chiris’ causin Irek. Wow, what a nice day it was spent in the company of very nice people. They are living proof that Polish hospitality is truly of magnanimous proportions. After few days in Warsaw we went to Katowice. There we had our own apartments courtesy to Leszek and Ola. Few days later we had a real fun being part of Leszek’s 50th birthday celebration crowd. While in Katowice we went to Tychy to see Ela’s father. After Katowice back to Warsaw for few days. Finally after almost 30 years we met my very good friend Ninka and her husband Jacek. Ninka’s father played extremely crucial role in my life if it was not for him and his help I would have never…….but that is another story. We had wonderful dinner with Ninka (she is an amazing cook or should I rather say CHEF), Jacek and Ninka’s Mother. Mother Barbara (Nina’s Mother) is probably one of the very few surviving real distinguished Ladies from before war era. Couple of days after memorable diner Ninka and Jacek took us first to see some wonderful gardens and then ruins of an old castle in Czersk. It was a remarkable day, first beautiful gardens, then romantic ruins finally fantastic meal in fantastic company of our friends in one of Warsaw’s restaurants. we signed the day off with a long and very nice walk all the way from Old Town to our location on Litewska Street. After our brief stay in Warsaw we were off to Gdansk. On the way to Gdansk we visited my aunt in Bartoszyce. She is 91 or 92 and had promised me not to die until I have seen her. Well, she sure kept her promise. I hope to see her again next time we go to Poland. In Gdansk we spent great time with my firend Marek and his wife Danusia. We went for a long walk in Gdansk, drove Leba where I visited Ela’s Mother resting site, went Malbork, Sopot and Gdynia. After over a week in my home town back to Warsaw. On the way we stopped and visited Lucek, a guy whom I used to work with in LOT (Polish national air carrier). Driving back to Warsaw was a nerve trying experience. To cover the distance of about 250 km we needed over almost 7 hours……hehehehe (driving in Poland is not a walk in the park). Few more days in Warsaw, we went to see my high school teacher - another unforgettable meeting. I see him and his wife each time I am in Poland, he is a SUPER guy. Finally Bolek drove us to Okecie and we were back on our way home to Calgary.