Correction & some thoughts as we get ready to leave Poland

The Kurpie village we visited is setup as one would be for about 1900, not 1920.

As we traveled these past couple of days visiting where the Mozdzens came from, because Nona and I had a private tour at that point, we had an opportunity to have an extended conversation with our guide about many things Polish and Poland: what are homes like now; weddings; having babies; Polish cooking; the use of fruit in Polish cooking, mushroom picking; the drive by Poles for education; why there are so many small businesses; healthcare in Poland; city life vs rural living; Polish fitness centers; changes Polish diets; care of elderly; retirement in Poland; what the schools are like; why the Poles have been very successful in the move from Communism to Capitalism; who are the Poles we think of when we think of Poland and why; Poland's vacation areas; Warsaw, the city that does not sleep; construction of everything everywhere; the Jewish questions; THE Polish Rising 1944; life under Communism vs now; the unity of the Poles in purpose and as a nation; the great significance of Pope John Paul II; as seen in the cementaries, the importance of of remembering and honoring your ancesters; the role of the Catholic Church in Polish history and now; how the Poles, like the Jews, are determined to not ever allow themselves to be occupied again; the feeling of everything on the move in Poland, NO recession here; Katyn; and more.

I hope I can convey my thoughts and what we have seen. It has been an awesome experience. I now even more stand humbled by those who came before.

Will be writing notes as Nona and I travel home and selecting photos to post. Will add to this blog in Chicago/Boston.

Dzienkuja, Poland. We shall return and soon!!
Dziadzio Mozdzen and Nona

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Mozdzen Polish roots found

Yesterday very exciting. We visited Antonia, Piatkowizna, Zalas, and Lomza. Went to government offices and the two churches attended by Piotr and Rozalja Mozdzen. Have in my hands birth certificate for Branislawa (Berha) Mozdzen. Have photo copy of official record of marriage of Piotr Mozdzen and Rozalja Lazjer. It is written in Cyrillic. I found and have photo of Micholi Lajzer family census done by the Parish, St Stanislaus Kosta in Zalas.

Today visited Kurpie village. We are all Kurpie. Saw how they lived in 1920 in Antonia, Rosalja's village.

Bringing all home, and more, tomorrow, Sunday, August 1, Polish Rising 1944, when all of Poland stops at 5 PM for 5 minutes to honor the 200,000 Warsaw Poles who lost their lives in the Polish Uprising against the Nazis. The uprising began at 5PM on August, 1944.

We have wonderful trip and met some terrific people.
Watch blog for more
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Polish folk dancing

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Begin forwarded message:

From: Linda Mozden <lindamozden@hotmail.com>
Date: July 28, 2010 6:05:09 PM EDT
To: "smozden1.dahju@blogspot.com" <smozden1.dahju@blogspot.com>
Subject: Polish folk dancing

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Today was too good to hold for later............

Have notes and pictures for missing days. Will post them tomorrow.

However, we have some pics that cannot be held for proper editing. Today we went to Krakow(krak-off) A beautiful city that is over a thousand years old. Pope John Paul II is very much reveared by everyone in Poland, especially in Krakow. Will devote a post to why that is.

During the day we stopped at one the best of Poland's many chocolate shops: had very,very delicious hot drink of chocolate and a piece of apple pie that only royalty is served. Both Nona and Dahju felt like we had joined royalty by the end of the repaste.

This evening we had a traditional Polish dinner with much meat and dancing and beer. I have not seen such since my grandparents had gatherings at their house for religious holidays. Nona even got into the spirit of things, as the pics show.

Saturday July 24: Our first day in Warsaw & on our own

let see, so far we have learned that to have a harley in warsaw is to be very rich. even the guy in the harley store said so.  and, we have seen very many weddings; every church had at least one going, another to follow. everyone has an old car for a limo.  everyone with babies have baby carragers like Nicole. perogies are great; but, pears and ginger bread with ice cream is better. polish beer is terrific. and the da vinci exhibit is worth the trip. nona thought Lady with Ermine is better than mona lisa. uncle sol has traveled with us getting reacquained with his city. tomorrow we find a resting place. more with pics later when we get back from supper and the formal beginning of the tour.
Dahju

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Zakopane: Poland's Vacationland

Zakopane: One of Poland's vacation areas, even the Poles are tourists. Riding thru beautiful mountains; all buildings are alpine style; flowers planted where ever a place available; every home is a small family business taking advantage of tourist traffic. Every building has intricately carved w decorations. All carvings,cate no matter how large or elaborate are of one piece of wood.
We have a Blog for those receiving this for the first time. Yes, we are in Poland. The Blog is: SeekingPolishRoots.Blogspot.com
Stopped to see typical Polish wood church. Wood is Linden and left natural. The drying before using of the wood must be a fantastic process; not a hint of a split anywhere. Next to the church, a stunning cementary. Like New Orleans the vaults are slightly above ground. Every grave site has fresh flowers and candles. Yes, fresh cut flowers. Seems someone from the family visits every week.
Pouring rain ended plans for a river raft ride; got 3 hrs of walking around Zakopane open air market, which was mostly covered (no rain). A pleasant surprise, our fellow tour group turned it all into a terrifically fun stop! Despite the rain, we were determined to have good time,ee and we did. The market is like the ones in the US, only much larger, with literally everything available: cabbage and cauliflower, honey and preserves, footwear and fur coats, knitted sweaters and baby clothes, Polska banners and huge elaborate hand carved of single pieces of wood bas wall hangings, smoked goat cheeses and fresh berries, wood toys and wood kitchen utensils, lace table cloths and beautiful hand painted Polish pottery. Got some wonderful pictures of the women selling the many items they handmade.
Lunch was even more fun. A group of us gathered in Polish version of a beer garden. Nona and I had some delicious potato pancakes. We shared with a fellow group member, who gave us some of her scrumptious perogies. All had a glass of absolutely great Polish beer.
The ride to Krakow is showing us Poland's most significant issue--roads. Maine is a superhighway everywhere compared to Poland. Even many of the main roads are very curvy thru every hamlet two lain paths that reduce average speeds to crawling (average 30-60 kilometers per hour or 25 MPH). Introduce construction and standing still is fast moving. It does allow roadside vendors of blueberries and watermelon to strike up conversations and complete sales. (Red's Eats never had it so good.) Makes for very long trips although covering very short distances. Our tour guide when asked about this stated: "Although we appropriate much money for road construction and repair, no one knows where the money goes; the roads are still not fixed!" Sound familiar?!

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Czestochowa & Auschwitz: An emotional day

Czestochowa: saw black Madonna & chapel of St Antoni of Padua (chapel being restored) both stunning & very moving; brought to tears @ sight of BM; nun for guide really good, she was no nonsense with a strong touch of humor; got prayer cards, lit candles for all, wish there was more time.
We got to Jasna Gora just after 11 AM, the veil is dropped over the Madonna each day at 12 noon. Thus, I wondered whether we would make it whereas we were not inside yet. Helps to get a good guide! We got a Polish nun who looked like a 5' 2" babci used to getting across exactly what she wants and expects everyone will fall in line. She had a beaming smile and glistening blue eyes which made you want to do whatever she asked. In 10 minutes she gave us the history of Poland and explained its people's love of the Church. And, as part of her explanation, she covered why the Black Madonna is so significant to the Poles and the Polish Pope. She then proceeded to get us via the sacristry nearly on the alter for the final 15 minutes of prayers.
There was a huge crowd that filled the Church to overflowing. There we stood at the very front. The sight of the Black Madonna and evident devotion to Our Lady and Jesus shown by everyone was so moving I spontaneously broke into tears. Precisely at 12 noon, the curtain dropped and the ceremony ended. The emotion I felt has been matched only one other time in my life, the first time I went to the Vietnam Wall in DC. Overwhelming!! Uplifting!!
The tour then went to Auschwitz. A real downer. Because I had been to Dachau, I was not as stunned as many on our tour. However, one thought did strike me about "the Final Solution" that makes it so spine chilling: it took great planning with meticulous attention to detail. The men who did this, conducted the action like they were launching a large business. The worst part of it is not that they were evil, which they were, it is that they did it with no emotion, nothing more than stepping on a sidewalk. Being evil does not explain or describe them, they were worse than evil. Being evil implies a degree from good. How does a parent raise their children within sight of the crematorium and with the smell ever present. That is worse than being evil.
The last event of the day was a long, long ride to the outskirts of Sakopane. We traveled roads that seemed like climbing a major mountain; then down a swerving twisting corkscrewing road that although done at 30-40 KMH seemed way too fast. At least it was in the dark so we could not see the worst of it.
It was a very late night--11 PM checked in, 11:30 in bed sleeping!

Some have asked about the different spellings of "Polish grandfather.". The explanation is fairly simple. Dahju was selected because it was simple and as adjusted something kids could say without struggle and embarrassment. The true Polish name requires a "dz" sound by slurring the two letters together. The Polish word for grandpa, the familiar name as opposed to the more formal and distant grandfather, especially an issue with Poles. (One you are a member of the family or close enough to be considered such. The other is formal and used to address with respect an older man.) When I setup my Hotmail account I elected to call myself "Dziadzio Mozden" or "Grandpa Mozden." It is the same as Dahju except it is the true Polish spelling. Guess in the signing I am forgetting which mode I am in. Sorry for the confusion.
Pics tomorrow AM our time. Bedtime................

Dahju

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It only took 14 Hours.....19 Hrs.....23?.....28! Really??

It was scheduled as a relatively easy trip with some time for some sleep, reading, movie watching, and anticipation. to Warsaw. Now 11:15 AM. No rush----United Flight departs for Chicago at 3:36 PM.

Then, it began,,,,,Amtrak was on the Summer schedule, which front loads departures from Portland. No mid-day train. So, we leave Saco 8:22 AM; arrive Boston North Station 10:24 AM. Cab to Logan, 10 minutes. Checked through to Warsaw. We are at the gate ready at 11:15 AM.

Time for lunch. We order chicken sandwiches. They are the result of some over exuburant cook laying on the pepper and everything else within reach. Even the FFs have taken on a serious off taste. Scrape off the pepper. Drink lots of water. Go for a walk. Have time to make last cell calls and send last emails.

The flight to Chicago goes very well, except they offered lunch. Got to get this food thing under control. The flight lands at 5:06 PM CDT. Getting to the international terminal proves more difficult than anticipated, seems everyone is confused with new security procedures---us too.

We get part way thru security and are told there is no food inside. Now we know why so many people were going back. Back to the food court. We get sandwiches from McDonalds. Taste good at half the cost. Back thru security.

Get to the gate and find the message posted: "3 hour delay, maybe longer." "Linda wait here. I will go to the counter." Back thru security. "Yes, that is correct. There are no alternatives. Please take these dinner vouchers." Still have this food thing all wrong. Back thru security.

Linda is sitting calmly knitting. Only 5 hours to wait. Sit down and start to read. Linda tells me time for a walk. Another item not properly coordinated. Go for a walk. Go for 2 walks. Finally, it is time...............

We star to board at 12:20 AM Friday. Now the primary language is Polish. Should have begun the language refresher much earlier than I did. Most people are carrying US passports; very few red Polish passports. The crew is very friendly and helpful; pass out soft warm blankets and pillows. At 1:00 AM we are finally airbourne bound for Poland.

We are again offered a hot dinner. Still got work on this food thing. We all fall asleep. The crew lowers the window shades and we all sleep for a few hours. When we awake it is to lunch. Linda notices a Scottie across the aisle from us in an open top carrier having some lunch also.

After 8.5 hours and 4800 nautical miles we land in Warsaw at 5:09 PM Friday Warsaw time. Yes, I know that you can fly from Newark to China in 13 hours. But, we came to Warsaw, not China.

Witamy w Warszawie!!!!!
Dahju

Ready to go; waiting for Saco Amtrak

.....and we are off

Linda and I had Cathy Lund drive us to the Saco train station at 7:45 AM to board the Amtrak to Boston. It is from Boston that our journey will really begin to Poland.

To leave before 8 AM we had spend most of yesterday in last minute preparations. Some of them, such as getting catfood, could have been done earilier. Others were the result of having too much time to think. So you start dreaming up things that need to be done or added, such as getting that last bit of network cable. How many computers do we have with us!?

We have quite the act to follow. Kim and Todd have been doing an outstanding job with their blog. We intend to post something each day, to include some pictures.
Also, we will be dressing this site up as we go. It was created last night.

We are currently in Boston waiting for our flight to Chicago. Your has completed her emails and is now knitting. I have completed reading the Boston Globe and am now working on this first post. Seems everyone traveling now has a computer of some type they are on; few read newspapers or do paperwork. Ahhhh.............progress.

We have downloaded on the iPad three movies; for the trip: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Invictus and Katyn. With books and journals, we should avoid boredom.