Occasionally, Ed works at the other F-16 base in Poland. In the past, we’ve stayed in Lodz (pronounced Woodge). Lodz is the third largest city in Poland, and it offers many tourist attractions. While he’s been at work, I’ve checked out museums, palaces, explored their enormous shipping mall or taken in a movie. The downside of staying in Lodz is that traffic is so heavy that it takes an hour to travel the 18 miles between the city and the air base. That makes for quite a commute.
Last week, we stayed closer to the base in Lask (pronounced Wask) at the Kolumna Park Hotel in Dobron. The hotel is small with an excellent restaurant.
The hotel restaurant offers a great view of this pond which is inhabited by all kinds of water fowl.
Rather than museums, I took my bike and got in some miles on the nice bike paths along the main street and some of the back roads. The hotel also offers rental bikes if you don’t bring your own.
A field next to the hotel parking lot is home to three llamas and two pygmy goats. They were very interested in Benson. He was disappointed that they didn’t respond to his invitations to play.
We took the entire weekend to get back to Poznan – spending Friday night in Czestochowa. The town is home to a monestary with Poland’s Black Madonna. This is a painting of Mary done by St. Luke; yes, the Luke you know from the gospel. It’s amazing to think it has survived all this time. Millions of pilgrims visit the site annually. When I was reading Michner’s Poland, he wrote of the Polish magnates praying in this church before going off to battle.
Not far from the church we walked down the main street which was hosting a farm equipment exposition – more than a mile of brand new, shinny tractors and combines. Since we’re in Poland, there were also the requisite booths selling beer, sausages, and smoked cheese.
Saturday we were off to Wroclaw (sounds like Vrotzwov). It’s a larger city than Poznan, offering a different selection of restaurants. We had lunch at Piwnica Swidnicka, the oldest European restaurant, dating back to the early 14th century. Other than closing for remodeling, it has been continuously operated as a restaurant all this time.
Other than the sights in the Old Square, we took in the Panorama Ralawicka – a 19th century painting dipicting a battle that literally surronds the viewer. The 15 x 114 meter painting has found a home in a building designed to present this painting at its best.
PS – one other fun thing we did was meet Chris, the blogger behind Kielbasa Stories, and her family. I love her blog; the writing is witty, thoughtful, and humorous. So you know chatting with her was fun too!
An accountant by trade and a food blogger since 2009, Lois Britton fell in love with Polish cuisine during the years she lived in Poznań, Poland. As the creator of PolishHousewife.com, she loves connecting readers with traditional Polish recipes. Lois has a graduate certificate in Food Writing and Photography from the University of South Florida. She is the author of The Polish Housewife Cookbook, available on Amazon and on her website.
Stardust
When I saw title of your note, I knew you problably met Chris:))) Now, I'm jelous. I like Wroclaw a lot, that's one of my favorites in Poland, and I fell in love with Lodz 3 years ago, Gdansk and Krakow are always been close to my heart. Never really been found of Warszawa. I like the way you write how to pronounce the names of cities, very creative and helpful.
Lois B
Stardust – The pronunciations are so surprising for English speakers. 🙂
I think Warszawa is so big that it lacks the charm of some other Polish cities. We spent a weekend there and found it very expensive compared to Poznan, but the same can be said of New York City. My favorite part about our trip was seeing the Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego (Warsaw Uprising Museum). It was so
Stardust
You right with pronunciations:) I grew up in Kielce which my husband calls Kelse or something close;)
My husband fell in love with Torun, he thinks is much more charming then Gdansk, Lodz or any other city we have seen there. But for some reason, I never been to Poznan and reading your blog I think it was a mistake.
Chris
It was lovely to meet with you all too. I hope we get a chance to do it again 🙂
Kasia
My favorite Polish cities are: Poznan (of course), Krakow and Gdansk. I think you are right – Warszawa is too big. I hear many great things about Wroclaw – I am assuming it has changed a lot since I visited – some 15+ years ago.
It is great that You and Chris got to meet!
I had no idea that the Black Madonna was painted by St. Luke.
Chris
Greetings 🙂 I teach a 14 year old boy who is a big aircraft fan. We spent our last 90 minute lesson looking at pictures (over 5000 to be exact)and watching clips from the Radom air show. When I mentioned my father worked at Lockheed and I have a new friend who is an F-16 instructor in Poznan….you cannot believe the look on his face. My street cred is now through the roof!