Member Takes Family On Unforgettable Poland Tour

By Peter Pietrucha

Peter Pietrucha is surrounded by his family as they take a trip down Poland’s Dunajec River. Click to enlarge.

Sometimes we wonder what will our children and grandchildren do with the inheritance we leave them. Well, I decided to spend some of it with them and invited all of my children, their spouses and my grandchildren for a trip to the land of their great-grandparents.

My family’s response to this trip to Poland was enthusiastic; all 15 of us were about to make this unforgettable voyage. Shortly after this trip was announced, everyone started to learn a few Polish words and phrases. My daughter, Joan Furman, was placed in charge of organizing the trip, with the help of staypoland.com as our tour advisor. We arranged to have an overall tour guide with special tour guides in the larger towns such as Warsaw, Torun, Gdansk, Zakopane and the holy shrine of Czestochowa.

A countryside horse ride. Click to enlarge.

After arriving in Warsaw, and after a brief rest, we attended a private Chopin piano concert at the Myslewicki Palace in Lazienki Park by noted piano Virtuoso Monika. The children were impressed by the movement of the pianist’s fingers. The next morning, we toured Warsaw and Stare Miasto with a tour guide who seemed to know the history of every building and monument in the region.

Our transport was a 25-seat Mercedes bus with a safety-minded driver who treated me as his father. Our next night was spent at a Chinese hotel in Sopot along the shores of the Baltic Sea. This was so the grandchildren could swim nearby. After touring Gdynia, Gdansk and the Solidarity shipyard, we visited the new Amber Museum before venturing onto the Malbork Tutonic Castle. I was surprised to see how enormous this structure was.

The Pietrucha family with visiting monks in Czestochowa. Click to enlarge.

While some went shopping, myself, sons Peter and Robert, and grandson Adam played golf at the new Sierra Golf Club, a very up-to-date facility. The golf carts had built in distance finders. No blue jeans were allowed so my son Peter had to buy a pair of pants.

Our next stop was to the four-star Bytow Castle Hotel for a traditional Polish dinner and a Tutonic Knights duel with swords and sabers, which ended in a tie. One knight was Christian, the other was pagan. This was followed by a duel with long bows and regular bows to see who could shoot arrows most accurately at selected targets. This was won by the Christian knights. The grandchildren were then allowed to shoot at the targets, which were now covered with balloons. The rooms were spacious and modern; some had four poster beds and canopies.

Bryan Masserang rafts a boat down the Dunajec River. Click to enlarge.

When we stopped at Torun, the ancient city of Copernicus, we visited his home and the Ginger Bread Bakery, where the Old Witch swore the children to secrecy before they were allowed to mix the secret ingredients and bake the bread. Our supper was at the well-decorated Inheritors Club Restaurant. When we arrived at Czestochowa, we were blessed because the only time it rained was when we were on the bus. Before entering the Shrine, we met some visiting monks who turned up their hoods and gladly joined us for pictures. Our guide told us the story about the Shrine. In the evening at Zakopane, we were entertained by a Highlander show in the Bakowo Zohylino Restaurant by a Gorale band and dancers.

Roasting some kielbasa over an open fire. Click to enlarge.

Rafting on the Dunajec River was very exciting, especially when the rafter allowed the grandchildren to use the pole to guide the raft. He loaned them his hat and also placed his ornate vest on my granddaughter Christie. In the evening, we ventured in a horse-drawn cart driven by a Gorale in his native coat and wool pants to an Inn where a roaring bonfire greeted us so we could grill our kielbasa. A large iron pot was hung over the fire in case anyone wanted seconds of Bigos or “Hunter’s Stew.” It was very appetizing. We had an extra surprise when across road a large flock of sheep were being herded by sheep dogs.

The next morning we rode the ski cable cars to Kasprowy Wierch and the top of the mountain restaurant. The grandchildren were excited over the view and the fact that they could put one foot in the Czech Republic, still hold the other foot in Poland and realize that Pope John Paul II skied and walked this mountain as a young priest.

Standing in front of the Kosciuszko Memorial Mound. Click to enlarge.

The visit to the Kosciuszko Memorial Mound was special to me. As President Emeritus of the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Association of New Jersey, I had to visit this tribute of Poland’s peasants who could not afford a monument. Instead, they brought buckets of dirt from all areas of Poland to dedicate a lasting memorial to their hero. The size of the mound is hard to imagine. It is several hundred feet high. On my next visit, I plan to add a small bucket of soil from Chatham Township, N.J.

In the afternoon we visited the Wielicka Salt Mines. As there were too many steps, plus the fact that I visited this place a few years ago, I met them in the Salt Mine’s restaurant for supper. I was astonished at the size of the room, especially since it is still underground.

In Krakow, we were met by another guide as we toured the city and its many famous landmarks with stops at the Cloth Hall and the Church of the Virgin Mary, waiting for the bugler to sound the Hejnal and praying before the famous Wit Stwos cared wooden Altar. In the evening, we had our supper in the Cloth Hall Square at an outdoor restaurant.

This “Inheritance Tour” for myself, my children and grandchildren will be remembered forever.