Police World Edition 4, 2013

Article

A Magical Experience

View

more pictures from the trip Facebook Search for Rochdale and District IPA on

Phil Gilver and his counterpart in Poland, Tomek, arranged a Rochdale branch touring extravaganza for fifteen intrepid travellers in Poland. Phil recalls some highlights from the trip. T he warm welcome we received on arrival was just a foretaste of the amazing hospitality that we received throughout our holiday. Our Polish hosts certainly wanted to show off what their country has to offer. A minibus whisked us off to our first destination - Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. Our feet had hardly dispelled as the evening progressed with our friendly hosts. The next day saw our trusty minibus climb up into the Tatra mountains, crossing into Slovakia where we took a cable car ride from Tatranská Lomnica up to Skalnaté Pleso. We then proceeded onwards to the Demänowská Ice Caves. Once inside, we passed through an area where the temperature sits at 0°C giving rise to spectacular ice formations, stalactites and stalagmites.

than London’s Big Ben. After drinking in the history of Wawel, we moved on in the afternoon to the factory owned and operated by Oskar Schindler, immortalised in the 1993 film “Schindler’s List”. The factory is now an evocative exhibition site, chronicling what occurred there and in Krakow under Nazi occupation. Passing through the many rooms and corridors, spread over several floors, we periodically stamped souvenir clock cards - each one dated to show a different period in the factory’s history. Among the final visits to the landmarks of Krakow was the 250 foot high Tower at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy. We had a superb view of the city from its observation platform. Coming down from these lofty heights we travelled to Wieliczka to descend into the bowels of the earth at the town’s world famous salt mine, opened in the 13th century and producing table salt until 2007. Miners have carved out dozens of statues from the grey salt, as well as three chapels, and even a cathedral. The whole experience was rather magical. One final surprise awaited us at the airport. Our guides from Krakow had commented that they would be working at the airport that day and would hopefully see us there. I don’t think we were expecting to be greeted by two members of the Polish Border Guard! The hospitality which had been a wonderful feature throughout our stay in Poland continued even at this late stage. The guards presented each of our ladies with a large heart shaped biscuit. The men each received a bottle of Klasztorne Pivo - monastic beer. It was unforgettable holiday which had been so wonderfully enhanced by the sincere friendship of our hosts. When people have to say goodbye, it is sometimes accompanied with the comment, ‘we’ll see you again for sure’. In this instance, the comments were heartfelt. Phil Gilliver , Rochdale branch

touched the ground, or indeed our backs the hotel beds, before we were on our way again to the 17th Century Franciscan Monastery around which the town was established. The next morning dawned grey and misty - which seemed rather appropriate as accompanied by Artur, a Polish IPA member, we made our way to Oświęcim - better known as Auschwitz. Here we toured and relived what had taken place here during WW II. The afternoon saw our party in lighter mood as we visited Wadowice, the charming birthplace of the late Pope John Paul ll. We were also able to enjoy the beauty of St Mary’s Basilica. The next excursion with Artur, now joined by Bartek, was an invite to be the guests of the Mayor of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. We learned that this town is famous for the manufacture of furniture, and it seemed there was a factory on every street corner. Along with the Mayor, we were ushered into one such establishment, to be shown the production process and view the many examples of what was being made. One of our party asked if he could take home some samples. His question was met with broad smiles and he was to reap what he had sown later! Our next port of call was the ancient town of Zator - home to Poland’s largest park of model dinosaurs – which moved realistically and sounded quite fearsome. After returning to our hotel we were joined by members from the local IPA branch, whose great hospitality was once more in evidence. The samples requested earlier in the day at the furniture factory duly appeared, courtesy of a local policemen - any embarrassment was swiftly

Emerging into the bright sunshine once more, we were taken for dinner to a log cabin restaurant where fish can be caught in the pool inside using a fishing rod. Tradition decrees that you pay for what you catch but everyone helps you to eat it. We were soon on the road again heading for our ultimate destination of Krakow. On the way there we were treated to a wonderful leisurely trip down the Dunajec river from Sromowce Kąty. Our transport was not boats but rafts - each made up of five wooden canoe-like vessels fastened together side by side. These rafts carried around a dozen people and were propelled by two muscular boatman. With Poland on one bank and Slovakia on the other it was an idyllic journey of around two hours on the often fast flowing water. Our boatman enthusiastically described everything - naturally in Polish! We disembarked at Szczawnica. At dinner we were joined by Polish IPA colleagues Wyszek and Krzysztof who then escorted us on foot around Kazimierz, the Jewish Quarter of Krakow before spending a very enjoyable hour in a bar where we were entertained by a trio of musicians. On our first full day in Krakow, we climbed up the cobbled road to the top of the hill to visit Wawel castle, inside which sits Wawel cathedral - which is the spiritual centre of Poland. It is not easy to describe the grandeur of the 18 chapels or the splendour of the many ornate marble tombs it houses - including the solid silver coffin of Poland’s patron saint, Saint Stanisław. It was truly awe inspiring, as was the Sigismund tower, and its great bell which is one third heavier and 350 years older

10

Police World Vol 58 No.4 2013