Page 10 - Police World Edition 4, 2013

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.
The 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
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
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.
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
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
A Magical
Experience
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Article
Police World Vol 58 No.4 2013