Page 23 - AAA Now! – AAA Central Penn – January/February 2021

From Castles to
Salt Mines
Poland is Pleased to Welcome You
By Craig Haberle, CTC
Listen for the trumpeter’s hourly call from the church tower in Krakow. Hearing this five-note anthem on your first day in Poland introduces to you to the country by one of its many rich traditions. Now you are ready for your guide to reveal the history and culture of this proud country and its hospitable people visited during AAA’s tour of Poland, July 15 – 25, 2021.
Promenade around Krakow’s large and beautiful old-town square as you hear the local guide’s stories of the surrounding palaces, churches and townhouses and the forefathers who built them. Head up Wawel Hill to the remarkable Royal Castle and Cathedral to revel in the esteemed art collections of this first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Go down in the incredible Wieliczka Salt Mine to gaze upon its intricately carved chambers. Visit the former Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz and Podgorze Ghetto Square; symbols of religious traditions are embodied in authentic folkloric gifts available here.
Travel to the Tatras, the highest range of the Carpathian Mountains. Explore Zakopane, a resort town renowned for winter sports, summer hiking and uniquely Carpathian wood buildings. Settle in for the evening with a dinner of local cuisine
and wine, plus Goral Highland folkloric entertainment. An unforgettable day’s journey takes you past the birthplace of Pope John Paul II and later to Oswiecim, also notoriously known as Auschwitz; a local guide tells of Birkenau’s tragic past.
Route your way along the Oder River to Wroclaw, controlled at various times by Poland, Bohemia, Austria, Prussia and Germany. Now the city’s colors come from its flamboyant flower market and multi-hued façades on noble mansions. Renowned as the Polish Venice with its 130 bridges and 12 islands, Wroclaw is popular also for its hundreds of gregarious gnomes who initially were symbols of anti-Soviet sentiment and now are ubiquitous bronze statues serving as sources of civic cheer.
Proceed to Poznan for a locally guided tour of the Old Town where you learn the secret of St. Martin’s croissants and savor tasty samples. Travel to the Teutonic Knights’ medieval town of Torun, now a living museum; treat yourself to their gingerbread for a slice of local baking. Go to Gdanzsk’s Shipyards where the anti-Soviet “Solidarnosc” movement was successfully launched by Lech Walesa. Here on the Baltic Sea, Gdansk’s medieval buildings harken back to the centuries when trade and defense of Baltic countries were dominated by the Hanseatic League. Move on to Malbork to tour its fortress, reputed to be the world’s largest brick Gothic castle.
Your carefully curated tour concludes in the country’s capital, Warsaw, where sightseeing includes the Palace of Culture, Chopin Monument in Lazienki Park, Ghetto Heroes Monument and more. Your guided walk through Old Town, wholly rebuilt after World War II, provides an inspiring portrayal of the people’s pride in their country of Poland.
TRAVEL
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