Piotrków Trybunalski

IMG_6661I’d like to spend just a little more time with my Zawady family, before returning you to the big city sights of Kraków.

We sat out, on my last night, under the stars and beside a roaring bonfire.  Myself and Jadzia, with husband Andrzej and sister, Ewa.  I was quiet, letting the conversation flow around me, while Jadzia and Andrzej took turns to stoke the fire, the kiełbasa bursting and sizzling on the grill.  My head was still full of the day’s excitement, with Meg in Łódź.

Broad smiles and hugs had greeted me when I pronounced the day ‘fantastyczny’ on my return.  Ewa was quick to produce a bottle of something soothing to rub on my black eye, which was rapidly developing after the previous night’s misadventure.  How is it possible to walk into a lighted porch lamp?  I’ve no idea, but I knew that an early start was intended next day.

If you look closely you’ll see Andrzej, sitting on the hammock.  For the past 50 years he has wanted a motor bike.  Finally, as he approaches retirement, Jadzia is considering letting him buy one.  And so we went to the Saturday morning market at Piotrków Trybunalski.  The last place it would have occurred to me to go looking for a bike, but sure enough, bikes there were.  And just about every other conceivable thing too.  We stowed our purchases (but not a bike- they were all too old!) in the car, and drove into the town centre.

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Seldom have I seen a sleepier Saturday morning than at Piotrków Trybunalski, yet the grandeur of the main square hints at its illustrious past. Medieval Piotrków was an important trading centre, and much later became the seat of the Sejm, the Polish Parliament.  In between times it was home to the Polish prince’s tribunals or law courts, including the Royal Tribunal, the highest court in Poland.  I knew little of this, as I strolled through the peaceful square.

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Under Austrian occupation in World War 1, Piotrków became a centre for Polish patriotic activity and a headquarters of the voluntary troops, the Polish Legions.  The town had a large Jewish population, and in October 1939 became the site of the first Jewish Ghetto of World War 11.  Fierce fighting took place but the town was subsequently occupied by the Germans for 6 years.  The Great Synagogue, listed as one of Poland’s most notable architectural buildings, was destroyed by the Nazis, but renovated after the war.

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As we wandered, Jadzia pointed out the school she used to go to, catching the early bus from Zawady each morning.  She was proud of the connection with Copernicus, and I was happy to be there with her.

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It was time to return to Zawady, but first a very swish motor bike shop, and a stop to collect cake.  Just one last coffee before we set off to meet Dad, for the journey south.  And then the hugs, goodbye.

Paula has a new approach to Thursday’s Special this week.  I think I might just squeeze this under the heading of Transience, don’t you?  Family meetings and former glory.

90 comments

  1. le radici sono profonde nell’albero della vita alla terra ciui hanno tratto nutrimento, è quello che si legge con amore e nostalgia, subito riportato alla realtà in questo bellissimo post, la sensibilità acuta che ti contraddistingue qui esplode come fuochi d’artificio
    un grande abbraccio amica Giovanna

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    1. I like to write with passion, even if these are only travel memoirs, Annalia. I very much appreciate your company and your understanding. Returning those hugs 🙂 🙂

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  2. I sometimes think my entire life has been in transience. Maybe now I shall grow some roots. Such a delightful end to your Polish adventure Jo (or dis I read that there is more to come?) At some point I may catch up with the blogs. I am so exhausted at the moment, but sleeping well at last – though maybe not tonight as the animals are ‘at it’ again!

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    1. Ha! Guess who I found hiding in my Spam? And you were in very good company! WP ditched 5 of you, including Pomme and ET, in the trash yesterday 😦 Duly rescued. I do check pretty often. Not sure if it’s got worse since I changed to Premium.
      I was very brave today and upgraded to Windows 10. Half expected the laptop to explode but it’s coping. 🙂 Go easy on yourself for a while, Jude. The blog’s just a bit of fun and escapism and you probably don’t really need it right now. Still a couple of Krakow based posts to go, but I’m doing YSP on Monday, to break things up a bit and to keep it seasonal. Hugs sweetheart. Glad I rescued you 🙂

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      1. YSP? I am definitely out of the loop! Wasn’t just your site that spammed me, I commented on a few and they just vanished into the ether, so I gave up! I installed Windows 10 on my Surface (only use it when travelling) but since I don’t use Apps on a PC I figure I don’t need it. Garden taking up a lot of time at the moment as things are shooting wildly! The kids sorted out the back end for me so that’s good, now I can’t resist buying some plants 😉

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      3. Thinking of some before and after shots. Won’t be a very long walk though unless you run up and down a few hundred times 😀

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      5. So near and yet so far… still I guess Novak deserved the win after all his attempts. We commiserated by going out for a carvery in a nearby pub, very nice it was too 🙂

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      7. That sounds nice, I think we have some lemon curd ice-cream in the freezer. No blackberries though unless you are sharing?

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  4. The buildings are beautiful, Jo. I’m not sure what kiełbasa is, but I bet it was very tasty after cooking it on the grill 😉 I hope your eye is okay – that sounds like something I would do xxx

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    1. Sorry, Nicole! This was lurking in my Spam along with some other good friends. Mischief elf has been around again 😦
      Piotrkow is only a small provincial town but the old side is beautiful. I usually visit Poland once a year but I think this will be my final visit for a while. Dad is 88 now and he’s the main reason I go.

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      1. Does your Dad still live in Poland Jo? Wow….! So do you speak Polish and were you born there? I guess I never asked you that before Jo.

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      2. Not at all. I go with him to see family on a yearly visit to Poland, but at 88 we think this may be his last trip. I don’t speak Polish and i don’t know if I ever will, successfully.

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