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. Sorry to hear that you got a black eye Jo during your travels – hope it cleared up quickly! I love the history behind this post and am amazed at the grandeur of the buildings – somewhere I hadn’t heard of previously! Hope you’ve had a good week and have a lovely weekend too 🙂

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    1. It has just faded, Rosemay, after about 3 weeks. 🙂 I’ll be more cautious next time. It’s not at all a famous place and I was quite amazed at all the history in Wikipedia. A fairly quiet week and miserable weather but hopefully on the upturn.

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  2. Definitely transience is fitting and quite sad when family live so far away. What a beautiful way to spend an evening sitting around a fire and sharing food and drinks and memories mounting up. I’m surprised the town centre was so quiet but it would be lovely to walk around and take all the lovely photos. I hope your eye is now back to normal, poor you. Has the motor bike been bought yet?

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    1. I emailed Jadzia last week and I totally forgot to ask about the motor bike! Silly me. The ones in the showroom were very sleek 🙂 I think everybody must have been at the market that morning, Pauline. It was a big one!

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      3. I wonder how they work out the spams. This prompted me to have a look in my spams and I found one from Dianne Gray, along with some very strange ones!!!

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  3. Dear Jo, another click into your wonderful relative’s life in Poland, you are kind to us, your fellows! Thank you, I love it and eat your words so quickly that it’s never enough for me, I need more always! You were lucky to make pictures without people. I have been in Krakow last week and it was so crowded I have no possibility not to catch someone’s head! It is really a lovely city! I am so sorry to hear about your black eye, poor you, hope you didn’t suffer too much! Please do take care! We all worry about you! Have a lovely forthcoming weekend and many wonderful walks!

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    1. Hello Ann 🙂 Did you have a visit yet from Susan? She was writing about the Ukraine this week. I will ‘introduce’ you on next Monday’s walk. 🙂 🙂 Thank you very much for your kindness. Yes, I’m fine- just a little light headed. No brains to weigh me down.

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      1. No, I haven’t met Susan yet, can you give me her blog link, I’d love to meet her and read about Ukraine! Oh, Jo, you are always so kind, don’t know if I deserve it! Thank you so much!

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      4. This is Susan. Thanks so much for introducing us, RJo! We did meet-up, and I had a wonderful time reading Ann’s last story. Fun place, this blogger’s world, isn’t it, where we can meet up, three countries all at one time!

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  4. A quiet town center has its charms. And, so much easier to take photographs without people in it! You had your own personal tour – history in a peaceful setting. I love it!

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    1. I had been curious about the place for quite a few years. Liesbet, but I hadn’t realised it had such a colourful history. Our visit there on my last morning was totally unexpected, and it was it’s own ‘mini highlight’. 🙂

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  5. Some of these bright blue skies and white squares could almost be in the Algarve Jo, I can see why you love it there. Ahh, the goodbyes, I knew you’d be like me, a bundle of tears. I’ve just spent a few days with Nina and as usual, driven away sobbing like a loob. So you’re forewarned, when we meet I’ll cry when we say goodbye. It sounds like you’re going south again fairly soon, are there any gaps in your calendar for a maybe Brum meet?

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  6. yes! i see Andrzej sitting on the hammock his stare fixed on the fire! 🙂 Jo, thank you for sharing these precious moments with your family and the hugs and goodbyes. your photographs eloquently portray a lovely and historic Poland countryside. thanks for taking us in your journey 🙂

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  7. Jo a beautiful post not only for it’s images bu for the feeling that exudes from it for your family. Safe travels and hugs. Hoping goodbye was eased with lovely memories.

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  8. This is my third attempt to comment. Kept getting “lost internet connection” which only applied to my comment. So here goes again.

    It was lovely to find more of your Poland today. Your Polish posts are delightfully intimate. I’ll be sad when you return to England – if you do in the blogosphere before the next visit to the Algarve.

    I can’t believe you take such splendid photos on that unpretentious little camera. My favourites in this batch include the fire, the church that follows the fire and that last musical shot. You’re doing Poland proud, and you have such an eye for composition and subject.

    Hugs to you on a warm night after a walk in the park and two sleeps.

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    1. Are you commenting on your iPad, Meg? Sorry to be a pest 😦
      I think I may have another 2 weeks worth of Polish posts so I should get to the Algarve before I physically go back. No pressure 🙂 🙂 I was surprised at how well the photos of the fire came out, and just had to squeeze them in somewhere. It’s the only kind of heat we have around here. 😦 Thank you for your kind words. Hugs zooming back at you 🙂

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      1. You’re not a pest! Never. I can’t comment elsewhere because my laptop hasn’t recovered from the flight yet. I suspect it may have been a WordPress thing – there’ve been a few stray incidents today. Sorry about the cold there. Here is definitely summer.

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  11. Oh, Jo, I’m so sorry about your black eye. That sounds like something I’d do! Sitting by the roaring fire and exploring the market sound like wonderful ways to spend your days in Poland. Happy days! 🙂

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  14. Great post Jo.
    The word pick challenge was made for you, of course. Restless at its best. And probably too transient a trip for your own liking.

    I can see from your posts that Poland deserves more of my time. One day!

    Enjoy Newcastle!

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    1. Thanks, Debs. 🙂 Your post this morning was the first time I knew what Paula’s prompts were so I had to improvise/cheat, because my post was already written. Lots of lovely places in Poland. I’ve ticked a few off 🙂 🙂

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  19. Pingback: Thursday’s Special: Pick a Word | Lost in Translation

  20. Yes, transience can be applied to just about anything in photography :). This was a great outing, but I have stuff to do and can’t stay long. Loving the final shot.

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