My Call to Poland

Sukiennice, the impressive Medieval Cloth Hall, in  Kraków’s Rynek Glowny

You might call me unimaginative, but I’d never thought a great deal about Poland until that strange evening, 12 years ago, when Dad got a phone call from ‘home’.  For 64 years he’d had no contact with his Polish family, leaving the farm aged just 15, and in German custody.  That phone call turned our lives upside down.  Until then Dad had been my only Polish relative.  Imagine, overnight, you belong in an enormous family, who don’t even speak the same language as you.  But who welcome you with open arms.

That’s just how it was, and when Cathy asks ‘what is it that draws you to a place?’ then the lure of family surely has a part to play.  Over at Wanderessence she’s been exploring the reasons why we travel, and so much more.  I’ve always had that restless urge, but my first visit to Poland was a revelation.  I’ve never been hugged and kissed so much in my life.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  Outside of family and friends, Polish people are not normally smiling nor especially welcoming.  Given their history, they have good cause to hold a little in reserve.  But Dad was the long lost brother, and was treated like Polish royalty, while I followed along in his wake, smiling fondly but often with little real idea of what was going on.  The language barrier, you see.

Coach and horses have right of way in Rynek Glowny

The country looked so very different to the one I was used to calling home.  The chalet style houses looked different, out in the countryside.  One of the things I found really strange was that pipes often ran overhead alongside the country roads, rather than underground, as I was used.  But in the historic centres of the cities, the intricately painted and decorated facades had me stand and gaze in awe.   Kraków and Wrocław- I’ve been privileged to know both of these beautiful cities, because of my family.

Ratusz, the Town Hall, in Wroclaw
Fountains in Wroclaw’s main square

Polish eating habits are different too.  Second breakfast, lunch at 3 in the afternoon, and cake before and after almost everything! (that must be where I get it from 🙂  )  In the previous year, I and my husband had acquired a holiday home in Portugal.  Totally different culturally and in climate too, yet I found myself wondering, if we had known of the existence of the Polish family sooner, would I have been looking for a house in Poland?  I suspect I might.  I’ve always had the sea on my doorstep, and Poland is landlocked on 3 sides.  The Baltic coast is too far from family, but I’ve always been drawn to lakes and mountains too.  A visit to the Pieniny Mountain range, and the spa resort Szczawnica, linger in my memory.  Rafting through the Dunajec Gorge was a totally unforgettable experience.

Dunajec Gorge
Boatman in traditional costume
Heading downstream

I have shared some wonderful times with my Polish family, and written about them extensively, while trying not to give embarrassment.  The series My Personal A-Z of Poland has many tales to tell.  Dad died in October 2016 and I haven’t been back to Poland since.  But I can still feel the call.  Writing Easter cards took me back into each of their homes.  New youngsters have been born since my last visit, but my elders are growing older and, in some cases, frail.  I’m feeling the need to return, just once more, before starting my new life in the Algarve.

Dad with Uncle Wlodek, at home in Zgorzelec

I’m linking this to Cathy, on her series A Call to Place.  The lady is a human dynamo, seeking to improve her travel writing and to entertain us along the way.  Pay her a call.  She’ll be so glad to see you.

148 comments

  1. What a lovely post to start my reading off with this afternoon. Haven’t had Poland on our list of places to visit. Maybe we should. As always Jo enjoy reading your yarns 🙂

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    1. Culturally it’s very interesting, Suzanne. The Poles are very hard working and determined to make up for the years they lost after the war. The mountain ranges at the borders are beautiful and there are some wonderful cities. Have a peak in my A-Z when you have a minute. 🙂 🙂

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  2. I remember reading about your visit to Poland Jo. So glad your Dad had the opportunity to reunite with his family after so many years. Going to check out Cathy as well!

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  6. Oh, how I love this piece, Jo! That is so interesting how your dad left the farm, and his Polish family, at 15. And in German custody? I’d love to know more about that story. I can just imagine you going to Poland with him and not having a clue what was going on because of the language barrier. I’ve felt that so many times when I’ve gone to live and work abroad. And, it’s enlightening to finally know where your love of cake comes from. Haha 🙂

    I love how architecture is so different in every country. I don’t think you would like being landlocked though; you are a true lover of the sea. Rafting through that gorge must have been fun though; I do love mountains and lakes and rivers myself, and could be happy anywhere, except where I am in suburban Washington, which has none of the above except rivers! I think you meant to say your dad died in 2016, rather than 1916? Are you going to go back without him? I know you miss him so much. Hugs to you, and thank you for sharing this wonderful story. 🙂

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    1. Thanks so much, darlin 🙂 🙂 (one of my friends just read it on Facebook and pointed out the year too, so I’ve just changed it. Silly me! 🙂 ) The whole story is on here in Exploring the Polish Connection, Cathy (on the A-Z) so I tend not to write about it these days. I’m waiting for an email from my cousin Adam, in Krakow, and hope to arrange a week in late May/June. Nothing definite yet. One of my aunts is quite ill and I’d like to see her soon.

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      1. I hope you do go and get to see your aunt and enjoy the family again, Jo. I know you’re busy with your upcoming move, but I hope you can still maintain those connections. Have a great day! I thought it was supposed to warm up today, but it looks gloomy out.

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  9. I can relate to this, because I also had numerous relatives on my father’s side (in Hungary, the former Czechoslovakia and the former East Germany) whom I never met until I was in my 20s or 30s.

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  11. What a lovely story about reuniting with family you’ve never known. That is love right there, welcoming you as they see you. And cake all the time sounds too good to be true 🍰😆😊

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    1. It gave my Dad 10 more years of a good life, at a time when he was struggling with health issues and losing his wife, my lovely stepmum. I’ll be forever grateful for that, Emma. 🙂 🙂

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  17. Your Polish family is a wonderful legacy left by your father. I have never been to Poland but it is on my travel wish list, I hope you make it back to your father’s homeland again soon 😄

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  18. I’m going to spend time exploring your blog. My father, like yours, was Polish. He fled to England, joining the Polish Air Force as war began. He died forty years ago so we never had the opportunity to visit Poland together. As a small child, I remember my parents trying to source some prescription medication, and putting together a parcel containing things they rarely saw. Tea. Coffee. Chocolate. And with difficulty sending it off to his mother for his ailing step-father. There was little or no contact that I knew of. So when I went to Poland last year, contacting my family there was impossible. I don’t even know what my grandmother’s surname was following the death in my father’s childhood of my grandfather. Anyway, he was an only child.. Gosh, why am I even telling you all this? I guess your story of discovering a whole new family made me aware again of how little I know of that side of my family history. OK enough. Press ‘post’.

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    1. How very sad, Margaret. Quite a few of the people who follow this blog have a connection somewhere and it’s always good to hear their story. A whole new world opened up to me with the Polish connection. I feel guilty sometimes that I don’t make more effort to visit and to get on better terms with the language, but life rolls along and I don’t get any younger. Thank you very much for sharing with me. I appreciate your doing it. Sending hugs! 🙂 🙂

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