I started my personal A-Z challenge, in line with Julie Dawn Fox’s excellent idea, with an A-Z of Portugal. I’ve had a home in the Algarve for many years and love the place dearly, so it seemed quite natural to me. Barely had I got into my stride when it occurred to me that I should in fact be writing a personal A-Z of Poland.
My Dad is Polish and has quite an amazing life story, some of which I’ve already shared in Exploring the Polish Connection. Well, if you like to write, you like to write, so I’ve started model no.2! I’m writing mostly about personal history, but as I can never unharness the traveler in me, I’ll include Polish places that I’ve visited (or would like to!)
I started with A is for Alphabet, and also for Aunts. I was named for my lovely Aunt Anna but didn’t get to meet her till I was in my late 50s. 
Next came B is for Bełchatów, a town with the largest coal-fuelled thermal nucleur plant in Europe on its doorstep. More importantly to me, it’s the home of most of my Polish family. 
C is for Cousins came next- more than 20 of them! (I haven’t yet named them all) 
D just had to be D is for Dobry – the Polish word for “good”. 
A couple of contributors to the challenge posted letters out of alphabetical sequence. It’s not against the rules, so I couldn’t resist writing about my visit to the Polish capital in W is for Warsaw
Warsaw’s Stare Miasto?
After Warsaw, it had to be the ancient southern capital of Poland, Kraków, home to my cousin Adam: K is for Krakow.
The wall in the Jewish Cemetery speaks a thousand words
Back on course now with E is for Eagle, elokwentny and Edyta, featuring the Polish coat of arms, the White Eagle. 
A recent visit to Wrocław and the lovely twin towns of Zgorzelec/Goerlitz on the German border prompted Z is for Zgorzelec and Zakopane down at the bottom of the alphabet. 
And when I got home, memories of the Summer just had to be captured in G is for Grazyna. The Norfolk Polish family came visiting. 
Continuing this topsy turvy alphabet, I returned to fill up with F is for Food (jedzenie). And I do mean fill up! Second breakfast, anyone?
Grilled kielbasa
It took me a little while to think of it, but next I wrote H is for Hotel, featuring some of the lovely ones I know, and of course more tales of family.
The foyer in Hotel Jan PaweI Il on Ostrow Tumski, Wroclaw
My visit to Poland in May 2013 inspired O is for “okropny” and the Ojcow Valley. The weather was dismal but the scenery stunning. Some day I’d like to see more of the surrounding area.
Italianate gardens at Pieskowa Skala
J is for Jadwiga was a pleasure to write, both for the interesting history of Queen Jadwiga and because I have a lovely cousin of that name.
Jadwiga, “king” of Poland- image from Wikipedia
L is for Lusia, Lodzia and Łódź introduces a little-known but interesting Polish city and tells a little about Aunt Lusia and about Lodzia- Jadwiga’s mother. I came back here to see what I’d written about Łódź, after meeting my friend Meg there recently.
Sculpture of pianist Artur Rubinstein on Ul. Piotrkowska- from Wikipedia
St. Mary’s is one of Krakow’s most beautiful churches. Read all about it, and another cousin of course, in M is for Mariacki and Marysia.
Mariacki Church seen from the tower of Ratusz, the town hall.
Pope John Paul II was a charismatic and dynamic Pope, but more importantly, he was Polish. I tell a little of his history in P is for Pope, Piotrek and Przemek.
Statue of John Paul II in the grounds of na Skalce
R is for rodzina of course. What else could it be? And very wonderful they are too. This is Dad at Weronika’s wedding in Krakow.
Dad ‘dancing’ with his walking stick and cousin Irena
After the wedding I found a mountain retreat in Southern Poland, leading to S is for Szczawnica. A truly beautiful place!
Plac Dietla and Cafe Helenka in Szczawnica
The scenery just gets better if you come for a ride in T is for Tatry Mountains, I promise you.
The snow capped Tatry Mountains, seen from Lake Czorsztyn
Urszula, Ursulines and urodziny is a story of sisters, as is U is for Ula.
Ula, ‘sparkling’ at her sister’s wedding
After a little updating, I’ve added Zawady to the collection.
I need to make a sad amendment to my journey. Dad died on 2nd October, 2016. Our time in Poland together was very special. The family keeps on expanding and already Weronika, whose wedding he danced at, has 2 small children. I will go back to beautiful Poland, but right now I’m not sure when.
You can find out more by clicking on the logo below which will take you to Julie’s hub site, where you can also read some of the other contributions. Feel free to browse my personal A-Z of Portugal too. 
Have fun! Hope to see you again soon.
restlessjo 
What a brilliant idea!! And you’ve taken some great photos too 🙂
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The A-Z challenge was going strong when I started this. It’s fallen by the wayside a bit lately and some of my site needs a good shake. Thank you for having a look around. 🙂
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Brilliant!
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Thanks, Gilly 🙂 It needs a serious update, but when is there ever time?
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There just isn’t Jo, I long to be able to retire but still have 6 years to go!
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I’m retired 🙂 Since the blog, it doesn’t seem to help!
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Greetings to you directly from the Polish by Luke
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Many thanks to you, Luke! I had a wonderful time with my ever-growing Polish family. I will return your visit soon. 🙂
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I invite you again and waiting for you in Poland
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Such a comprehensive compendium of a country’s culture. I gain such value from your insights and enjoyable posts.
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Glad you enjoyed it. I need to add some more items but I will be back in Poland later this month so probably after that 🙂
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Awesome challenge, would like to do this as well someday! Thanks for sharing this Jo..I hope to visit Poland again someday..perhaps to visit Warsaw and Krakow.. 🙂
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Both are great cities, Indah. Wroclaw is well worth a visit too. I would like to venture to the north some day but my family are in central and southern Poland, and… well, you know it! Life’s just not long enough. Many thanks for your support. I’d love to see you doing an A-Z. 🙂
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and lot sod pictures I am sure!! 🙂
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well on this page, I will say – nice post Joasiu!!! 🙂
looking forward to the rest as it unfolds….
~y.
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Thanks! Where is your Polish connection, and do you speak the language? 🙂
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no – do not speak it – I am almost half polish. I love Polish food – and my oldest brother is the one that is really more in touch with this part of our heritage, but I am on my way….
and in my old hometown we used to have Dyngus Day…
http://www.dyngusdaybuffalo.com
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A Polka festival! What fun 🙂 I’m back in Poland on 29th April for a neice’s wedding and I know there will be lots of dancing.
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This is brilliant! Love the challenge… 🙂
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It certainly keeps me out of mischief. 🙂 I need to update it for the last couple of posts but you know there are only so many hours in the day. I’m going to knit a few more 🙂
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