Poland in Pictures #5: Side trip to Prague

Prague Old Town Hall Tower at night, built in 1338.  Reminded us of Hogwarts.

The Prague Castle is perched on a hill, overlooking the town.  This amazing structure, established around 880, is the largest castle complex in the world.  It is jaw-dropping.

 

St. Vitus Cathedral, established in 1344, resides within the complex of the Prague castle.  The most amazing thing about Prague is that it was not destroyed in the war, therefore treasures like this are all original.

The Interior of the St. Vitus Cathedral

The Charles Bridge that crosses the Vitava River in Prague.  The construction of the bridge started in 1357 and was finished at the beginning of the 15th century. It is protected by three bridge towers and is decorated by 30 baroque-style statues.

Poland in Pictures #4: Wroclaw

Bronze sculpture on the streets of downtown Wroclaw (my husband's hometown)

Wroclaw train station, opened in 1857 and recently renovated

Wroclaw Opera House, built in 1841

Poland in Pictures #3: Auschwitz

The ironic and heartbreaking gate into Auschwitz..."Arbeit Macht Frei", translated means "work makes you free".  This gate was stolen in December 2009 by two Poles and a Swedish former Neo-Nazi leader.  It has since been recovered, but in the spirit of security, the original is protected within the museum, and a replica is kept outside.  

A sample of eyeglasses taken from prisoners

The firing squad wall

One of the two large gas chambers in Birkenau (the second and larger camp in the same city).  These structures were destroyed by the Germans to remove evidence of their crimes on January 26, 1945.
   

Prisoner's quarters

Poland in Pictures #2: Czestochowa

A portion of the Jasna Gora Monestary, located in Czestochowa, which houses the religious icon The Black Madonna painting.  Thousands of Catholics walk on foot across Poland as a pilgrimage to this location to pay homage (In 2012, 103,000 made this pilgrimage).

Inside the monestary cathedral

The Black Madonna icon, credited with various miracles ranging from the winning of battles to the crippled being able to walk.  Although it's origins are shrouded in mystery and legend, it has been associated with Poland for over 600 years.

Evidence of The Black Madonna's miracles

Poland in Pictures #1: Warsaw

King Zigmund's Column, located in Castle Square, erected in 1644

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, since 1925 has contained the body of a young unidentified soldier that died in battle in 1918.

The best soup on earth that I could eat every day...Zurek.  To my knowledge, we have nothing in the US that compares.

Pillar in the Holy Cross Church...within it is the urn containing Frederic Chopin's heart.

Not So Wordless Wednesday: New York #3

So what could this be?  A corporate office perhaps?  A cyber-cafe?  

Nope.  It is the Delta terminal at the Laguardia Airport.  I walked through with my mouth hanging open.  What on earth was this?  Desks with barstools at each station.  Each station containing a multitude of outlets and wired Internet connections, plus an iPad and a credit card swiper.  I thought "Ah!  I have to pay for the privilege!".  

Not so.  Everything was free to use.  

The iPad had an application where you could buy, let's say, some sushi and a glass of wine, and have it delivered to where you were sitting.  Hence the swiper.  I think you could also buy stuff, like products, but I'm not sure if those would be brought to you, or shipped to your home.  I was in too much of a shocked state to check.  You also just read the USA Today, or read blogs.  

Could this be the wave of the future?  I sure hope so.  It was just so civilized.  

Not So Wordless Wednesday: New York #2

On our walk to Times Square

Central Park

Bergdorf Goodman window

Here are a few shots I took around New York City on our visit.  As much as we try, Orlando just doesn't convey the same sense of holiday that NYC does.  It was pretty magical to us.

Not So Wordless Wednesday: New York #1

Right around the beginning of December last year, my husband and I took a quick trip up to New York for a business meeting.  Hubby goes every year, and I usually stay home with the kids, but this year I got the treat of going.  Everything was completely decked out for the holidays, including the lobby of our hotel.  As we were checking in, various chefs from around the city were scurrying around setting up their individually-designed gingerbread houses.  

Ahem...these don't look anything like the ones my daughter and I make.  

The top photo is an Aztec temple.  The second one is that NYC building under construction and the crane that almost toppled as a result of Hurricane Sandy.  The third appears to be an Asian temple of some kind.  I guess it gives us all something to aspire to!

Not So Wordless Wednesday: Fenway Park

I had to include a picture of Fenway Park from our Boston field trip.  Because Fenway is just as much a classic institution and part of history than anything on the Freedom Trail, if you ask a Bostonian.  It is the oldest operating Major League Baseball stadium, and has had it's doors open since 1912.  If you ever visit Boston, you owe it to yourself to take a tour, whether you are a baseball fan or not.  It is insanely cool.  

Not So Wordless Wednesday: Bunker Hill

Another stop on our Boston field trip was the Bunker Hill Memorial.  (As you might be able to tell, this picture was shot through the window of the bus.  I was not interested in getting out in the cold and rain.)

I grant you, this is not a photo that's going to win any contests.  But I remember a story that our guide told us, and at the risk of getting some of it wrong (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) I had to share.

Well, you notice that it looks a heck of a lot like the Washington Monument, right?  Actually this monument was built first.  There was a contest for the design, and it came down to two guys (one designed this obelisk and the other designed something more ornate).  The obelisk won, obviously.  So then the loser of the contest, probably highly annoyed, when over to Washington D.C. and submitted an obelisk design for the Washington Monument and won that one.  But that one was bigger.  Ha!  

I thought it was a funny story.  I imagined lots of drama.  It doesn't take much to entertain me.

Not So Wordless Wednesday: Plymouth Rock

So continuing on from my discussion last week...Boston field trip, nor-easter.  Another stop on our tour of history was Plymouth Rock.  This symbolic monument to the landing of the Mayflower and Pilgrims is right on the water, and with winds so fierce we could barely walk, we scurried off the bus, snapped a picture, then ran back to the bus.  

Still, our guide did inform us that this is more a symbol than the actual rock that the Pilgrims hit coming into shore.  There was no written reference of any such rock until 121 years after the fact!  I guess there were a lot of claims made, but who knows?  Anyway, it is old, it looks important, and it is stamped with the year 1620.  We braved the weather and saw it.  That is good enough for me.     

Not So Wordless Wednesday: Salem, Massachusetts

In early November last year, my son and I went on a field trip to Boston.  In the middle of a nor'easter.  Rain, 70 mph wind, and even some snow, which is exciting stuff for Florida kids.  

One of our activities was to take a walking ghost tour of Salem one cold, rainy night.  These are some scenes from that night.  Did we see ghosts?  Some parents swore there were orbs showing up in their photographs.  I think it was more light reflections from the street lights, but it was fun to play along.  

I didn't take notes, but I remember our guide telling us that there are a gazillion people that descend upon Salem for Halloween.  Hotels book up years in advance.  I actually preferred the cold, wet, haunted desolation of the place when we visited...great atmosphere.  

Not So Wordless Wednesday: Indiana Sunset

When it comes to my summer visits at my parents' house in Indiana, this picture pretty much says it all.  

Not So Wordless Wednesday: Chicago #7

These are photos of The Rookery, a very famous building and Chicago icon.  After the fire in 1871, the city exploded with new growth, and this building is a fine example.  It was designed by the well-known architectural firm Burnham & Root (who was at center stage in "Devil in the White City").  The building was revolutionary in 1888, when it was built.  First, at 11 stories tall, it was one of the first buildings to use metal framing with masonry walls on such a large scale.  Today it is considered to be the oldest standing high-rise in Chicago.  

Because of the innovative design, it allowed the use of large expanses of glass, which gave access to unprecedented amounts of light and air.  As you can see in the pictures above, the "light court" or the center of the building (which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1905) almost seemed like a bird cage.

This structure is breathtaking.  It is located at 209 South Lasalle Street.  If you are ever in the financial district, you should take a moment to pop your head in.  I guarantee it will be a highlight.