Cholera victims

Another trip on the horizon! :-)
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Today's bike ride had a serious purpose, to the forest to find a cross that marks the old burial ground of the cholera victims, probably from the end of the 18th century.. Unfortunately, we set off too late, the search was not easy and we had to pull back as the night was coming fast. Even faster came a serious rain making us soaking wet in no time. Fortunately, it was warm, despite the rain.
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Here is the darkening sky:

A pretty garden in Ponurego Street:

Off to Krakow

A cat's 'tent', toy and teeth cleaner at Galleria Krakowska!

The night brought some strong wind and the air is cool and fresh this morning.
Off to Krakow!
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I am back and head over hills, happy! My knee is getting better! It's healing at its own pace, but it certainly is!

When I arrived in Krakow I phoned the dear doctor to postpone my visit, because I was pretty sure the knee would need another injection or else. Then, I reasoned, I'd be hobbling on the three (one leg plus crutches). Seeing the doctor later gave me some time to enjoy the old capital. After a bit of a walk to soak in the Old Town atmosphere, I stopped for a coffee. The place was new to me, in Reformacka Street, next to IPN (Institute of National Remembrance Krakow Branch premises). It had a very clever name "Róg Brackiej i Reformackiej" (Corner of Bracka and Reformacka).  No need to trouble the memory with remembering the address once you know the name! :-)

 The 'No smoking' sign encouraged me to step in. Surely, there is a ban on smoking in public places, but I just found it amusing and intriguing.

 The place wasn't open yet, but a kind barmaid eagerly made me the coffee of my dreams: tasty, aromatic and hot, with a bit of hot milk, no froth! :-) I learnt the cafe has been there for at least 17 years, mostly local people visit it and that bridge tournaments are held regularly there. Many old radios on display come from the collection of the cafe owner, just like the old photography of Krakow.

The building on the next corner was the regional headquarters of  Solidarnosc (Solidarity).

The old town walls around Florian Gate were full of paintings for sale, as always:

Let me add more pictures from my today trip:

Only in Krakow: 'Indian Cuisine Pizzeria'!

A Polish Florence Nightingale lived here:

 

Plac Szczepanski (Szczepanski Square), previously a parking place and a few centuries back a cemetery...

Pałac Sztuki

Bunkier Sztuki exhibitions:

 I had an interesting chat about art with the man who admitted me to see these works. I agreed with him that young people nowadays do not seem to take pleasure in looking at objects of art as generations before have. They want to interact with these objects, change and re-assemble them.

Going home:

The mini-coach only stops in Kielce, before Skarzysko. Here is  Kielce equivalent to London Oxford Street, the main shopping street in this town:

Kielce mini-coach station: 

When we reached the station in Kielce, the driver proved right. Everything was shut. Nowhere to buy anything after ... 7 pm! The afternoon coffee, delicious as it was, didn't give me enough fuel and my stomach was beginning to eat itself, or so it seemed. I no longer resisted the kind driver's offer and had some of his chocolate. That was a true life saver!

The funny thing was that he had found this chocolate in the car. Some foreign tourists had left it behind, I learnt...

When you leave this forest, you are in Skarzysko-Kamienna!

Good night!

Monks, Samizdat and W. Sedlak Library

Good morning! Headache defeated with pharmacological products. What a start!
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Today I met a befriended Cistercian brother from nearby Wąchock. We had a long chat. I am impressed with how much he is involved in different charitable projects, on top of his religious duties. He looks after a group of disabled people, organises free time activities for the local poor children, looks after the local museum, runs a club for teachers. I learnt about the various projects and initiatives, about a serious problem there is with the men who decided to leave the monastic life. It's very hard for them to find a place in the secular world. They are often rejected by their families. However, there is a place where they can go. In a village of Nowy Skoszyn near Swięty Krzyż, there is an Albertine Brothers run centre for old homeless and disabled people who have nowhere to go. The 'no-longer-monks' can live and work there, I was told. The Albertine Brothers were founded by Albert Chmielowski, who was also a talented painter. If you click on his name in the previous sentence, you will be able to see some of his paintings. Do you have a favourite one?
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I must admit I am cross with myself again. I missed the workshop  at the Town Cultural Centre last weekend. I really wanted to attend it. Must be the heat effect...
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After biking in the evening heat I skipped on swimming this evening. Instead, I got back to some pictures and am sharing a few more from Wlodzimierz Sedlak Library in Skarzysko. They show some of the underground press and publications Wikipedia reads: 'In the history of the Polish underground press, the usual term in the later years of Communism was drugi obieg or “second circulation” (of publications), with the implied first circulation being legal and censored publications. The term bibuła (“blotting paper”) is older, having been used even during the partitions of Poland.'

Let me also add the pictures I took in a room where items related to Priest Professor Sedlak are displayed. Mrs Danuta Żyła looks after this little museum and is always eager to show you around and tell you about this fascinating person.

One of Professor's sisters painted this:

A portrait of W. Sedlak's sister:

Professor's famous walking stick and many other items that belonged to him: