Przemysl I

  

We traveled by train from Krakow to Przemysl-- we remember the name of this place as it is the last stop for the journey from Warsaw to Krakow. We always looked for Przemysl to get on the right train. The train compartments look the same they did in 1988; however, we heard no Dire Straits music which played on the trains in 1988-89. We called it our traveling music.

We looked out onto rich farm land--fields of corn, wheat, potatoes-- with neat farm houses interspersed with birch, pine, and willow trees.

The trip was over 5 hours but we had a tasty lunch and several good naps. Kaja watched for the first views of her hometown

We also passed many old train lines showing how important Przemysl has been. It is here that trains had to be exchanged for ones with a wider wheel base to go into Ukraine.

The train station is impressive and lovely inside.

We checked into our rooms at the Benedictine Abbey and walked over to this restaurant.

Where we had a delicious meal-- salad, pizzas, and wine.

Then a walk around this atmospheric and beautiful city.

The city mascot is the Bear and here in this fountain are two.

The good Soldier - Szwejk - with Kaja

And here is Adam Mickiewicz, the favorite romantic Polish poet who is in Krakow's Rynek.

Looking from our window into the Abbey, a lovely and comfortable lodging.

We had a small kitchen, two bedrooms, and large common room where we ate our leftover pizza for breakfast!

Then we headed for this large cemetery.

Where Kaja's family is buried. She cleaned the gravesite and left new candles.

We visited the Jewish part of the cemetery.

In a taxi we drove into the countryside where Kaya's grandfather had a big farm, maybe on the hill below. During WWII, the Russians took the farm and sent the family to Siberia. They were diverted and ended up in Kazackstan where Kaja was born in 1942.

We were very close to the Ukranian border. Once a year the Ukranians are allowed to cross the border  to Przemysl  to worship in a Catholic Church.

We visited a small cemetery where Kaja's grandfather is buried.

In this cemetery we saw graves marked with the red and white eagle designating that the person had been sent to Siberia during the war.

 

This house once belonged to Kaja's family.

We were in a taxi and stopped at this house to ask directions. Sołtys is the village manager.

We found the place and walked along a road banked by wild flowers

Until we came to these massive fortifications that surround Przemysl. The Ring Fortress of Przemyśl  at the beginning of the 20th century comprised one of Europe's largest Fortresses. During WWI, it became an arena of fierce combat. Austrians, Hungarians, Russians, Germans, Czechs, Poles, and Italians all fought here.

At one point Kevin and I had to get help from our taxi driver

However Kaja scampered up like a gazelle!