THE ROAD HOME PRESENTS A VERY SPECIAL TRIP TO POLAND:A ROAD OF DISCOVERY-WARSAW TO GDANSK

Organized by:

Dorena Wasik - Polish American Foundation of

Connecticut

Aleksandra Kacprzak – genealogist

Dorota Chylińska – coordinator

Warszawa

Gdańsk

Sopot

Gdynia

Hel

Władysławowo

Łeba

Kluki

Szymbark

Kartuzy

Ciechocinek

DISCOVER THE CULTURE, NATURE AND GENEALOGY FROM WARSAW TO GDANSK

CENTRAL EUROPEAN GENEALOGY MEETING IN WARSAW

Organized by:

WTG - Warsaw Genealogical Society

Partners:

AGoFF - Arbeitsgemeinschaft ostdeutscher Familienforscher e. V.

Working Partnership eastern German Genealogists

Polish American Foundation of Connecticut, USA

Association of Polish Professional Genealogists

Polish lectures simultaneously translated to English!

Dorena Wasik, genealogist from the Polish American Foundation, is a speaker.

MUSEUM OF KING JAN III’S PALACE AT WILANÓWThe Wilanów Palace is one of the most valuable monuments of the Polish Baroque style.. The historic residence was built for King Jan III

Sobieski at the end of the 17th century and was expanded by subsequent owners. The Palace architecture combines the tradition of a Polish

manor house with an Italian country villa and a French palace. The Palace is filled with original artwork and rich furnishings representing

three eras of style. In its collection, the Palace has s a large number of Polish portraits, other paintings, sculptures, and goldsmith art.

The Palace is surrounded by wonderful historic parks and

gardens, covering over 100 acres with various styles of

architectural objects and sculptures integrated into the

greenery. The park was created in the second half of the 17th

century as a palace garden for King Jan III Sobieski.

CULINARY WORKSHOP IN WILANÓWLet’s start our culinary adventure by

meeting with fascinating historical

cuisine!

Old Polish cuisine was full of contrasts and

unusual flavor combinations

We will cook using original recipes coming

from the first known Polish cookbooks.

Finally we will sit together at the table to

taste the dishes we prepared.

PALACE OF CULTURE AND SCIENCE

The tallest and most recognizable building in Warsaw is the

Palace of Culture and Science. The building is visible from

almost every part of the capital. It was opened in 1955 at the

request of Joseph Stalin as a “gift of the Soviet people for the

Poles”. Built by Russian workers, it was considered to be a

symbol of socialist power. Currently, the palace is home to

theatres, a cinema, museums and trendy pubs. From the 30th

floor of the building, 375 feet above the street, you can see

the beautiful panorama of Warsaw. Socialist era sculptures are

found in the niches of the Palace’s facade. Each sculpture

symbolizes a different field of science, art, technology or

culture. For example: a young man with a book of classical

literature, an archer and a woman from Central Asia. Directly

across from the main entrance, you will find a stone honor

tribune, from which the first secretaries of the Central

Committee of the Polish communist party greeted those

marching on the May Day parade.

The Palace has 3,288 rooms, with a total area of 130,000

square feet. In its entirety, the entire facility is over 28 million

square feet, making it the second largest building in Warsaw,

the National Stadium, built in 2012, being the largest.

TAKE A BOAT THROUGH GRASS

Established in the second half of the ninteenth century, the Elbląg Canal is the

longest navigable channel in Poland, and is considered a great example of the

technology from that time period. It was built to connect East Prussia with the

Baltic. Its current length with all its branches is over 93 miles. During the cruise,

we will admire both the nature around us and the technology that navigates the

boat over the various water levels with 300 feet of differences.

The boat uses a unique

system of traditional locks

and non traditional

inclined planes. At certain

points, the boats are

placed on special

platforms are carried

across a system of rails

over the land.

„ODWIEDŹ KASZUBSKĄ ZIEMIĘ, TU KAŻDY CZUJE SIĘ JAK W NIEBIE”

“VISIT KASZUBY LAND, EVERYONE FEELS LIKE THEY ARE IN HEAVEN THERE”

EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CENTER

The European Solidarity Center is a modern institution of culture, which

perpetuates the memory of Poland’s greatest civil success - the victory of

Solidarity. It is a museum commemorating the Solidarity revolution and the

collapse of communism in Europe, but also includes an educational and

scientific-research center, archives, library and media center. There is also a

public space, which serves as a meeting place for citizens who feel

responsible for the development of democracy: a zone of practicing

solidarity and citizenship.

The heart of the new headquarters of the ECS is a permanent exhibition

dedicated to the history of Solidarity and opposition movements that led to

democratic changes across Central and Eastern Europe.

The first and second floor exhibition covers an area over 32,000 square

feet.

The exhibit presentation use both the traditional methods for presentation

and modern electronic equipment. The collection includes photographs,

films, documents, maps, biographies, calendars, and press clippings ...

THE OLIVA CATHEDRAL IN GDAŃSK

The Cathedral was built in the 13th century by the Cistercians and dedicated to the Holy Trinity, St. Mary and St. Bernard. After the

1350 fire, it was rebuilt in the Gothic style and has remained unchanged since that time. It is the longest church in Poland at 350

feet.. The bell tower is characteristic for Cistercian architecture. The Cathedral is a three-nave basilica with baroque furnishings. The

altar consists of intricatly carved stalls with 16th-century polychromes. The Cathedral’s organ was built between 1763-88. The

Oliwa organ is known around the world and attracts thousands of visitors to its normal year-round concert schedule and its summer

festival concerts.

THE MUSEUM OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR

The Museum’s location is symbolically located 650 feet from the

historic Polish Post Office in Gdańsk and 2 miles across the water from

Westerplatte Peninsula, both of which were attacked in September

1939, the beginning of World War II.

The building has 250,000 square feet of exhibit area with the

permanent exhibits occupying 54,000 square feet. This exhibition uses

the most modern methods to present the Second World War from the

perspective of big-power politics and the fates of ordinary people. It

is not limited to the experiences of Poles, and includes the experiences

of other nations..

GDAŃSK – WORLD CAPITOL OF AMBER

60 varieties of amber have been discovered around the world,

including precious Baltic amber. Baltic amber was formed about 40

million years ago from fossilized pine resin.

Amber workshop

Learn how to recognize real amber, how to find amber, and how the

artists create fantastic pieces of jewlery.

THE SOPOT PIERThe Pier is one of Poland’s most popular Polish

recreation and events.

The venue consists of the wooden pier and beach

areas.

The beach area (Bathers Square) contains: a gorgeous

historic fountain, a lighthouse with a vantage point, a

bandshell, restaurants and plenty of greenery.

The wooden pedestrian pier includes the main jetty

which extends into Gdańsk Bay, lower decks and a

side deck, which enables mooring of passenger ships.

Since 2011, the Pier head has been an operating

marina, which accommodates 100 boats.

At the farthest part of the jetty, the iodine

concentration is twice the level inland.

EMIGRATION MUSEUMGdynia is the site of the first museum in

Poland dedicated to the history of Polish

emigration. From the initiative of the city's

authorities, the historical edifice of the

Marine Station – which witnessed the

departures of Polish ocean liners for decades

– is now an institution which recounts the

migrations and fates of Poles in the world in

close connection to the modernity. The history

of emigration is being written every day.

The mission of the Emigration Museum in

Poland is to recount the fates of millions of

Polish who emigrated from Poland, both the

aonymous and the famous, including those

names connected to great achievements in

science, sports, business, and the arts. It is the

ambition of this institution to make them

known to Poles at home, and to encourage

our compatriots living at home and abroad to

get to know each other.

GDAŃSK - HEL CRUISE

The Hel Peninsula is one of the world’s most amazing peninsulas. The sandy

scythe 21 miles long, formed by the sea current flowing east along the

Polish shore, in a large wooded area.

We will go to narrowest part of hell and walk the 325 feet from one side to

the other. Walk across Hel with the Polish American Foundation!

SLOWINSKI NATIONAL PARK

The dunes in the Słowiński National Park are the largest belt of moving

dunes in Europe. It is a real sandy desert located on a narrow spit between

the Baltic Sea and Łebsko Lake. The wind moves the Łeba dunes to create a

beautiful desert landscape, unique in Europe. It is often called the Polish

Sahara.

ATTRACTIONS IN KASZUBY

The Kashubians culture is distinguished by a very interesting folklore, mastery in

fishing, extensive craftsmanship and beautiful embroidery.

The greatest treasure of this group is their language, which is not considered a

dialect, but actually a separate language.

EVERYONE WILL SING IN KASZUBIAN LANGUAGE – IT’S EASY

OPEN-AIR MUSEUM IN SZYMBARKIn the heart of Kaszuby forest , a collection of attractions

Museum of Kaszuby culture

The real house from Siberia which housed Polish exiles

A bunker from WWII including an interactive experience

The longest board in the world (registered in Guinness book)

The largest concert piano on the world (registerd in Guinness book)

House of the Kashubian traper from Canada

Kaszubian brewery

The upside down house

DUMPLINGS-MAKING WORKSHOP

Home-made pierogi (dumplings) are a famous Policy delicacy. Every region of Poland has its

own special recipe of both sweet and savory varieties. Pierogi can be boiled, baked or

fried, and the filling can be made from almost anything: from strawberries to cottage

cheese.

During this workshop our pierogi teachers are a group of women from the village of Lubień

and we will learn to make pierogi from the best cooks in the area and bring their secret

recipes back to America.

You will become a pierogi master!

Cooking is an adventure!

ENJOY CIECHOCINEK

Ciechocinek is one of the most popular spa cities in Poland. Tourists

and patients are attracted by Tężnia, three historic salt water

graduation towers. The towers are arranged in a horseshoe shape.

Two towers date from the first half of the 19th century. The last

tower was built in the mid-nineteenth century. These are the largest

buildings of this type in Europe. They are wooden and are designed

to evaporate water from medicinal salt brine, creating healthy air

around tęznia.

The town contains elaborate flower beds, a flower clock and a

beautiful park. All designed to create a relaxing and restful

environment.

EVERYDAY

LOCAL

FOOD

SHORT TRIP PLANDay 1 June 05 – Friday

Arriving to Warsaw

Welcome dinner

……………………………………………….

Day 2 June 06 – Saturday

Genealogy conference

……………………………………………….

Day 3 June 07 – Sunday

Warsaw, travel to Elbląg

……………………………………………….

Day 4 June 08 – Monday

Ship on the grass, genealogy meeting, Gdańsk

……………………………………………….

Day 5 June 09 – Tuesday

Gdańsk, Oliwa

……………………………………………….

Day 6 June 10 – Wednesday

Sopot, Gdynia

……………………………………………….

Day 7 June 11 – Thursday

Kartuzy, Węsiory, Gdynia

……………………………………………….

Day 8 June 12 – Friday

Gdynia, Hel, Władysławowo

……………………………………………….

Day 9 June 13 – Saturday

Łeba, Kluki

……………………………………………….

Day 10 June 14 – Sunday

Kartuzy, Szymbark, Lubień

………………………………………………..

Day 11 June 15 – Monday

Ciechocinek

……………………………………………….

Day 12 June 16 – Tuesday

Fly home

DAY 1 June 05

Welcome dinner

Night in Warsaw

DAY 2 June 06

Genealogy conference with break for lunch

Night in Warsaw

DAY 3 June 07

Wilanów palace, cooking class,

Palace of Culture and Science, travel to Elbląg

Night in Elbląg

DAY 4 June 08

Ship on the grass Buczyniec – Elbląg

Meeting with Pomorskie Towarzystwo Genealogiczne

(Pomerania Genealogical Society in Sopot)

Night in Gdańsk

DAY 5 June 09

European Solidarity Center, concert in Oliwa Cathedral

Museum of WWII

Night in Gdańsk

DAY 6 June 10

Amber workshop, Pier in Sopot

Emigration Museum

Night in Gdynia

DAY 7 June 11

Corpus Christi mass in Kartuzy

Węsiory stone circles

Night in Gdynia

DAY 8 June 12

Port in Gdynia, catamaran cruise to Hel

Train to Kuźnica - narrowest spot on Hel

Fire place, folk group entertainment

Night in Władysławowo

DAY 9 June 13

Dunes in Łeba, Kluki – Slovinian skansen

Night near Kartuzy

DAY 10 June 14

Kartuzy – Kashubian museum

Szymbark Center

Pierogi workshop

Night in Ciechocinek

DAY 11 June 15

Ciechocinek – Tężnie, park

SPA – additional cost, by special arrangment

Goodbye dinner

Night in Ciechocinek

DAY 12 June 16

Travel to Warsaw – fly home

TO SIGN UP OR MORE QUESTIONS EMAIL:

DORENA726@YAHOO.COM

The Road Home trip starts in Warsaw on June 05, 2020

and ends in Warsaw on June 16, 2020.

The trip cost is $2,795 per person, double occupancy.

There will be an additional $ 500.00 fee for single occupancy.

The cost includes all ground transportation in Poland, hotels, professional

tour guide, private tour bus, admission to scheduled attractions,

11 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 9 dinners.

The trip size is limited to 15 people.

Deposits are due by January 15, 2020.

Final payment is due by March 1, 2020.