In Czestochowa

Last month, we visited Czestochowa, a city in southern Poland and site of the Jasna Gora Monastery, where the "Black Madonna" painting is housed. This icon is considered to be the holiest relic in Poland and has a fascinating history.
(to read a bit about it, see the following sites:
http://www.mati.com.pl/jasnagora/?strona,menu,pol,eng,1672,0,1711,the_knight's_hall,ant.html
 http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/meditations/olczest.html)

Getting settled in our hotel

Entrance to the Basilica

The Black Madonna

Kate wanted to give a flower to this Sister, who rewarded her and her brother with candy

 Stations of the Cross

In the Knights' Hall

Kate's Preschool Graduation

The procession! The ceremonies took place at the garden of the Ambassador's residence

She runs for the diploma!

Let the cutting up begin...

Kate and her pals...losing composure

Fun with Rob the Magician 

Kate with her two wonderful teachers

Stephen shows off his blue tongue

with our lovely preschool director, Miss Barb



Our trip to Gdansk

After a rather long winter, we took our first trip out of Warsaw, to Gdansk on the Baltic coast to the north - we had beautiful weather and a marvelous time exploring.

 

Road trip bingo- gotta stay focused

This statue commemorates the defense of the Polish Post Office in Gdansk against German forces.

Raggy and Kate learn about hydraulic power at a mill

The view from our hotel room - not too shabby

Beautiful paintings on buildings throughout town

The fabulous "pirate ship" that took us to Westerplatte, the site of the official start of WWII  - the photos (beach pics) are below

We decided not to partake

Docks at the Gdansk shipyard, site of the founding of Solidarity

Kate grooves in the sand - first time at the beach since she was two months old

And Stephen the Younger's first visit to the beach...ever. Getting used to it!

He likes it!

Westerplatte National War Memorial

Malbork Castle, on the way home