Where has the time gone?!?

Needless to say the results of "What Color Is Your Parachute" would not place my alternate career as a professional blogger. I'm just not committed enough! There remain many trips and experiences for me to blog, pictures included. Here is a sampling of our whereabouts and whatabouts since Berlin: A long weekend to Krakow with events to include an indoor waterpark (it rocked!), numerous trips to Europe's largest rynek (market square), WWII Holocaust sites and an amazing salt mine tour; a girls weekend to experience Poland's coastal living on the Baltic Sea in the cozy seaside resort town of Kolobrezg; shopping for amber; a few days in the industrial (meaning: not so pretty) town of Lodz while Allen worked at the base there; walks and sites teaching us even more of the complicated history of Poland as represented in reconstructed market squares, cathedrals and whole towns; last but not least......A VISIT FROM NANA.

Gloria arrived July 18th and we've had a great time wrapping up our last 2 weeks in Poznan by showing her all of our favorite digs. Her motto of "it's all new to me so whatever we do is great" has been so very easy to plan around. From the castle in Rogalin, the cathedral in Gniezno, the parks in Poznan to the Greek restaurant around the corner, she has been exposed to the public transit, a variety of weather (still 30 degrees cooler than Phoenix) and both the mundane and not so mundane of the life we have created for ourselves over the past 2 1/2 months. We will miss our Nana, Suegra, Mom and Gloria when she departs.

I aspire to continue to process and articulate in writing the many things we've done. Jumping ahead of this though, I am sad to know my archive will soon have no more filler as we prepare to leave Poland. The girls are all ready to be back. When asked "have you enjoyed the summer?", the response is a very easy and quick "yes, but it was long". They are ready to come home to Tucson.

Bikers in Berlin

Now who would have thought that a large city such as Berlin could be bike friendly? When we arrived on Saturday we saw bicycles everywhere but attributed the free wheeling spirit to the diminished weekend traffic. Surely one could not navigate the sites on these perilous streets during the week! Monday proved me wrong.


While I wish I could quote the girls, I know for myself I kept singing aloud "lose me forever in Berlin on a bicycle". Had I any idea just how much fun those bikes would be we would have rented them the entire weekend. We traversed to the shop that bragged having a seat for Rosemary, were cleverly nudged out of line by a young German couple (guess they thought their flip flop riding adventure took priority over our chaotic fivesome trip) and once we got our sea-legs under us, we were OFF!


A quick trip to the grocery for picnic items, crossing the dense traffic along with other cyclists, and we started for the bikeway running along the Spree River, jolting through the run-down but highly used Tiergarten which lies between historical West and East Germany. In each city Rosemary has one and only one requirement for fulfillment: a playground. No matter how rusty or new, so long as it has something to play on other than a park bench, she is happy. Thus we were praying to the playground gods that they may provide and lo and behold they did. We stopped the bikes, picnicked at a worn down riverside playground and filled the Rosemary square.

Continuing down the Spree River bikepath I noticed the sacredness of this river to the Berliners. An older couple seated beside the river on their sandchairs sunbathing, couples "connecting", university students reading, sandy beach beer gardens erected and professionals taking a break for lunch, a smoke and conversation beside the Spree. To the visitor, the river appeared murky but to the locals, it drew them to its banks.

Now onto the final destination of the Charlottenburg Palace (Schloss Charlottenberg: http://www.aviewoncities.com/berlin/charlottenburg.htm) where we played a game of frisbee, took photos on a funky sculpture in the front and by fluke happened upon the best part--an expansive park and garden on the frontside that we almost bypassed. We felt rogue traversing the pathways on our bicycles but not one German security guard nor citizen scolded us. It truly was there for all to enjoy by foot or bike.

Alas our 4 hour bike rental had expired and we needed to load the train bound for Poznan. As we crossed the Germany/Poland border and the voice on the intercom changed from German to Polish, we all felt a sense of "ahhhh...a familiar tongue" even with our lack Polish language competency. While Germany proved efficient and tidy, Poland has offered us a warmth from people that differs from her western neighbor. Our weekend in Berlin provided a small glimpse of this.

The sun shines in Berlin.....and boy did our doggies hurt by days end

We need these in Arizona! Bikes powered by beer drinking fuels/fools. Where's the energy tax credit for this one?

From historical West to East Berlin--JUMP

A part of the Berlin Wall still standing

Who would have thought that obtaining enough personal space to do a "simple" blog post would prove such a challenge. Truth be told, I think I am underestimating a) how little time there is at the end of any day regardless of adventures to recount the day's events and b) just how on top of eachother we are to include arm wrestling for our seat at the family computer.

Alas, a sprinkle of reality requires me to disclose that while I think we are faring quite well as a fivesome given just how much we are together, the infrequent moments such as now when Rosemary naps and Rach and Em are in the courtyard playing soccer with some other youths maintains some sanity. Cliffnotes: it's not always all peachy travel time but well worth the bickering to be here for an extended period.

Berlin Day One:

*Michelle awakes and struggles to find an internet connection because we are completely without a hardcopy guide. Rallies a tram up to a store, finds a cafe with internet and tries desperately to decide what and what not to see with the girls for the day

*After b-fasting ourselves in the apartment, we wander a bit aimlessly towards the area with Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall. Yes, Rachel noticed our lack of credible agenda ("where are we going?", "what are we doing?", "Mom and Dad, could we just get somewhere and do something instead of walking around?")

*We make it to area near Checkpoint Charlie (meanwhile passing the World Cup Game antics being set up as Germany was playing England that day) to begin processing up close what the years leading up to the physical construction of the Berlin Wall, the Fall of the Wall and everything related meant.

*Get a picture at Checkpoint Charlie for our holiday photo (okay, probably not), meander through giftshops selling bits and pieces of the wall and then walk over the the portion of the Berlin Wall still standing.

*This portion of the Wall sits right next to a now demolished area that once contained a significant operations building for the Third Reich so herein the history lesson becomes more comprehensive. No matter because it is a hot day and all the girls can think about is a softserve ice cream from the McDonalds we passed in our prior wanderings. I guess the "you don't know how good you have it" lesson when explaining the East/West Berlin existence didn't really sink in.

The girls were able to see the trail of bricks that represents the now fallen Wall (see picture of them jumping over it). As much as we may want to linger and ponder this part of history, Rachel continued to rightfully call Allen and I on getting back to the non-agend agenda and go to the Berlin Aquarium. By vote they opted for this instead of the world famous Berlin Zoo. I was bummed but since I drive most of the itineraries due to my Julie McCoy status, I submitted. It was a good aquarium and they enjoyed it (except for the ant exhibit where the ants have managed to escape and make their way up your arm).

And here is where all of our feet began to howl. Back to the apartment on the same speedy and picturesque above ground U-Bahn. We couldn't miss along our way the COMPLETE AND UTTER chaos filling the streets. Yes, Germany won the game against England and now all of the flag-wearing-wig-wearing German soccer fans could triumph and they did. Weren't we lucky to get to ride the subway back with them?

The evening ended anti-climatically with a Thai dinner and bedtime.

My next post which I promise, cross my heart....needle in my eye.... to post tomorrow will account for the best part of our Berlin trip.

Weekend Berliner

To cross or not to cross, that was the question. At 10:00 p.m. Friday night Allen and I decided to book a last minute weekend trip to Germany, Berlin specifically, crossing the border of Poland and Germany. We opted to take the 2:25 p.m. train instead of creating morning chaos with a 9:23 a.m. departure. Okay, train time determined.....now where to stay in this city of 3.38 million people. Note that meanwhile the girls slumber having no idea of what we are cooking up.


We muddled through various websites quickly realizing that our trip would only afford us a view of a small portion of this large city. Deciding upon the area of Mitte, we lucked upon a well-photographed apartment (not so attractive in real life but definitely fulfilled the "location, location, location" requirement for real estate) feet away from Gendarmenmarkt Square.

The morning was filled with packing, train ticket purchasing and an excitement among Rachel, Emma and Rosemary as they kicked into gear to get the trip moving forward. Emma accompanied me to the train station (she's my lucky penny when on these types of excursions), Rachel took Rosemary under her wing while Allen put the hotel room in order (his forte, not mine).

By the time we all rolled into bed on Satuday night in Berlin we would have covered many kilometers both by foot and train.

The train trips here have been such a treat. We load up on small goodies for the girls--cookies, pretzels, beverages, as picnics on the train are a mainstay. The treat for the adults is that we simply sit back, show proof of purchase to the ticket attendant and read, chat with a cabin mate and bend to the whims of the girls during the 3 hour trip. BTW, Allen and I agree these train trips FLY by. The scenes from a train window here far surpass anything I've seen on an airplane.

Reserved seats this time afforded us not rushing and pushing aside other ticket holders. It felt so civilized. Having purchased our tickets last minute, we were split up in 2 cabins within the same compartment. Rachel, Rosemary and I had the company of an Antiochian Priest, clothed in a black robe, an ornately embroidered black head scarf and a rough gaze that quickly became a friendly, dear face once he began speaking broken English to us. We shared our pretzels with him, he offered to lead us towards the necessary subways stations once we arrived in Berlin. We told him where we were from, he explained that while working as a priest in Berlin for 8 and possibly 2 more years was fine, he longed to go back to his order's monestary in his homeland of Egypt (http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/muharraq.htm). Just as a dear woman led us to a lake hidden in the forests 3 weeks ago, Fr. Muharraq (yes, he has family lineage to the monastery) set us on our way to the reserved apartment.

Pass over the Oder River between the border of Poland and Germany, have a friendly German attendant check our passports and hello Germany! Except for Allen, it was the first time for all of us in this country.

Wow! We thought Poland's public transit was efficient. The U-Bahn and S-Bahn rock! After wandering the streets for 1 hour having unknowingly passed the apartment within the first 10 minutes of looking for it (note to self: they don't number their addresses even/odds as we do in the States), a taxi driver delivered us back to where we started, pointing to "Jagerstrabe 26, Berlin Centre" address on the building.

Clean, orderly, not nearly as decadent of an apartment as the internet pictures depicted, we all claimed our stake and chilled out for a while. Night was falling upon us so we strolled out onto the market square and found ourselves a first night feasting place the "Augustiner". Dark wood-loud-no-vegans-allowed-sausage-eating-beer-drinking place.

The girls played cards, critiqued our mixing of Polish and German (I explained I was giving myself a break and speaking English on this trip--even the Germans break into English conversations amongst themselves in the tram stations and stores) and settled into the scene.

Rosemary was excited to have a red bed all to herself. Luckily it was so late once our heads hit the pillow, we hardly noticed the Berlin open air summer party happening on the rooftop next to our building. As Allen said, if you can't have a party on a night like that on a roof like that, what is it all for?

Sleep well Kinnison Family to accumulate the needed energy to explore for the next 36 hours.

Seating is everything......

Monika our Polish tutor in Tucson insisted that we make it to listen to the Poznan Philharmonia and the opera here. In atypical fashion, I delayed purchasing tickets thus was left with SRO (standing room only) tickets as Friday's performance was a popular one, celebrating the upcoming 90th birthday of that night's conductor, the famous Polish conductor Stefan Stuligrosz. Desperate to hear them, I went at it solo and SCORED. The night goes as follows:

Hustle upstairs to the hotel room after a day of parks etc., freshen up and dash for tram #2 as I'm picturing myself having to elbow my way for a view at the performance, sort of like a mosh pit.

A bit of procedure for public transit here as it applies to the eletric tram and bus (they know how to move the masses here). First off, while inefficient, it is necessary to purchase little tickets in increments of :15, :30, 1:00 or 24 hour passes prior to boarding. Emma has collected all of our used ones to play with at home. It's like money here. Once your tram/bus pulls up to the stop, enter and punch that ticket within 1 minutes OR ELSE an undercover inspector may spontaneosly ask you for your punched ticket to prove payment. No punched ticket--do not pass GO and pay $30 on the spot or that plus $5 for each day thereafter. Yes, I was lucky enough to witness this happen live to some passengers the first day the girls and I rode the tram and have been petrified ever since. You should see Rachel. Every time we enter the bus, her first phrase is "Mom! Have you punched the tickets?!?". As Gloria would say, "that first born".

One last item on public transit--should an older person enter your cart, rush out of your seat and offer him/her your seat. Seniority rules everywhere here and the social castigation for not doing this costs more than not having punched your ticket.

Arrive at the Adam Mickiewicz University performance hall (see above pic). I find out that SRO tickets become "hover and find an empty seat right as the performance begins" tickets once you enter the hall. Acceptable and practiced by all SRO ticket holders. Luckily I learned this 20 minutes prior. Well, well, well, wouldn't you know that for some unknown reason, the ticket holder of one of the best seats in the house--middle, balcony seat--could not attend. SCORE! Seating is everything. I was able to listen to the Poznan Philharmonia and Poland's best boys chorus. It was beautiful music although I only lasted 2 hours.

I was ready to reunite with Allen and the girls as they had done take out Chinese and eaten in a park. I load myself on Tram #2 again, full of youth headed to the Old Market Square to party on Friday night. Bummer, I'll be standing as there are not any seats available. Wait! Score again! A young musician stands up and gives his seat to me because he's getting out at the next stop. I sit down and enjoy the short ride back to the hotel--only to notice that the musician does not get off at the next stop.....nor the next.....nor the next. I'm amused and appauled as I realize that he is abiding by the golden rule of public transit: Give up your seat to someone senior to you. WHAT!?! Do I count as an "elder" in his world? Is this the same rite of passage as the first time the cashier at Safeway called me "Ma'am" instead of "Miss"?

Allen thinks it was him being a gentleman rather than applying the seniority rule. I'm still searching for this musician as I ride each daily tram to ask if it was my age or my beauty that motivated his generosity. Seating is not always everything.

Yesterday the 16th

This is a post by Emma
Yesterday we went to a non-poopy park and it had so many play sets. Rachel said, " So this is where all the kids are," because there were so many kids. Then Rachel and I went on this helicopter thing that spins and there were three swings that you sit on. Then this boy came to go on it and I darted off because I didn't want to play with him. Then he was talking to Rachel in polish and she told him a million times she doesn't understand polish (in polish of course). Then we had lunch and he kept on looking at Rachel and I. Then we finished lunch and he was playing with another boy. I told Rachel, "The lollipop man is my personal hero!" (because he was eating a lollipop). Then we went on to the helicopter thing but then the lollipop man left the park and the boy started playing with us. Then we left and these three older boys about 13 or 14 came and went on the helicopter thing then two of the boys went on a swing so the little boy, who was about eight, went on. He was going really fast and he bonked his head on the pole in the middle. When we got back to the hotel we all bet tht by the time we go back to the park the helicopter thing will be broken because of the older boys.
Then on the way back we went by the open market and mom bribed us that she would get us some candy while she got food for dinner. then we walked back and Rosemary took a nap. Then mom got her free massage. Then she came back and Rosemary woke up and then we skyped Grandpa. Then dad came home and Rachel, Rose, and I went with him to get his hair cut. When we were there we saw this old man get a buzzcut. He had a very wrinkly head. Then us kids came back and dad went to the C&A store to get a black belt to go with his frankinstein shoes. Then we had a very good dinner. Then we had cherries for dessert and Rose went in her cappicino bath. Then mom and I read Number The Stars. Then she called Aunt Meg so dad and I read together. Then we went to bed. Fun writing to all of you. Good bye! :)
Emma

Recovering from Warsaw

The summer sun has arrived........after weeks of unprecedented rainfall here in Poznan, the skies have begun to produce more sunshine than clouds.

We finished Warsaw on Sunday with Allen and Emma attending the beatification ceremony while myself, Rosemary and Rachel taxi-ed off to Park Lazienski to attend an open air piano performance by an accomplished pianist. Every Sunday from May-September Warsaw offers this performance to the public, setting up a grand piano right next to a large scuplture of Chopin. Us along with hundreds of people lined the area, setting on benches, grass or strolling with a baby (I cannot get over how precious Polish babies are!) while listening to the 45 minute peformance. Rachel reclined under the shade of our selected tree, sharing the shade with others, reading while he played and Rosemary licked the living life out of a citrus lollipop we purchased on our way into the park. I soaked it all in, hoping that in 20 years I will be able to recall the music, trees and provision of music.

The train trip back, with reserved seats this time, flew by and we enjoyed the company of a 30 year old Turkish man traveling to Poznan for business.

We've laundered, shopped and recovered. Yesterday the girls and I took the tram out to Malta Lake as I had seen a beach area they could swim and play. Opps--okay, it looks like a beach when you're running by but up close, it's not. Not too fear, after playing in a McDonald's-like playspace, the 3 of them were hot enough to brave the murky waters where many a local Polish youth were swimming in nothing more than their underwear. Rachel noticed "Mom, they are not very private here" (she and Emma have noticed the high level of affection shared between mates/couples in the parks). Seems Tucson's parks just don't offer the entertainment. Well, I explained,shoot, when someone wants to swim here--they make it happen. I did myself enjoy the casual way young women bask themselves in their undergarments without batting an eye. I'll close that swim with saying that Roman here at the frontdesk of Hotel Don Prestige squirmed at the thought of swimming in Lake Malta (says it's been 8 years since he's done so and is still recovering). However, I'm glad the girls plunged in and will stand by for any murky illnesses that may ensue over the next couple of days.

Off to Rosemary's favorite playground here just a walk up the street.

I decided last night that we may need to start a chocolate poll after each dinner. A large bar purchased at the open market to share after each meal melts in our mouths. It would be fun to leave knowing which one was the most delictable.

Keep in touch!