Well, unbelevably I am here in Szczecin Poland, which is actually a chunk of the old Prussian Empire, something no longer with us. I've come a day early in order to check it out, see where my mothers side of the family is from, and right now I'm in the hotel using a compiuter that has no mouse. And its in Polish. So, I had to scroll through via "Tab" watching the highlighted thing, and guess which was "Post". Someone is staring at me in a diferrent language.
The digital camera is only sorta working. Of course, thats the same for Poland, too. Its been fun, slightly dirtier, and perhaps with less superficial people than in America.
My little car is serving well. I have a Daihatsu Sorion, even though I wanted an Opel. Thats ok. I never got a Sorion, either. Also, there is a GPS navigator, which has mostly worked.
It got me to Dolice, but not Przkolno or Pumptow, which no longer exist.
In Dolice, I found the church, met the now Catholic minister, and he informed me that there was no one in the congregation by that name. Or that one either. No, not that one...ummm. Mmm, no the cemetery is now a paved playgournd for the school.
(?!!!!!)
But Dolice is sort of quaint. They were nice enough. I'm one of the bad guys I suppose. Mildly. American. SLightly German. There were no smiles so far on all the faces I've seen so far. They are quite droll. So's the city. Tip: dont try to buy shampoo with a 50 Euro...thats about 200 zloty, and it only costs 7. THey look at you. Also, hamburgers are bizarre. Its as if they have been hit by a grenade. Maybe thats on purpose, this place is wartorn.
Amazingly though there are paved stone streets EVERYWHERE in the streets. I mean, hundreds of miles of cobblestones, and littel watchtowers along the side, and meticulously planted trees every thiurty feet, for miles and miles and miles and miles. I couldnt beleive it. The Poles have taken what the Prussians built over 700 years, and now the old churches are decrepit and dont serve a congregation.
This is fun. Tomorrow I go to my maternal Fathers side, and check that out. Two completely different zones. This is a bigger ciity, though, called Maszewo, and perhaps a Church service is in order. We'll see.
Thats all for now. I still cant believe the size of the cabbages here.
Big as a FUSSBALL.