Wroclaw Poland

Sixty years ago the city was almost leveled
in a brutal, 80-day siege.
But you would never know it today;
many central square buildings were
rebuilt from rubble to the original
Gothic and Baroque style of architecture.There are also many structures today
remaining from the Communist era
that display no charm,
they are just big.





Wandering around market square,
we were impressed with its beauty.
Many well done bridges and the riverfront also are eye pleasing.










Graffiti and poverty are two words that come to mind
when describing other sites we saw.
Old streetcars, broken windows, unpainted buildings,
roaming animals,
and elderly homeless men and women on the streets grip one.
Central Wroclaw is different than residential Wroclaw.




99% of Poles are Roman Catholic.
We attended 7:00 a.m. Mass at Saint John the Baptist Cathedral.
Pews were full and most in their Sunday/Funeral/Wedding suits.
Elderly, angelic looking Sister Mary Poland
passed the collection basket
and thanked you with a nod.

Many Sisters, from varying orders, of all ages, attended services.
A pre -Vatican II style of worship was conducted.
The number of large city churches amazed us,
all beautiful!

Poland is recovering from years of political strife.
Driving back to Bamberg we noted countryside decay of farm buildings.
Villages were stark and stressed financially.
However, one of my most memorable images is of people walking proudly to Mass,
heads held high.
(I've visited on three Sundays)
The faith and welcoming ways of the Polish
will move them forward.

P.S. When in Poland count on someone trying to wash your windshield for a buck!