Poland 2016 Spring: Monday, April 18th 2016

Torun - A One Night Stand

Left Poznan and followed the "Piast Trail" to Torun

It's the oldest tourist route in Poland

"Piast" - member of the 1st dynasty of Polish rulers

Or "a man of purely Polish descent"

Good road

Through small towns

Visited the cathedral in Gniezno where Duke Miedzko was baptized 1,050 yrs ago

(Remember we saw celebrations in Boleslawiec & Poznan)

St. Adalbert (a patron saint of Poland) is here

Sitting up in a silver casket

Following the trail, we arrived in Mogilno - a really small place and smaller road

A Benedictine church and monastery where we were the only visitors for a piece of time

The church is dated 1065 on the outside arch - visited the crypt underneath. Our "guide,"an old Polish woman, kept explaining, pointing and disappointed we didn't understand. I had the idea to repeat a word I heard (renovation, reconstruction). She seemed satisfied.

Does anyone notice the light halo around the top of the steeple?

If crypt walls could talk....

Arrived in Torun early afternoon. Our apartment is well located but disappointing with a rundown kitchen, shower and the bed wedged at headboard and footboard against walls.

We should have known - no recent reviews and the pictures were cleverly concealing. The toaster was broken and a scary hot water kettle. Our first mistake but linens were good, it was clean and the Town Hall was around the corner.

Torun wasn't destroyed during WW2 so it wasn't erected from rubble.

It was the first stronghold of the Teutonic Knights (13th century) before they built Malbork Castle (tomorrow's destination).

Copernicus was born in Torun - his home around the corner from our apartment.

The town has it's towers and gates from 13th century medieval times. Wouldn't call them ruins - more like reconstructions. Lots of brick as we go north.