teeling whiskey distillery

 

whiskey stills at teeling whiskey distillery, dublin, ireland

the teeling whiskey distillery is an interesting diversion in dublin. it is new, and the first distillery built in the city in over 125 years. irish whiskey is experiencing a major renaissance. i learned that an e is added to the word “whisky” to differentiate that which is produced in dublin. the teeling distillery has a nice little tour and tasting.

teeling whiskey distillery, dublin, ireland
teeling whiskey distillery, dublin, ireland
teeling whiskey distillery, dublin, ireland

warsaw

warsaw, poland

old town, warsaw, poland

despite it being rainy, i had a great time in warsaw! i arrived a day later than planned and then my luggage was lost by low-cost airline wizzair, so part of my time after arrival was spent buying fresh undergarments and toiletries at warsaw’s shopping malls, which are significantly better than average. i had planned to visit some interesting museums such as the socialist poster museum and the neon museum of polish and eastern bloc light advertisements, but due to the flight delay there was not enough time. will have to go back!

my luggage finally arrived in poland 1 week after i did

i explored warsaw’s old city, which was entirely rebuilt after world war two as it had been completely destroyed by bombing campaigns. near the old city is a commemorative monument to the warsaw uprising, a valiant attempt by many of the citizens of the city to resist the nazi occupation toward the end of world war two.

downtown, the iconic palace of arts and culture tower is unmissable – it was gifted to poland by the stalin. it contrasts uniquely with warsaw’s new glass and steel skyline.

old town, warsaw, poland

old town, warsaw, poland

warsaw, poland

warsaw, poland

warsaw uprising monument, warsaw, poland

palace of arts and culture, warsaw, poland

malls of warsaw

malls of warsaw

food court food of warsaw. every mall food court has a local place where you choose what you want and pay by weight. this was about $2!

malls of warsaw

warsaw, poland

suntago: the largest aquapark in europe!

suntago aquapark, poland

after two successive full days at the chocholaw and bukovina thermal pool complexes near zakopane, i had not quite immersed my body in enough hot water or sat in enough saunas (though i was getting close). i read about a just-opened massive aquapark (the largest in europe) called suntago, outside of warsaw. i had to go. this complex was unbelievable – built to be a destination in itself so poles don’t feel the need to fly to the tropics for a warm weather vacation. it had a huge sauna zone, salt water shipped in from the dead sea, palms imported from egypt, etc. indescribable!

the entrance lobby of suntago aquapark, poland

map of the very extensive premises, suntago aquapark, poland

waterslide area, suntago aquapark, poland

one of the world’s largest lazy rivers, suntago aquapark, poland

salt water shipped in from the dead sea, suntago aquapark, poland

suntago aquapark, poland

suntago aquapark, poland

chocholow thermal pools

chocholow thermal pools, poland

chocholow thermal pools, poland

chocholow thermal pools, or “termy,” is the largest thermal pool complex in poland, and opened just a few years ago. the main reason i came to southern poland was to experience it, and it did not disappoint. there are multiple large indoor and outdoor pools, filled with warm thermal water. you get an electronic bracelet for your locker, and you can also use it to buy food at one of the multiple in-spa restaurants. i really wish something like this existed closer to home. in the meantime i’ll probably go back to poland to experience it again, because it is just that amazing.

the best part of the complex is the sauna center on the top level. there are many saunas, steam rooms and pools in an exclusive zone, where everyone has to be naked. so no photos of that here, lol. the largest sauna has a glass wall and looks out over the high tatra mountain range. here, every hour or so throughout the day there are aufguss sauna rituals, which are basically organized serious sauna-going classes/performances, in which a saunamaster spins and whips a towel at the front of the sauna, choreographed to music and the crushing of essential oil-infused balls of shaved ice on to the hot sauna rocks. at the last of these of the evening, the saunamasters decided to go all out and dump all of their remaining ice, about 10 liters of water, and a bottle of menthol essential oil on to the sauna rocks all at once. it was an extreme, tear-inducing experience which definitely made everyone in the sauna pre-syncopal. one very committed sauna sweat hat-wearing guy who had been there all day had to get up and leave because of how intense the heat and menthol rush was, and everyone cheered/jeered him out the door. an epic end to an epic day!

chocholow thermal pools, poland

in-spa food, chocholow thermal pools, poland

water massage features at chocholow thermal pools, poland. not pictured, poolside deejay

chocholow thermal pools, poland

zakopane

zakopane, poland

zakopane is a town in the far southern reaches of poland, on the edge of the high tatra mountain range. it is a destination for skiing in the winter, and is also known for its salty goat cheese called oscypek, its ornate alpine style buildings, and its thermal pools, which is the main reason i went.

oscypek – amazing salted sheep cheese, zakopane, poland

oscypek – amazing salted sheep cheese, zakopane, poland

typical alpine architecture, zakopane, poland

zakopane, poland

zakopane, poland

zakopane, poland

zakopane, poland

zakopane, poland

zakopane, poland

wieliczka salt mine

wieliczka salt mine, poland

the wieliczka salt mine is in the suburbs of krakow, and was fascinating to see. it is a massive underground salt mine which has been in use for many hundreds of years, and one must take the guided tour to see the mine, which lasts over 2 hours. it involves descending thousands of feet, with many air locks and doors at different levels. the tour provides more information about salt mines than any person would ever need to know, but it is remarkable how much history is associated with this mine. in the middle ages salt was used as currency, and thus poland was very wealthy thanks entirely to this mine.

the mine is most famous for its underground chapel, including art work and chandeliers, all carved entirely from salt. the tour ends with an ascension in a small, mid-century miner’s elevator.

wooden beams help prevent collapse, and do not rot as bacteria cannot survive in the salt mine. wieliczka salt mine, poland

underground fires can and have occurred however, so many of the beams are painted with calcium fire-retardant. wieliczka salt mine, poland

wieliczka salt mine, poland

bust of king kazimierz, wieliczka salt mine, poland

underground chapel carved entirely from salt, wieliczka salt mine, poland

chandelier carved entirely from salt, wieliczka salt mine, poland

artwork carved from salt, wieliczka salt mine, poland

artwork carved from salt, wieliczka salt mine, poland

pope john paul II visited the underground chapel. wieliczka salt mine, poland

underground chapel carved entirely from salt, wieliczka salt mine, poland

wieliczka salt mine, poland

wieliczka salt mine, poland

underground lake, wieliczka salt mine, poland

wieliczka salt mine, poland

auschwitz-birkenau death camps

auschwitz death camp, poland

i spent an afternoon walking around the auschwitz and birkenau concentration/death camps, and it is a very heavy place. over 1.1 million people lost their lives here during the holocaust.

railroad terminus at birkenau. when the trains stopped here nazis would determine who would live (for awhile), or die. the nazis built birkenau when they determined that the auschwitz death camp wasn’t large enough.

toilet facilities at birkenau

bunks at birkenau

birkenau death camp

remains of one of multiple gas chambers, birkenau

remains of one of multiple gas chambers, birkenau

train car that transported victims, birkenau

birkenau guardtower

birkenau death camp

birkenau death camp

auschwitz death camp, poland

auschwitz death camp

book of names of the deceased, auschwitz death camp

walls of pictures of some of the deceased

many of the barrack buildings contain holocaust memorial exhibits prepared by countries around europe. auschwitz death camp

auschwitz death camp

auschwitz death camp

glasses of the deceased, auschwitz death camp

kitchenware belonging to the deceased, auschwitz death camp

luggage belonging to the deceased, auschwitz death camp

shoes belonging to the deceased, auschwitz death camp. there is a powerful exhibit of hair from the deceased as well, but no pictures there out of respect.

death gas canisters, auschwitz death camp

gas chamber, auschwitz death camp. there is hebrew writing still visible on the walls. heartbreaking.

gas chamber, auschwitz death camp

auschwitz death camp

the black madonna of czestochowa

 

jasna gora monastery, czestochowa, poland

 

jasna gora monastery, czestochowa, poland

the black madonna of czestochowa is the most venerated icon in poland, and possibly in the world. it is housed in the jasna gora monastery in the small city of czestochowa a few hours north of krakow, and poles have made the pilgrimage to see it for centuries, often on foot from all corners of the country. it is actually one of multiple black madonnas, which are icons of mary and the Christ child from the byzantine era. reportedly this one was discovered in jerusalem in the 300s, before being brought to poland in the 1300s. it became intertwined with polish national identity when it was believed to have miraculously saved czestochowa from a swedish siege in the 1600s, and ever since has also been known as the “protector of poland.”

it is housed at the front of a large church, and visitors and pilgrims come to to venerate it almost nonstop. it is kept covered, except for a brief unveiling which occurs twice daily. i was able to time my visit to correspond with this, and it was fascinating. there is a tremendous build up for about 15 minutes, with increasing crowds pushing in toward the front of the church. before the time of the unveiling the crowd becomes quiet, all cross themselves, and a trumpet sound is played, as the veil over the icon is very slowly lifted. many witnesses cry, and most of the room drops to its knees. visitors can line up and file beside and then behind the icon, and many do this entirely on their knees. some even make the journey from other towns in poland entirely on their knees. it was truly remarkable (and admittedly very unexpected for me as a christian) to witness this level of veneration for an icon.

shrine of the black madonna, still veiled here, jasna gora monastery, czestochowa, poland

 

crowds to see the black madonna, jasna gora monastery, czestochowa, poland

 

jasna gora monastery, czestochowa, poland

 

the black madonna unveiled, jasna gora monastery, czestochowa, poland
jasna gora monastery, czestochowa, poland

 

jasna gora monastery, czestochowa, poland

 

jasna gora monastery, czestochowa, poland

 

cathedral, czestochowa, poland