- Gartz (Oder) Germany
- Szczecin, Poland old town
- churches in Szczecin
- Kasprowicza Park
- Cmentarz Centralny (Central Cemetery)
- Cafe 22
- The Mieczyslaw Karlowicz Philharmonic
- Szczecin at night
- The Oder river in Szczecin
- Chrobry Embankment
- Szczecin Town hall
- The beach off the Baltic
- Międzywodzie: a small town near the Baltic
- Międzyzdroje: a tourist town near the Baltic
Before we begin this week's adventure, I would like to thank my dear friend, Anna Liwinska! Without her by my side, without her love of photography, knowledge of the places we visited, ability to translate Polish into English, beautiful smile and wonderful laugh, this amazing Polish adventure would not have been possible. I was so very inspired by her careful appreciation through thoughtful words, pacing, and photography of Cmentarz Cemtralny that I could not help but be brought along with her into a very grateful space of humble celebration. I especially found much joy in her efforts to capture the perfect picture of the water fountain rainbow! Dzienkuje, moja droga przyjaciolka! English: Thank you my dear friend! :-) Now let me invite you on the journey as well, my friend! :-)
5) Cmentarz Centralny or Central Cemetary is a very beautiful place, so much nature, and such an air of reverence. It was really a privilege to visit the Central Cemetery. There were so many parts within to visit. It provided us with a nice peaceful day of resting in the beauty of nature as well as the honoring of those who have walk the Earth before us. Initially we came through a large brick arching gateway, and then moved onto the main road into the cemetery. There were many old and majestic plane trees along this first road. I was in wonder about the unusual manner in which the trees shed their bark as well as the beautiful light that was streaming through the canopy of their leave as we walk up the road. Then we arrived at another open area. This area had a wonderfully constructed chapel, the archways, columns, and the spire points fit a very old world feeling to me, but the brick, shingling, and overall shape gave me a slightly more modern feeling. It was very nice to be able to focus and behold the beauty of such a well made structure, and the isolation of it from other man made buildings really helped me to participate in this feeling. Nature seemed to help a lot with this framing and focus of my thoughts as many places revealed portions of the chapel peeking through during our journey. My first such view of the chapel came when we traveled into the large open area housing a fountain. In a short time we became very focused on the fountain, noticing that the wonderfully pleasant weather of the day had provided us with a natural wonder in the dancing waters of the fountain. There was a rainbow to our amazement and joy. Anna took a very nice picture of this natural miracle and the beautiful central chapel here. After spending some time here we turned to walk up an historic feeling stone stair case to a pathway bordered on each side by a line of shrubs. This path lead up to a famous monument known as the Pomnik Braterstwa Broni or Monument to the Brothers in Arms. The two large cement arches reaching upwards are made to resemble hussar wings. The Polish Hussars were one of the main types of cavalry in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth between the 16th and 18th centuries. This monument brings a feeling of great mystery and wonder, to me, it looked very modern and European, very stoic and noble. Looking at the base of the monument, I saw many colorful glass jars which contained candles. Later I would see many more as we walked on the hollowed ground. Grave sights in the Cmentarz Centralny had a raised portion before the head stone which allowed those who wished to show respects and honor the deceased with an offering a place to set their gift and symbol of gratitude. Continuing to another part of the park we saw many elaborate graves 1 2 3 and others that were very old 1 2 3. In allot of ways it was a very magical experience seeing all these graves with so many colorful offerings 1 2 so deep in a wooded area. The way the light played off of all the natural and man made surfaces made the adventure all that much more enchanting. I felt as if I had been transported to a dream world yet it was all very real at the same time. It was a very wonderful and meditative experience. Thank you so much for breathe in my lungs, for a chance to be a witness to such beauty both physical and spiritual! :-)
Thank you so much, my friend, for coming along with me on this journey through Cmentarz Centralny or Central Cemetery! I hope it was as magical and awe inspiring for you as it was for me! Want to see the real thing! Let me know, and we will take a trip! :-) Many blessing to you and what you hold most dear, my friend! May we all grow in Love and appreciation of life all around us in all the wonderful forms it takes! Milego dnia! Blogoslawienstwa dla ciebie teraz i zawsze! Translates to, “Have a great day! Blessings to you now and always!” Love, Aaron :-)