Under Knee Black Dress

Boniek Polish, John Paul II, Walesa

on the boat that brings me back to Gdansk from Westerplatte exchange some talk with the mustachioed hub of the boat. In English. Danzig says that there are more and more tourists - we believe the city is really beautiful and has nothing to envy Warsaw and Krakow - though the Italians are the main visitors to the Baltic city. He also says he's been in Italy. In Venice, Milan, Rome, Cassino. In the 80's. He also says that our compatriots, who had to learn Polish, quoted the then-trio of wonders, "Boniek, John Paul II, Walesa." The Juventus striker, the pontiff, the leader of Solidarity. At that time Poland did not know much, in fact. Blame the Wall and the curtain that prevented the information on the Slavic country transgress the crest of the Cold War. Now, what happens in Warsaw and its surroundings if they know something more. We know the political dynamics of this country (the press has given much emphasis on "deeds" of the twins Lech and Jaroslaw Kaczynski ), we know that there are many Poles who come to work for us in Italy and Western Europe in general (not just the plumbing), we know with Conflict Atlas of Russia and Poland iron (the "missile shield " says it all), we know all about the Polish cities, thanks to low-cost flights that take us there, we know that there is an economy in growth and that companies (Fiat) and Italian banks (Unicredit) have invested a lot, we celebrated the exploits of a politician Bronislaw Geremek , recently deceased, who was one of the largest in Europe and increasingly, we have written the new president of the European, Jerzy Buzek . In short, Poland is in the news. Well, no?

Dyi Ultrasonic Speaker

Westerplatte

in Gdansk is a must visit at Westerplatte, a peninsula at the mouth of the Vistula. The place where, 1 September 1939, the day Nazi Germany attacked Poland, were opened hostilities in the Baltic city. To recover the Third Reich Gdansk, escaped to Germany after the First World War and administered by the League of Nations, was a top priority. The German army, then dumped tons of fire on the Westerplatte, since there was stationed a military garrison Polish commanded by Major Henryk Sucharski.
The disproportion between the forces in the field was incredible. The Nazis bombed the peninsula from the sea and sky, advancing from the ground. Sucharski had only 200 men. But the Poles fought like lions and resisted a week. So much so that when waved the white flag German officers were shocked to see that 200 men had held the firepower of the Reich.
On September 1, 1939 is a good day for Poland. Which marks the defeat, but also marks the desire for revenge. Fate has willed that this date touches on the calendar with that of the birth of Solidarity (August 31), whose meaning is intimately linked to the September 1: redemption, desire for independence, return to the homeland. The
Westerplatte offers a way of thinking on another topic, that of German-Polish relations. Complex relationships, accomplices the aftermath of the heavy 900. Marked by misunderstandings, recriminations, clutches. But it must be said that Warsaw and Berlin, the level of dialogue, have made great strides and 89 after the Polish foreign policy has included among its priorities the good neighborly relations with Germany. Fully capture the objective. At
Westerplatte, in the small mausoleum and the graves of comrades Sucharski that he defended the assault Danzig Nazi intersect two schools, one Polish and the other German. Their teachers make them gather in front of the cemetery of the lions of Westerplatte. What a beautiful scene.

How To Make Hunting Cakes

The mythical power of Solidarity

From Stettin with abbodandanti five hours by train, I arrived in Gdansk. Fifth chapter of the journey to the east. Dedicated, in large part to the myth of Solidarity, the largest union led by Lech Walesa (here's a brief bio on the website of the Nobel Peace Prize) who led the revolt in Poland and throughout Central and Eastern Europe. But Solidarity was something more than a trade union ( this link takes you to the beautiful site, sponsored by the Polish government, history solidarnosciana, with photos, dates, numbers and various stories). Risorgimento was a movement. A political force, social and cultural coagulated throughout Poland: workers, intellectuals, clerics, anarchists, patriots, liberals, social democrats, students, peasants. All, in short. All those who wanted a better Poland, free, independent.
In the Baltic city, entering the shipyard, the place where Solidarity was born in August 1980, I took a ride in history. But even in this raid. The point is that until recently the former Lenin workshops - this is the name of the yards, under communism - were with the water in the throat. Without a penny and with the risk, tangible, and bankruptcy. The reason: a dispute with the EU state aid. Too complicated to explain. However, the crack has been avoided ( here is the happy ending). In the name of history, the fact that the yards have given birth to Solidarity, a mythical power that he wrote not only the history of Poland and Eastern Europe. But he helped - a pity that in the west find it hard to recognize - to the entire continental history. That free and unified Europe. At least in geographical terms. Why the political point of view there is still a lot of work. Further west than the east, I guess. But we do not do too much argumentative. Below, some photos of construction sites. In the book, then you will find an interview with Karol Modzelewski ( here are my own piece, published by Europe, where their questioning Modzelewski), Polish historian and dissident thinking head of Solidarity. There is also another long talk with Bogdan Olszewski, a number of Solidarity - which now has only union function - in Gdansk, which led me on a time machine and told me many secrets of the Polish transition.

(billboard of protest against the possible closure of sites)




(the Bay of Gdansk)








(at the entrance of the naval workshops )











(Museum of Solidarity)








(one of the many cranes on the docks of work)











(Bay)








(men at work)







(workers in lunch break)








(repair of a hull)