"Forget the Polish jokes, it's a must... " a Poland Travel Page by altizachen

When I decided to visit Poland it was for reasons different than most travelers. My plan was not that one of leisure. I wanted to touch the place where my ancestors were born. The place where they raised their children, educated them, worked, and died…or should I say murdered; murdered in the concentration camps by the hands of the Nazis.

For me, Poland was always a “cemetery” in Europe. Until I decided to fight that thought and go see it myself.

My trip to Poland became more then just a sightseeing experience, it became a learning experience. I learned about a country; rich in heritage, culture, art, music, architecture, and literature. It’s a place of proud people who have also experienced their share of oppressions.

Little did I know before my trip, the seed of Poland has just sprouted, though that seed was planted about 600 years ago. Since that time Poland and its people have been under the constant tug of war with the surrounding nations. Poland did have a brief time of freedom after WW1 until its dreams were destroyed by Hitler. After Hitler, there came another dictator for the Polish, Stalin and his communism. As we all know communism did not sit well with the Polish. Plain and simple, it was not their style. All of that changed a decade ago. They now finally have their freedom. Poland is quickly advancing and with in the next ten years will be a strong contender in the European economy.

What do I feel about Poland now? I’ll minimize it to a sentence, “I am proud to say that my family came from Poland.” Will I ever again visit? You can bet on it.