We have been to Poland three times, in 2014, 2016 and in 2018. The first trip was just to relate to our grandparent’s birth country. We landed in Krakow after a fourteen-day transatlantic cruise and were greeted by a friendly taxi driver who made us feel like his long-lost cousins.  He gave us very good advice and took pride in his homeland.  He made a great first impression!

We stayed at the Hotel Columbus which was a lovely European style hotel with all the luxuries of a four-star facility.  It is also within easy walking distance to the Old Town and the Jewish area of Kazimierz.

The highlights of our stay were:

The beautiful churches, cathedrals, and synagogues

The Salt Mines of Wieliczka

Schindlers’ Factory which is now an amazing museum dedicated to the Nazi occupation of Krakow

A visit to a Skansen which is an outdoor folk museum showing life from the 17th-19th centuries in a country setting

A visit to my husband’s grandfather’s village of Zawoja

Our second trip was to visit newly discovered cousins.  We were treated like royalty.  By the way, I speak about five words of Polish, so don’t let a lack of knowing the native language stop you. We ended our time in Warsaw.

Our third trip in 2018 was for historical research for my upcoming novel. We visited Gdansk, Malbork, Krakow, Zakopane, Auschwitz, Rzeszow, Lancut, and Niwiska.

I’m writing a book “Travel Back to Your Roots in Poland” which should be available in September 2018.  The book will cover genealogy, how to find Polish relatives and how to travel to and in Poland.  A summary of my three trips will give you ideas on places to visit.

Keep an eye out for this new book!