Poland 2026

Two years in the making.

James set on this long journey two years ago to get his dual-citizenship in Poland. He has done a deep dive into our ancestry and I can hardly believe the depth of his research. I can hardly believe all the details about our family that I never knew. Even where my parents eloped to!   Dozens of documents later he decided to travel to Poland to hand deliver all these to his Polish attorney. 

Once he announced his travel I decided to volunteer to go.  He wanted to go in February (and it has been a brutal winter) and I am sure glad we waited until March.  Cioci Jean also decided to go and then we added Barbara Chubbuck to round out the team. 

We left on Monday March 16 from Logan.  We just missed the big wind storm which knocked out power at home.  It was a long overnight flight to Munich with a few hour layover.  Barbara was escorted separately to the plane so she would be able to walk less.  There was a huge delay on the plane when a group of Hasidic Jews would not get on their seats. Not sure what that was all about.  

We arrived in Warsaw a few hours later and got our rental car.  James did a great job getting us into the city.  After we checked in Cioci, James and I walked a little thru the old town to get some coffee boosting.  We collected Barbara and then walked by the old fortress to land in a busy restaurant and had a delicious polish dinner.  I of course ate golumpki…

When we got back to the hotel James did some grading and went for a swim in the hotel pool.  I read some and then crashed hard. 

Wednesday March 18.

The blind is stuck open in our room and I am up at 6am. Hanging in the lobby with a little coffee and started this next chapter of “Dad and Ginky’s adventures”

We plan on dropping off James hard work to his lawyer today. 

Wednesday March 18

Drive to lawyers office, breakfast in a local restaurant by the law office,

Bsrb chewed out server.

We head up to the tenth floor to drop off James collection of papers.  It's a very exciting moment to start the process of official citizenship.  This is a satellite office of the attorney James has been in contact with.

On to Leoncin. 

This is the place where the Bogdanskis are from.  Jean asks in a local store if the know any and the lady days they are all over in this small town of 800.

The local Church is right next door and we stroll in.  We chat with a church handyman who directs us to the Priest. He looks up our name and directs us to several family graves. There are lots of lanterns there guiding them to eternal light.  

Town hall

Walkmold town

Dinner with Marcin and ania 

Thursday March 19

In the way to the Warsaw up riding, WW2

Breakfast

Parking ticket. 

Rest 

Wilaniw castle

Uber

Marvin

Dinner 

Uber

Walk in old town 0everything closed

Friday March 20, 2026

James, Barbara and I head out to breakfast.  Jean heads out to fix her phone, again.

The coffee shop owner is so rude. Not friendly, messes up the order and won't let us pay with a card even though we did yesterday.  We psk up the car and head out. We headed to the island castle but there is no place to park.  In general the parking is very challenged.  So, after much frustration we decide to pass.

We are on the highway.  Drive to archives is interesting.  We had to use the translation app because there are no English speakers here. James gets some info but nothing profound.  Next stop, drive thru to McDonalds. In the next two hours Barbara and I nap in the back seat. 

We arrived at the castle.  So awesome!  We get a guided tour and it is impressive.  We climbed big circular stairs to the two turrets. Barbara is held back some but did tackle some of the tour. Next we stopped in their fining room for a coffee pick me up.

Happy to get a call from Mimi and Leni!

Castle stay. This place is incredible. When we arrived we had a guided tour and even walked to the top of both turrets.  We had a snack in the dining room and went back later for dinner. There were several vendors here and outside selling crafts. Some pretty stuff.

Saturday March 21.

James and I slept in some.  Met Barbara for breakfast and had a nice assortment of food and fruit.  Cioci caught up with us as we were leaving. James, barba7and I walked outside around the property.  We walked to the field of horses and even saw a wild hare.  We strolled down to the pond and inspected some of the outside crafts.  

We packed the car and headed for krakow.  On the way we gassed the car ($80) , stopped to take some photos of murals on the side if houses.  Just over two hours and we are in the hustle and bustle if old town.

Castle tour, spring festival.

Check in. James is grading

Dinner is sushi. Walked the square but sooo cold. Back to the room for more grading.

Sunday March 22,2026

Breakfast was big at the local cafe.  I thought European meals would be smaller but not so.

 1.5 hr Train to rzow to meet the gubernat cousin -met at train station

Stopped at McDonald’s for coffee. Visited his hoysev, wife and son. Off to the cemetery. 

Tour around town. Saw middle launchers and tanks.

Dinner at his house. Late train ride back. Get to hotel at 930. A long day.