05.March2021. It is early evening. We go for a stroll through Silesia’s capital: Katowice. Although it has been like this for a while, it is still unusual – the restaurants are open, but empty. Everything is only available to take away. We grab a zapiekanka. This is a kind of Polish fast food. Very simple: a baguette au gratin. A snack that originated in the 1970s. It was a cheap, fast food option for the working population. Today, these zapiekanki snack bars are scattered all over Poland and are experiencing a cult upswing.
With a hot baguette in our hands, we stroll through the pedestrian zone. As if deserted. On a Friday evening. The clubs and bars are closed. Every few metres, a deserted restaurant shines its light onto the streets. It looks so cosy and warm in there.
Our steps continue. We had spring-like temperatures. However, it has become cold again. Too cold, in other words, to linger in one place. The pedestrian zone heads straight for the Mariacki Church. Loudspeakers sound. The service is in full swing. I would love to enjoy my snack in company while sitting down. But the thought that olibanum might manipulate my taste buds discourages me from finding that comfort in the church.
The walk continues. In true Polish fashion, after a meal we now have dessert. Eating ice cream is popular here all year long. The ice cream parlours are in season every month. Unfortunately, there is no ice cream parlour on our way. So a kiosk can replace it. A mini-supermarket that is open every day until 11pm. Sometimes there are also this kind of kiosk that are open all day. So now there is an ice cream on a stick to round off the meal.
The ice cream freezes to the hand. That’s how cold it is. The reason why we quickly make our way back. To the car. After a 30-minute drive we arrive. At the DIY store. The place that stands for a café. The place that leads to interactions with strangers. The place that trains the Polish vocabulary. Knowing what is needed, the shopping round goes quickly. Then off to the destination.
Arrived at the current home. In the self-proclaimed palace of building sites. In the midst of construction dust and torn walls, it was possible to prepare a room. For the visitor. But for the time being, this room is only there to store the luggage. A guided tour through the palace is offered. Criss-cross. Up and down the path leads. Across the backyard. Into the shed. To a test of courage. Yes, there is no lack of adventure here. Passed. On to the cosy, warm four walls.
It’s good to have visitors. Things are illuminated from different perspectives. The view of something changes. And the courage that is granted works wonders.
10 March 2021 For a few days, life is enriched by a person from the heart. Work calls. From the visit. Departure approaches. And poof. Gone is the visit.
22 March 2021 But something has remained. The good words. And probably a starting signal to come to Poland.
Because the next visit has now been announced. In two days. The arrival is at Gliwice station. The joy is rising. After more than a year, we are finally seeing each other again.
P.S. This article is without photos. During the walk through Katowice, the photographic memory was activated. Maybe I’ll paint what was saved, or take the photos on another occasion.
P. P. S. During the walk: Either it was too cold to pull out the smartphone. Or else the hands had food in them.
