Poland and Czech Republic

page 2 - Zakrzewo / surrounding area

My first stop along my journey was the tiny village of Zakrzewo, where my father was born. On the map on the left, I tried to label where it is, but even using mapquest, I was only able to guess its location (there are numerous little towns with the same name in this part of Poland, apparently). When I arrived, I was "introduced to the family" (they are all 2nd cousins, aunts and uncles, related through my father's side). I was given a royal tour of the surrounding area. There are quite a few historic sites in this vicinity, which is also known as the "Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship" ("Kuyave", in Poland). These I underlined on the map. According to my research, Kuyave is one of the administrative regions (est. 1999), with the largest town being Bydgoscz. My second cousin / uncle (I don't remember which) Mikus Mankowski acted as my tour guide.

Countryside near Zakrzewo. This part of Poland is very flat, and mostly rural. It reminds me of Wisconsin in some ways. The 'big sky' here is quite nice. Not as spectacular as Montana, perhaps, but there are more people to talk to and fewer antelope. It helps to know Polish. I'm still trying.

Me and a relative I'd never met before, Slawek Lewandowski. Slawek manages a pig farm and raises crops. Here we are standing in his wheat field. The weather in Europe this year (dry spring followed by rainy summer) has not been that great for crops, he told me.
Polish farmers are having a bit of a tough time coping with the recent changes in the economy. They pay high taxes to Warsaw (for instance 40% VAT on new farm equipment) while their incomes are dependent on world crop prices.

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	My first stop along my journey was the tiny village of Zakrzewo, where my father was born. On the map on the left, I tried to label where it is, but even using mapquest, I was only able to guess its location (there are numerous little towns with the same name in this part of Poland, apparently). When I arrived, I was "introduced to the family" (they are all 2nd cousins, aunts and uncles, related through my father's side). I was given a royal tour of the surrounding area. There are quite a few historic sites in this vicinity, which is also known as the "Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship" ("Kuyave", in Poland). These I underlined on the map. According to my research, Kuyave is one of the administrative regions (est. 1999), with the largest town being Bydgoscz. My second cousin / uncle (I don't remember which) Mikus Mankowski acted as my tour guide.

Countryside near Zakrzewo. This part of Poland is very flat, and mostly rural. It reminds me of Wisconsin in some ways. The 'big sky' here is quite nice. Not as spectacular as Montana, perhaps, but there are more people to talk to and fewer antelope. It helps to know Polish. I'm still trying.

	Me and a relative I'd never met before, Slawek Lewandowski. Slawek manages a pig farm and raises crops. Here we are standing in his wheat field. The weather in Europe this year (dry spring followed by rainy summer) has not been that great for crops, he told me. Polish farmers are having a bit of a tough time coping with the recent changes in the economy. They pay high taxes to Warsaw (for instance 40% VAT on new farm equipment) while their incomes are dependent on world crop prices.