Day 15: from Annaberg to the Queen of Poland

Addendum to yesterday: if you obviously don't like 22 soporific minutes of preaching on the Sunday Gospel, I would recommend Father Klaus's impulse: https://youtu.be/mucobRGg5KA?feature=shared

We are slowly starting to think about what impression we are making here in Poland; Encounters (V): Last night we were sitting near Annaberg in a hotel that also has a restaurant, drinking a glass of wine. At 8:50 p.m. two waitresses came to our table: "We will close in 10 minutes and you have to pay!" They said, then left and prepared the bill.

Encounters (VI): This morning at breakfast we were spoken to in English by a Pole, asking where we were from and what we were planning to do. We gave a brief explanation, followed by a question about his background. The answer was: business, the "agritechnica" exhibition in Opole. Our interest was piqued, as we both have roots in agriculture. But before we could take the conversation to the next level, the person in question turned away and left us standing there with our mouths open...

The rain has us again. And on the way to Czestochowa, Poland offers everything: new dream routes through the forest, coarse gravel roads (barely passable, but signposted as cycle paths),

Main roads with or without cycle paths. If you're looking for a thrill, cycle along federal highway 46 towards Czestochowa.

In 1656, after the siege by Sweden, the Polish king placed his country under the protection of the Mother of God of Jasna Gora, the name of the shrine in Czestochowa. But the history of the image goes back much further; more information: www.jasnagora.pl

The sanctuary (also called the "Fortress of Mary") is visited by up to 5 million pilgrims (not only from Poland) every year. A place of prayer, intercession, veneration and salvation!