Some buildings on Jana Pawela II ( the “a” after Jan and Pawel is possessive, similar to our “’s”) Ulica (street). This area is well enough away from the U-boat sites along the river during the war to avoid the worst of the bombing, so that many of the old buildings remain.
Erected in the 1880s as a municipal high school, this is now the Szczecin University president’s office.
Szczecin City Hall (Urząd Miasta); the Jan Pawel II statue is in the park behind this building. In December 1970 there were public demonstrations at this location, very dangerous during the Soviet occupation.
The Pomnik Czynu Polaków (Monument to Polish Endeavor) was unveiled September 3, 1979 – the 40th anniversary of the Nazi invasion. The monument has three dragons: 1) those who made Polish history, 2) those shaping present history, 3) those in the future who will sustain and strengthen Poland.
A tour of a Polish community must start at the Jan Pawel (John Paul) II statue. There is much argument about who has the best/worst JP statue – this one looks pretty good.
First evening in Szczecin requires my first beer (pierwsze pivo), taken at my favorite restaurant, the “Cutty Sark.” I had a pork chop with vegetables and potatoes (ziemniaki), with beer (Guinness), for about 30 zloti ($8~).
James Michener was a famous American writer of very long and detailed historical novels. As a youth, I read “The Source” (archeological, set in Israel) and “Centennial” (Western, small Colorado town). His novels try to offer a “complete” history and often start in a distant geological time. “Poland” begins in the time of Genghis Khan (~1200).
Kevin checks in his bags at the Presque Isle airport.
Ready to leave