After we left Krakow, we bussed via Auschwitz to Czestochowa
....where we visited the Monastery of Jasna Gora and where the painting of the Black Madonna is located.
While many claim that this painting was painted by St. Luke, more recent scientific examination of this work puts the date of its creation about 600AD. Irrespective, it is old and revered by many.
The Church itself is most beautiful with a most ornate altar.
The Organ equally looked great and the nun who guided us indicated it was well used. So it should. It would have been fun to have a go on it myself, but not with thousands of visitors thronging the church. The Treasures kept in the monastery are quite remarkable and give a most interesting account of the history of this place and the church's influence over the centuries.
At the end of our tour, the guiding nun indicated that tour parties normally conclude the tour with either a prayer or the singing of a song. The group decided on to sing "Amazing Grace", which many of us knew and therefore sang lustily, even with harmony!
WARSAW!
Our full day was full indeed!! We started with driving to the Royal Lazienki Park and very much enjoyed a long walk through this, beginning with the Chopin Monument. Regular Chopin concerts are held here and apparently are quite popular. The park also contains a number of other historical buildings, including the Palace on the Water and the Lazienki Palace. Here are just a few magic pictures of this delightful place:
And of course, we all enjoyed the wonderful weather and the enjoyable company of fellow travelers:
As in other cities, the sad history of the eradication of the Jewish people is very powerful in Warsaw and the monuments stand testimony to their bravery. A poignant moment for Siebrand as he considers those awful events:
For Carol, she shared a moment with Bruce, an ethnic Jew, together with Shaun from New York. The monument behind them depicts the hopelessness of people transported to the extermination camps. Notice the child looking back - she signifies one of the few survivors.
The most touching moment however was at this monument called 'The Little Insurgent'. It commemorates the hundreds of children who were killed during the Uprising. The monument itself depicts Antek, a boy soldier killed near this spot! 
A visit to the Old Town was great and we enjoyed wandering through this wonderfully restored heritage of Warsaw starting with the column of King Sigismund, regarded as special by the Polish people.
The market was a central point of activity. No different today than generations ago:
And how about this for a place to eat and relax?
Then again, these Ausies & New Zealanders with one New Yorker found the open market place just the ticket to say goodbye to New Zealanders Russell & Kathryn:
One could say that Carol is a bit of a worry not knowing whether to get stuck into the Vodka, Beer or just a cuppa coffee:
On our way back to the hotel, I could not resist taking a photo of what many Poles regard as Stalin's Wedding Cake, a legacy of an awful period of occupation and tribute to a most unimaginative architecture!
Finally, what is a visit to Warsaw without a concert/recital listening to Frederick Chopin. And that is what we did. The Tour had organised a special Chopin Recital for us in the Palace on the Water in Lazienski Park.
What a setting to hear such wonderful music that included 5 of Chopin's Preludes, Waltzes, & his Fantasie-Impromptu. The pianist was Ewa Beata Ossowska. Carol met her after the recital and she autographed her CD for us:
The final encore was provided by Maestro Thomas Zeisky (now that sounds impressive) alias our Tour Guide!
GOOD NIGHT, WARSAW......
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