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Gearing Up!

6/25/2015

5 Comments

 
     I will be leaving the US soon (my home will be occupied) to visit Europe.  From Bochnia Poland, I'll begin the journey my father travelled, first with his family at the outbreak of World War II. On September 3, 1939, their party of twelve fled the Nazi invasion on a horse drawn carriage, only to enter a region (now the Ukraine) ten days later that proved to be just as dangerous.  Early on a Sunday morning, my father (Ian) ventured out into the countryside where he was surprised to see a mounted Russian soldier.  The two made eye contact before the scout galloped west, preceding a tremor that revealed a line of Russian tanks rising beyond the eastern horizon.  Russia's unlikely collaboration with Germany surrounded Poland with enemies from both east and  west.  The family lived in constant peril for seven months, torn between the danger of living as refugees under Soviet occupation or going back to their home under German occupation.
     Amidst this turmoil, they managed to travel back west as far as the Polish town of Przemysl. The San River cuts directly through Przemysl, and was the agreed upon demarcation point between Russian and German occupation. The family could go no further, and settled in a monastery next to a church on the Russian side of the river.  From December through April, they crammed in with hundreds of fellow refugees in the tight corridors and narrow stairwells of the monastery.   
     I'll be in Przemysl July 2 - 3, staying in a hotel right down the street from the monastery.  My father and I viewed the street on google maps and he sketched a layout of the monastery for me, so if the monks allow us in I'll feel like I've already been there.  My next blog will include photos of Przemysl, and hopefully some from inside the monastery.
     From Przemysl, I'll travel through the Slovakian mountains and Hungary to reach Romania... all part of the trek my father made, mostly on foot, in his quest to join the Polish Army.  But that's another story, and for another blog post.   


5 Comments
Christoph Hoffmann
7/15/2015 12:15:28 am

Hope you will find many more interesting things on your journey. Was a pleasure to meet you in Stripfing!

Reply
Ruud
8/5/2015 05:49:55 am

Hi Andrew,

Not sure if you remember, but we met in Bucharest one morning and had a coffee. You told me about your project and all the places you've been working on it.

I just came back from Cambodia yesterday and decided to read what you've done so far. Impressive.

I'm not sure if your book is publishes yet. I couldn't find it on Amazon. And after first traveling Romania and then Cambodia I;ve had so many new experiences that I'm not sure what you said anymore. I would love to read it though.

If you want you can send me an email.

I hope your travels gave you everything you were looking for.

Ruud.

Reply
Andrew
8/5/2015 10:30:24 am

Hello Ruud,
Yes of course I recall that coffee and conversation. You were the best man feeling out of place in the 5-star restaurant. So glad to hear from you. Still in Europe, now Poland, and I will take info learned through my travels to now complete the book. I'll let you know when completed, in the meantime keep enjoying what you do. All my best!

Reply
Andrew
8/5/2015 10:35:56 am

But tired,,, the five star HOTEL.

Reply
Andrew
12/29/2016 06:34:24 pm

Greetings. Where are your travels taking you now? Sending this message that my book is now available on amazon.com, the book name is Captured in Liberation.
Cheers to the New Year.

Reply



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    Author - Andrew Bajda

    Since publication of my book in December of 2016, so many amazing things have happened on both a personal and professional level. As the journey continues to evolve, I'll update my travel adventures on this blog, and invite you to join me along the way.

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