Trip to Poland: September 21, 1937 - Aboard the M.S. Batory

M.S. Batory

Captain Eustazy Borkowski

Passenger List for the September 21-30, 1937 Sailing of the M.S. Batory

Luncheon Menu for 21 Sep 1937 on the M.S. Batory

(Photos, Passenger List, and Menu in the Collection of Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

My aunt, Helen Bulak, boarded the M.S. Batory on September 21, 1937, sailing from Gdynia Poland to New York.  Her traveling companions, Katherine [Kazimiera] Gralicka [Gralicki] and Katherine's two daughters Alice [Alicia] and Danuta [Diana], and Katherine's sister, Boleslawa Pomianowska [Pomianowski] were also on board and heading back to the States.

The M.S. Batory was another ship on the Gdynia-America Line and the sister ship of the M.S. Pilsudski. The Batory launched in July 1935 and remained in service until June 1971.  Eustazy Borkowski was the ship's captain at the time my aunt's voyage. You can read more about the M.S. Batory and Captain Borkowski here and here.

I have the complete passenger list for the September 21-30, 1937 sailing of the Batory which I hope to post in full at another time.

Trip to Poland: September 21, 1937 - Letter From Warsaw to Truskawiec Zdroj

(Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

The address on the envelope is:

Truskawiec Zdroj [Truskavets Spa] /
Dom Wypoczynkowy [Holiday House] /
Rodziny Urzedniczy [Family Employees] /
ul. Slowcsna [Sunny street] /
Wielmozna Pani [Madame] /
Helena Bulak

The return address is:

Warszawa ul. [street] Dzialdowska 8 /
F. Szerejko / 

Warsaw, September 21, 1937

Dear Mrs. Helena!

I'm happy that after your arrival there you get introduced with all local customs.  Getting up early morning is not that bad and will give you a chance to get to know town of Truskawiec Zdroj [Truskawiec Spa] and neighborhood area.  Morning air is also good and there is something to breathe in.  You learn that, Mrs. Helena, on your first day of staying there.  So take as much of this air as you can, in your lungs, in your packets, fold all of your dresses, suitcases and even in your hat.  This is a treasure.  The shot of this air may last for years.  The lodging house in not that expensive.  All kurtaksy [See * below.], doctors, etc. etc. are expensive though.  But compared to what I'm going to write about now it's nothing.  Last Tuesday I received a notice that a parcel which came to Warsaw.  On the other side of the notice was a comment; "The parcel cannot be released to you as an addressee because of the lack of permit issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade."  On Wednesday I went to post office to find out what is this all about.  It is a heavy procedure.  Clerk told me I will have to apply to the Ministry and then custom fee at the post Office.  I asked how much this will cost.  Custom fee about 110 zloty plus fee at the ministry for the total of about 150 zloty.  The clerk told me it not worth it to pay for that parcel and is better to send it back.  I agree with him.  Adolf will have to pay only for return postage. There is also another thing.  Adolf wrote a note if the parcel is not accepted by us for any different reasons the notice to be sent to aunt Julcia [Julia Bielska] and she will have to pay for all the fees if she wants to pick up that parcel.  If she would decide not to pick it up the parcel will  be sent back to America.  But I didn't stop there and I went to another clerk.  He explained to me if aunt Julcia would apply for proof of poverty the Ministry may release the parcel with that much fees but all the things inside must be used.  If the things inside are new she would have to pay not matter what.  I have to go to visit aunt Julcia and explain her everything so she would know what is going on.  Also I will be waiting for your opinion about it.  In my opinion we should send back this parcel. The only cost involved would be postage fees. To pay all the fees is a lot of money. For this money a lot of things could be bought. This parcel weigh 4 kilograms [approximately 8.81 pounds]. That is all about the parcel. 

 For the past three days I'm home alone. My lady [Leokadia (Szymanska) Szerejko] went to Zakopane with Celina [Gzell] and son-in-law [Roman Gzell]. They have a vacation now and it just happened Orbis arranged three day trip so they decided to use this opportunity and they persuaded my lady to go with them. They are coming back Monday morning. 

The weather in Warsaw is cloudy. I haven't received second letter from America yet. 

Today, on Saturday, I'm going to aunt Julcia to talk to her about about the notice she is going to receive about the parcel. 

I'm ending my letter now and wish you Mrs. Helena nice and healthy time. 

How do you like "Naftusia?" Is it 45 degrees? In Warsaw you didn't even try to have one drink of naftusia and there you have to drink a lot. When they found out in America about this they will be wondering what's happened with Mrs. Helena. In the morning "Naftusia' and in the evening "Barbarka." 

 Adolf and Antosia will think she found some Barbarka and maybe that Barbarka is wearing pants but you Mrs. Helena will explain them everything when you return to America. When we meet at the train station I will probably receive slap in the face for writing things like that. There is nothing I can do. I'm rested, I'm writing this letter in the morning. I'm healthy, I have a good sense of humor and I'm home alone. The pen is writing itself, I don't have to use inkwell and if I wouldn't have to leave now I would continue to write. 

Everything has it's ending. 

I kiss your hands and waiting for reply. 

Benevolent 

Feliks

The last entry in my Aunt Helen Bulak's travel diary is for August 16-30, 1937.  The fact that Feliks Szerejko wrote to her at Truskawiec Zdroj on September 21, indicates that Aunt Helen was in Truskawiec for a good long time.  According to her diary she arrived on August 15 and may have been there until mid September.  The letter was written and date stamped by the postal service on September 21. You have to figure it also probably took at least a couple of days for the letter to travel to it's destination.

The conundrum regarding the package that was sent from America is an interesting one.  My aunt's travel diary has a printed travel information section that lists foreign currency exchange rates. According to the diary, the rate given for the zloty at the time was 18.80, approximate value in U.S. cents. I did a bit of calculating and figured the cost to retrieve the package at the custom fee of first 110, then 150 zloties would come out to $20.68 and $28.20 respectively.  Figuring inflation, the cost of retrieving the package would be $356.63 at the $20.68 and $486.31 at $28.20 in 2017 dollars.  I would have sent the package back, too.  

*The word kurtaksy is an interesting one.  I looked for it in my Polish dictionary without luck.  I also popped it into Google Translate, and nothing.  I did a Google search, and it came up in the Dictionary of Polish  edited by Witold Doroszewski, or Slownik W. Doroszewskiego, which was published in ten volumes between 1954 and 1969. According to Wikipedia, Doroszewski's dictionary was the most comprehensive dictionary of the Polish language at the time it was published.  You can read more about the dictionary here.  Kurtaksa is an obsolete term for a fee for a stay at a place of treatment, maybe at someplace like a spa. Given kurtaksy is an obsolete term, that probably explains why I wasn't able to find it in the places I usually look.

Naftusia and Barbara, or the diminutive Barbarka, are different types of waters at Truskawiec Zdroj.  You can read more about them in a previous post here.

Major thanks to my cousin Marek for his translation from the Polish.

Trip to Poland: August 16-30, 1937 - Truskawiec, Lwow

Loda Halama

[Travel Diary Entry]

17 - Concert of Jerzy Czaplicki / baritone bass singer z / opery Warszawskiej also / Loda Halama / Balet Dancer one of the / best in Warsaw. / Lwowskie przyslowie / To Joj i / caluje raczki / At 9 every (sic) moving orchestra / plays "Kiedy Ranne Wstaja Zorze" everybody stands hats off until / finished. / One afternoon spacer na / Horadyszcze coffee, ciastka

17 - Concert of Jerzy Czaplicki / baritone bass singer / opera Warsaw also / Loda Halama / Ballet Dancer one of the / best in Warsaw. / Lwow proverbs / To Joj [?] and / kiss hand [a tango] /At 9 a very [?] moving orchestra / plays "Kiedy Ranne Wstaja Zorze" everybody stands hats off until / finished. / One afternoon walk on / Horadyszcze coffee, cookies

(Image of Loda Halama Courtesy of Wikipedia, Original Source Dutch National Archives, The Hague, Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANEFO), 1945-1989, Nummer toegang 2.24.14.02 Bestanddeelnummer 190-1213, Creative Commons; Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

If you would like to get a sense of the talents of Jerzy Czaplicki and Loda Hamala check out these YouTube videos, here for Jerzy Czaplicki and here for Loda Halama.

I couldn't make sense of all of the Polish in this one.  Was Lwowskie przyslowie a song?  I also looked for info on Horadyszcze.  I found mention of a number of towns in Poland with that name, but none of them seemed to be in context with anything in or near Truskawiec or Lwow, at leaset as far as I could figure out.  Maybe it was a shop where my aunt stopped in for the cookies and coffee?  If you can shed light on either Lwowski przyslowie or Horadyszcze, please email me.  I'd love to hear from you.

Trip to Poland: August 15-16, 1937 - Konstancin, Warsaw, Truskawiec

Therapeutic Indications for Helena [Helen] Bulak from Dr. Wiktor Proszowski, Truskawiec Spa
Front and Back Cover 

Therapeutic Indications for Helena Bulak,
Interior Pages

[Travel Diary Entry]

August 15 Sunday /
+ Monday /

Mass in Konstancin and / 40 hrs. devotion / After dinner packed and / went to Warsaw for Szerejkos / After supper went to / station. took train @ / 10.45 P.M. to Truskawiec Zdroj [Truskawiec Spa] / arrived Monday @ 10.50 A.M. / Met a couple on train / and directed me to the / Pensyonat Dom Wypoczynkowy [Guesthouse Recreation House] / Rodziny Urzednicy [Families Officiers] / Ul. Stoneczna [Sun Street]. / After dinner went to the Dr. Wiktor Proszowski gave / me daily Routine. / After supper went walking to / Park. and @ 10.30 bed.

(Therapeutic Routine in the Collection of Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)  One of the more interesting things about going through my Aunt Helen Bulak's travel diary and accompanying material methodically by date is it's given me a chance to put materials in context.  I always wondered what this piece of paper was, and why my Aunt went to the doctor in Poland.  Once I figured out she went to a mineral water healing spa, it put everything else in context.  

Under the heading "Picie Mineralnych Wod Truskawiekich [Drinking Mineral Waters of Truskawiekich]," I believe are recommendations for drinking at the various waters in Truskawiec, the fountains Barbara, Naftusia, Marja, Zofja, Jozia and Bronislawa.  At first I thought they were names of women, then figured out they were mineral water fountains / locations.  The flyer also gives therapeutic indications on mineral and mud baths, including the type of bath as well as the temperature.  Also listed are a page of diet choices.  I'm guessing the things on the diet page that have been crossed out are the foods Dr. Proszowski recommended my aunt avoid.  

There are only a couple more travel entries in my Aunt's diary, so the dates on the page indicating Przepis Kapielowy [Bath Recipe] give me a hint that my aunt may have remained in Truskawiec through August 30, 1937.  

I'd love to do some additional analysis on this document for fun, perhaps at a later time.  If you read Polish and can shed additional light on Dr. Proszowski's recommendations or Truskawiec during the 1930s I'd love to hear from you!  

Trip to Poland: August 6, 1937 - Konstancin

[[Travel 

[Travel Diary Entry]

Aug. 6 First Friday of the / Month went to / Confession + Communion / Kosc. Sw. Krzyza / Krakowski - Przedmiescie / W. kosciola Sw. Krzyza jest / prochowane Serce Kopernika / Fred. Chopena 

Aug. 6 First Friday of the / Month went to / Confession + Communion / Church of the Holy Cross / Krakowski - Przedmiescie / In church of the Holy Cross is / remains of Copernicus heart/ Frederic Chopin

(Image and Text, Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: August 4-15, 1937 - Konstancin

[Travel Diary Entry]

August 4 to 15 /
In Konstancin /

With occasional trips to Warsaw.

(Image and Text, Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: August 3, 1937 - Konstancin

Left to Right: Irene? Irene's Daughter? Helen Bulak, Alicia Gralicka, Katherine [Kazimera] Gralicka [Gralicki], 
Danuta Gralicka, Boleslawa Pomianowska, Unidentified Girl, Unidentified Girl
Konstancin, July 1937

Left to Right: Irene's Daughter? Helen Bulak, Danuta Gralicka, Katherine Gralicka, Alicia Gralicka
Konstancin, July 1937

Halina Pomianowska and Tadeusz Pomianowski
Photograph Taken in Buczacz, 1937 

[Travel Diary Entry]

Aug 3. 1937 Konstancin /

After dinner bus to Warsaw / Katherine + children Irene / daughter. Tadzio [Pomianowski] + Halina [Pomianowska] / took train to Buczacz @ 3.50 / saw them off with flowers / later went shopping then to / R.P. [Pomianowska?] had tea and back to Konstancin.

(Photographs and Text, Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: August 2, 1937 - Warsaw

[Travel Diary Entry]

Aug 2. 1937 /
Warsaw /
Monday /

Breakfast 9.30. Dinner at 3.30 / @ 4.30 Mrs. Szerejko [Leokadia (Szymanska) Szerejko] and myself [Helen Bulak] / went to movies Stylowy [Stylish] / "Nieznosna Dziewczyna [Unbearable Girl?]" / @ 7.45 took bus for Konstancin.

(Image and Text, Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: August 1, 1937 - Warsaw

[Travel Diary Entry]

Aug. 1. 1937 Sunday [Warsaw] /

Went to Church Sw. Krzyza [Church of the Holy Cross] / Krakowskie Przedmeszcie / after dinner Janek [Jan Szerejko] Oles' [Aleksander Szerejko] Mrs. [Leokadia (Szymanska) Szerejko] / and myself [Helen Bulak] went to Theatre Malickiej / Matinee. Swit Dzien, i Noc [Dawn Day, and Night] / at 7 P.M. met Mr. [Feliks] Szerejko and / went to the Movies Roma / Lawrence Phibbets "Pod Tajemm Urokiem [Under the Mystery?]

(Image and Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: July 31, 1937 - Warsaw

WARSZAWA Teatr Wielki
Le Grand Theatre
[Teatr Narodowny, National Theatre] 

[Travel Diary Entry]

July 31 - 1937 / 
Saturday Warsaw /

At 12.05 took bus to Warsaw / hair dressed. bought pastry / and went for dinner to Szerejko / In the evening met Mr. Sz. [Szerejko] / Oles [Aleksander Szerejko] Mrs. [Leokadia (Symanska) Szerejko] + myself [Helen Bulak] went to  / the Theatre Narodowny [National Theatre]" / playing "Maz z Grzecznosci [Husband with Politeness]"  / home. supper and bed.  

(Postcard in the Collection of Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: July 18-31 - Konstancin

[Travel Diary Entry]

From 18 to 31 in /

Konstancin with / occasional trips and / movie to Warsaw. /

"Cyrulik" Ciotka Karola [Charley's Aunt?]

(Image and Text, Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette) Apparently, the Teatr [Theatre] Cyrulik was a cabaret type of theater that operated in Warsaw between 1935 and 1939.  It was located on ul. [street] Kredytowej 14. Fryderyk Jarosy was its director.  

I looked for information on Teatr Cyrulik for a previous post, but I had the wrong spelling and wasn't able to find anything, which I thought was a bit strange.  I looked for the spelling Cyrilik, which was the way my Aunt Helen spelled the name in a previous post. When I looked at this diary entry I noticed the name of the theater was spelled differently.  I did a bit more searching and finally found some information.  If you would like to learn more about the theater you can read about it here.

Trip to Poland: July 16-18 1937 - Konstancin

[Travel Diary Entry]

July 16 - 1937 /
Konstancin /

July 16 - 17 - 18. - 1937 /
Rested and read book / Friday Saturday + Sunday. / wrote letters in Konstancin.

(Image and Text, Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: July 15, 1937 - Letter to Family in America

(Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)  This letter was written to my grandfather, Adolf Szerejko in Worcester, Massachusetts, from his brother Feliks Szerejko in Warsaw, Poland, about my Aunt Helen Bulak's trip to Poland.  Just to refresh your memory or if you haven't read from the beginning, Aunt Helen was my grandmother, Antonina (Bulak) Szerejko's, sister.  She traveled around Poland, between June and September 1937 and visited my grandfather's family in Warsaw at various points during her trip. 

Major thanks to my cousin Marek for his translation from the Polish.

Feliks writes...

15 July 1937

Dear Adolf,

In the last letter, you send us picture of Mrs. Helena.  We didn't have a problem to recognize Antosia's sister.  We have a small picture of Mrs. Helena sitting beside the piano in the room.

We were waiting impatient for day when she arrive.

On June 24 Mrs. Helena and Mrs. Pomianowska finally visited us.

On June 26 we went to train station in Warsaw to pickup Mrs. Helena when she would stay with us longer.  She lived with us for two weeks after that she went to visit her uncle.  She suppose to come spend time with us again.  After the first day we felt like we know each other for years.  As you know it's hard sometimes to get use to somebody new or even like that person.  But Mrs. Helena was very easy to get use to and to like.  Thanks to Mrs. Helena's visit we feel like you were here with kids, and it feels like we saw each other just yesterday.  Most of the day we spent talking about you and your kids. We were asking about Olek [my grandfather and Feliks' brother Alexander Szarejko, from Buffalo, NY], about life in America and general how you live and how you do.  Now we know everything.  We know you have beautiful six room house. Here, big house like that, can only afford somebody very rich.  We know that Antosia has many amenities like electric washing machine.  We know that she is very good housekeeper and you can't afford housekeeper because is very expensive. Here to get help doesn't cost much.  We know Adolf like to go fishing and he has a partner [his son, Robert?].  Big family needs lots of fish for supper so he needs help with fishing.  We know, Adolf, when you coming from work for dinner you going first to your garden to look at your flowers, which you both love a lot. Don't spend all your love on flowers only but also on each other.  You both deserve it.  We know, that one time when you were listening to boxing match you doze off and had to ask Antosia for results. That happen sometimes.  We know that during summer every Sunday you driving in your car to Antosia's father [in Oxford, MA] where you picking up mushrooms, blueberries, raspberries.

We also know that you drive to work. Here in Poland if any blue collar own a car he would be first to get laid off. We would be considered to be rich and should vacate his place at work for somebody who needs it more.  But things slowly are changing.  The government is trying to promote auto industry.  They constructing better, smoother roads outside cities.  In the cities more and more roads have asphalt surface.

A lot has improved but still more factories should be open.

We also know that you all the time thinking how to improve things at home and at work, for which you received raise. We know you are happy about it. We are also happy for you.  Now is going to be easier for you for you to pay off your house,

Now, Antosiu, I have some complaints.  Mrs. Helena is very picky.  She doesn't eat much even though she likes our food.  In our opinion if you like the food you eat a lot.  She eats only a few small potatoes and small piece of meat for dinner.  When we are eating we are filling up our plates until we are full.  She drinks tea and coffee without sugar because she doesn't want to gain weight but she loves sweets.  She lost a few pounds during trip and she is very happy about it. We want here in Poland to show our visitors things which are worthy to see and feed them well.  We don't want anybody to lose weight during visit here.  The only weight may lose their wallets, when they spend their money here, which is good for our economy.  My other complaint about Mrs. Helena, she gave boys two dollars each and my wife a gift, powder box.  I received from her pen which I'm using now to write this letter.  We also got some other small gifts.  All those gifts she bought with help from Antosia.  We thought Mrs. Helena is buying those gifts to take to America.  Then one evening, surprise, many nice, small gift boxes for us.  Now you know how intolerable she is.

Is she the same at home?

I know it is not nice to complain about somebody but this time I had to.

During those two weeks, Mrs. Helena was here, we visited whole family.  We visited Celina [Gzell, my granfather's niece and Feliks' daughter], Henryk [Szerejko, my grandfather's brother], and aunt Julia [Bielska].  What impressions that visit made on Mrs. Helena, she will tell you when she come back home.  I guess you will spend many evenings talking about Poland, our life.  We try to show Mrs. Helena how we live on regular basis so you would also know that.

Henryk, when he found out that somebody is coming visit from America, he thought that you were coming.  I told him Mrs. Helena will visit us but he thought I was lying to surprise him.

One week passes already when Mrs. Helena took a train to visit her uncle.  We asked her to let us know how her trip went as soon as she get there.  But so far there is no news.  We hope she gets there without problems.  There are many bad people around.  They always try to rob travelers.  We warned Mrs Helena but she said that you also warned her about it.   I guess she may be busy and doesn't have time to write yet.

You are probablay surprised why I'm using different paper to write letter.  I started yesterday and ran out of paper so now I'm using different pages.

I'm sitting on balcony and continue to write.  Yesterday was very sunny, today there is not much sun and there is no wind.  It's nice and quiet.  I'm home alone now.  Ladies went to visit sister, boys went to our friends in Michalin.  One of them will stay there a week or two, other is coming back tonight. This  year unfortunately I wasn't able to send my kids for whole summer to the country.  Thanks to that I'm alone now I can finish that letter.  You know when are people around there are many distractions.  Kids are asking questions, trying to catch flies which are sitting on my head or they play the piano or listening to the radio, wife wants a kiss, housekeeper wants to dress table for dinner or supper.  To write a letter you need peace and quiet.  It's hard to do anything in this racket.  We, men, have to be very patient and make everybody happy.  So when we have a moment for ourselves we have to use it.  Adolf, tell me that you're agreeing with me.  Being alone is also not good.  Women, can't live without them.  Let our lovely wives live for long, let all women live for long but only good ones of course.

I wonder what Antosia will say about my letter.  Let me know if she say anything and what she thinks.

I have to finish.  I would write more but housekeeper prepared supper already.

We are sending you all greetings and kisses.

To be continued.

Leokadia and Feliks

Trip to Poland: July 15, 1937 - Goworowo, Szczawin

Palac Szczawinie, Home of the Glinka [Szlachta] Family

[Travel Diary Entry]

July 15 - 1937 /
Thursday. Govorovo [Goworowo] /

Up @ 10. A.M. breakfast and chatted / with Uncle. later visited the / beautifull (sic) gardens of Mr. Glinka / Maj. [Majatek = Landed property?] Szczawin. Dinner @ 1.30 P.M. / After dinner again went to the / garden. Beautifull (sic) flowers and / trees, Chatted  with Uncle and / his young son Charles. Kazio. / also met an older son Henio / Found them in very poor / circumstances really pitifull (sic). / at 4.30 P.M. Kazio took with / horse and buggy 12. K.M. to / Pasieki Station. @ 5.37 train / left for Warsaw. arrived at / Dworzec Wilenski [Wilenski Station] @ 7.30 arrived / in Konstancin @ 9. P.M. supper  / and evening rest @ 11. P.M.

(Photo by Marek and Ewa Wojciechowski (Tours in Poland), GNU, Courtesy of Wikipedia; Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: July 14, 1937 - Roznan, Goworowo

Roznan, on the Narew

[Travel Diary Entry]

July 14 - 1937 / 
Wednesday. Roznan /

Before B.[Boleslawa Pominowska?] + H. [Halina Pomianowska?] were up. Miss Bursse [maybe Bourse?] / came over to Mrs. Solnicki / had breakfast and chatted / later went to the city. To Church / of St. Anne. Cemetarz [Cemetery] to the / grave of Mrs. Zurawnskas [Zurawska's?] mother / then to M. Burse home in / the garden. beautiful scenery / over the river Narew. Had / dinner @ 3.30 P.M. after Mr. Solnicki / came home. then came back / to Mrs Solnicki home / Saw Jewish children spanking each / other and Mother + Father. [unrecognizable word lurthmy?] / in. Mr. Solnicki drove us in a / Horse + Buggy 13 K.M. to Grochowo [Goworowo?] / @ 7.30 to Uncle Kovalewski [Kowalewski]. Had supper there @ 9.30 talked until 2. P.M. [a.m.]

(Image in the Public Domain, Wikipedia; Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

(Image and Text, Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: July 13, 1937 - Konstancin, Warsaw, Roznan

[Travel Diary Entry]

July 13 - 1937 / 
Tuesday / 

After breakfast went to Warsaw / by machine Mr. Paczesny / looked up Mrs. Lewandowskas [Lewandowska's] [Lewandowski's] / sister in Mokotowo Mrs Simon / arrived there @ 10.30 A.M. had / lunch and returned to Warsaw / @ 2.30 P.M. hairdressers until / 5.00 P.M. had lunch and took / bus to Roznan. half way was / frightened by the coachman. he / had an argument with the wagon / man almost shot at him. / At 10 P.M. arrived at Roznan / went to Mr. Solnickis [Solnicki's] home / talked and had lunch. at 12 P.M. [a.m.] / went to bed / Be Myself

(Image and Text, Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland 1937: July 12, 1937 - Konstancin

[Travel Diary Entry]

July 12 - 1937 Monday /

The usual routine in / Konstancin.

(Image and Text, Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: July 11, 1937 - Konstancin

[Travel Diary Entry]

July 11 Sunday 1937 /
Konstancin / 

Up @8 A.M. breakfast went to / Mass @ 10. A.M. in Konstancin / came home had a terrible / headache and fever was in bed / all day. / Katherine and children went / to Warsaw @ 3.30 P.M. Came / home / At. 8. P.M. felt a little better so / played cards. Bridge until 10 P.M.

(Image and Text, Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: July 10, 1937 - Konstancin

[Travel Diary Entry]

July 10 - 1937 - Saturday
Konstancin

Up @ 9.00 breakfast later whe / After dinner went to Warsaw / Met Halina went to the hospital / to see Irene's Hania. later Met / Tadzik went for Supper after / supper went to see Ciotka / Karola [Charley's Aunt?]. Theatre Cyrilik / home @ 11.P.M.

(Image and Text, Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: July 9, 1937 - Warsaw

[Travel Diary Entry] 

July 9 - 1937 Friday / 

Warsaw. F. Szerejko /

Up @ 9.30 read the paper, breakfast / sat around played 21 with the / children. dinner @ 3.30 / rested and came to Warsaw. / Met K. [Katherine Gralicka] + B. [Bronislawa Pominowska] rode to Konstancin 

(Image and Text, Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: July 8, 1937 - Warsaw

[Travel Diary Entry]

July 8 - 1937 Thursday /
Warsaw. F. Szerejko /

Up at 9.30 dressed and had / breakfast. read paper / After dinner went shopping and to park P. Paderwskiego / formerly Skarzynskiego [Skaryszewski Park]. Home / at 10. P.M Supper and rest / Rode to Zoliborz and return.

(Image and Text, Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: July 7, 1937 - Warsaw

[Travel Diary Entry]

July 7 - 1937 Wednesday /
Warsaw. F. Szerejko /

Up at 9.30 breakfast as usual / later went to the city shopping / until 3.30 P.M. dinner at 4 P.M. / then rested until 6.15 / dressed and with the children went to the movies.  The play / Dorozkarz #13 [Cabman Number 13]. very comical / title roles St. [Stanislaw] Sielanski / the Mother roles [Mieczyslaw] Cwiklinska / arrived home @ 10. P.M. supper / and rest for the night.

(Image and Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette) YouTube and the Internet are wonderful things.  Where else can you find and watch an 80 year old Polish movie? And yes I did watch the whole thing. It is still reasonably amusing, given contemporary senses, and no, I don't understand Polish.  At least it was only an hour.  I agree with my aunt.  It was comical.  I enjoyed the actors and the scenes of Polish and contemporary 1930s life. The lesson learned is if you are looking for something Google it, because you never know what you might find!  

Trip to Poland: July 6, 1937 - Warsaw

[Travel Diary Entry]

Tuesday July 6. 1937 /
Warsaw. Same /

Up at 9.30 breakfast. wrote letters / and cards. read book and / paper dinner at 4 P.M. / naped (sic) until 5.30. @ 6.30 / dressed and went to see the play / "Kroll Wloczegow " with D. Damiecki + Brochwiczowna / in the title roles. The play and players were very good. At 11.30 / came home had supper and bed. / Mr. F. Szerejkos joke Q. Jak sie prze / do lasu czy razem czy oddzielnie. / O. oddzielnie, wlasnie ze nie bo / do lasu razem a z lasu odziel / mi.

Tuesday July 6. 1937 /
Warsaw. Same /

Up at 9.30 breakfast. wrote letters / and cards. read book and / paper dinner at 4 P.M. / naped (sic) until 5.30. @ 6.30 / dressed and went to see the play / "Vagabond King" with D. [Dobieslaw] Damiecki + Brochwiczowna / in the title roles. The play and players were very good. At 11.30 / came home had supper and bed. / Mr. F. Szerejkos joke Q. [Question] How do you go / into forest whether together  or whether separate. / A. [Answer] Separate, on your own because / you are separate from the forest and forest separate from / me

(Image and Text, Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shentte) Okay, so I did my best with the joke.  Clearly, something was lost in translation.  Either that or it is way funnier in Polish.  If you can come up with something better I'd love to hear from you.

Trip to Poland: July 5, 1937 - Warsaw

Warszawa Glowna Railway Station, 1938

Hotel Central, 47 Aleja Jerozolimskie, 1930
Site of the former Szerejko Home in Warsaw

[Travel Diary Entry]

Monday July 5. 1937 /
Warsaw F. S. Home /

Up @ 9.30 stayed home until after / dinner then went to R.P. / Cukernia, their met B.P + / sisters chatted and then met / Mr. Szerejko visited the building / @ 47 Aleje Jezorolimskie where / now stand a Hotel formerly / home of Szerejko family #61 dlw / opposite are building a new / R.R. Station. Glowny Dworzie / then walked Ul. 3 ego Maja przs (sic) / most do Parku Padarewskiego / drowny Sharzeinskeigo. At 10 PM. / came home supper and bed.

Monday July 5. 1937 /
Warsaw F. S. Home /

Up @ 9.30 stayed home until after / dinner then went to R.P. / Candy shop, their (sic) met B.P [Boleslawa Pomianowska] + / sisters [Katherine Gralicka and Boleslawa Pomianowska] chatted and then met / Mr. Szerejko visited the building @ 47 Jerusalem Avenue where / now stand a Hotel formerly / home of Szerejko family #61 dlw / opposite are building a new / Rail Road Station. Main Train Station / then walked Street 3 ego Maja across / bridge to Padarewski Park / peregrine falcon Skaryszewski [Park]. At 10 PM. / came home supper and bed.        

(Image of Warszawa Glowna Railway Station from Wikipedia in the Public Domain; Image of Hotel Central from www.warszawa1939.pl in the Public Domain; Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: July 4, 1937 - Warsaw

Left to Right: Helen Bulak, Feliks Szerejko, Leokadia (Szymanska) Szerejko
Lazienki Park

Left to Right: Aleksander Szerejko, Leokadia (Szymanska) Szerejko,
Feliks Szerejko, Lazienki Park

Left to Right: Helen Bulak, Feliks Szerejko, Leokadia (Szymanska) Szerejko
In Front of Monument to Jan Sobieski III, Lazienski Park

Left to Right: Feliks Szerejko, Leokadia (Szymanska) Szerejko, Aleksander Szerejko
In Front of South Facade of Lazienki Palace

Left to Right: Leokadia (Szymansak) Szerejko, Helen Bulak
In Front of Monument to Chopin, Lazienki Palace

Lazienki Palace, North Facade

Julia Bielska

[Travel Diary Entry]

July 4 - 1937 Sunday / 
Warsaw, Feliks Home /

Up at 8 A.M. went to Mass for / 9 with Olesi [Alex / Alexander Szerejko] home for breakfast / Went to Lazienki Park / haen't seen anything so beautiful / Park received its name for the / Lazienki [Baths] make them.  The Palace / of Zygmont [Stanislaw?] 2 Poniatowski who / lived their not very large but / beautifull (sic). In the park are / beautiful Statues of the Great Music Composer Chopin also / Jan Sobieski fighting the Turks / the streets and alleys are something / unusual such tall trees and weeping / willows, blue spruce. The / Palace decorated with white petunias / and red geraniums the colors of / Poland. Took snapshots / Mr. + Mrs. [Szerejko] Oles and myself. / Orchestra Playing in the Park / surrounded by Garden of Tables / where lunch can be served. / Drove home through Aleje [Avenue] Uzazdowskie / had dinner rested a few minutes / and went visiting to Pani Julia / Bielska. found her a very / pleasant person and very lively / for 58 yrs of age.  Had lunch their / (sic) after 7 P.M. Mrs. Szerejko came / had lunch also. then we all / talked and made merry until / 9.30 left for home and bed / @ 11.30 P.M.

(Photographs and Text, Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Swan, Lazienki Park