Saturday, Angloville had promised us native English speakers a tour of Wrocław. And it was an excellent tour led by Voitych. Among other things, he told us that protests and gatherings were banned under the Soviets. So that is why the residents started putting out gnomes and even had purple gnome hats to wear (he put one on as he talked about this) - gnomes were for children so it could not be a bad thing (or so the story went). And this was how the residents protested.
Where the tour began, there was a statue to remember the protests.
We saw the Opera House.
There is a monument that tells of the founding of the city.
On one side of that monument, there is a plaque showing the map of Europe as it existed in the past (on the right) and now (on the left) - it is hard to see in this photo, but quite easy to see on the monument - I am sorry that the photo was not better.
This is the hotel which is very nice today - and is where Hitler used to stay. It is across the street from the Opera House. Hitler would stay in a special suite on the second floor (European first floor) and come out onto that porch (just past the fourth car on the right side of the street) and would review the troops as the marched past and give speeches to the crowds who would gather here.
This is the new opera house and concert center. It is on the former square that was surrounded by all the important buildings when the king was ruling, back in the 16th and 17th centuries. Much has been changed since then, but the moat is still there (to the left of this photo) and of course, more gnomes.
We also went by the White Stork synagogue and saw where Jews were deported and/or sent off to concentration camps.
And we also learned about the religious tolerance of Breslau, now Wrocław, at this square, where the above statue and the marker below are located. In the marker below, you can see the Orthodox cross, Jewish Star, Lutheran cross and Catholic symbol - and in the square, you can find the directions to the four different houses of worship.
After a very interesting tour, we then had an excellent lunch together. Everyone was psyched and ready to start Angloville on Sunday morning. Many of the Anglos then went out to explore and drink. I went back to my hotel, and took it easy for the evening, repacked after a week in the city and got ready for the week of Angloville.
Where the tour began, there was a statue to remember the protests.
We saw the Opera House.
There is a monument that tells of the founding of the city.
On one side of that monument, there is a plaque showing the map of Europe as it existed in the past (on the right) and now (on the left) - it is hard to see in this photo, but quite easy to see on the monument - I am sorry that the photo was not better.
This is the hotel which is very nice today - and is where Hitler used to stay. It is across the street from the Opera House. Hitler would stay in a special suite on the second floor (European first floor) and come out onto that porch (just past the fourth car on the right side of the street) and would review the troops as the marched past and give speeches to the crowds who would gather here.
This is the new opera house and concert center. It is on the former square that was surrounded by all the important buildings when the king was ruling, back in the 16th and 17th centuries. Much has been changed since then, but the moat is still there (to the left of this photo) and of course, more gnomes.
We also went by the White Stork synagogue and saw where Jews were deported and/or sent off to concentration camps.
And we also learned about the religious tolerance of Breslau, now Wrocław, at this square, where the above statue and the marker below are located. In the marker below, you can see the Orthodox cross, Jewish Star, Lutheran cross and Catholic symbol - and in the square, you can find the directions to the four different houses of worship.
After a very interesting tour, we then had an excellent lunch together. Everyone was psyched and ready to start Angloville on Sunday morning. Many of the Anglos then went out to explore and drink. I went back to my hotel, and took it easy for the evening, repacked after a week in the city and got ready for the week of Angloville.
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