Our little hotel room has a porch. We are on the eighth floor and could see out wonderfully if it weren’t for a privacy scrim that is dropped down on the outside of the porch. I can see out somewhat, and people on the street can not see me. Unfortunately, it makes it so I can’t take photos of my view.

It’s 5am here. Because of my delay yesterday, I won’t get to visit Warsaw. Today we leave for Lublin and hope to get connected with a tour guide from one of my mom’s University connections. He would drive, which would enable us to visit all the places we want (Lublin, Opole Lubelskie, Sobibor and Belzec death camps)

My grandmother told me that it is the Jewish holiday of Sukkot this week. She said if I see little huts around, that is what is going on. My mom and I talked about this over dinner last night. She reminded me that there are very few Jews here anymore. For some reason I had it in my head that after the war, Jews had returned, but no. The extermination made an emptiness that never was refilled.

My great-grandparents are from those two towns (Opole Lubelski and Lublin). Hopefully, we will find some of their history, if not, it will be good to step foot in their home where they walked.

I really hope I don’t start whistling from “Fiddler on the Roof”

I usually like flying into cities at night – the lights and pattern are lovely, but I really wanted to fly into Warsaw during the day. Since we aren’t going to spend much time in the city, it is one way I could have seen some of it from a somewhat unique perspective. Hopefully, our flight out is during the day. (I should consult my itinerary. )

I wrote this yesterday:

I am on the small plane to Warsaw now. I might be the only non-native on here. It is not a full flight and the murmur of voices in a language  I can not understand doesn’t phase me. The tones and sounds are the same anywhere. They speak in low voices kindly, conversationally, to each other. That is all I need to know.