Day 14: O-o-o-opole

Photos, top to bottom: 1. A pigeon defies the ubiquitous anti-roosting system. 2. Typical street pavement in old town anywhere Poland. 3. The cheese board. 4. Night scene, Opole.

The circuit of Poland is almost complete. There is a sense of urgency in our travel. We want to breathe in every last bit of what makes this beautiful country so special.

Mass today was at Wroclaw's Corpus Christi Church. It was well attended. The organ and cantor were majestic.

Then it was off to Opole by train. Opole is a smaller, less touristy town than the big cities we've visited thus far. However, it is beautifully situated on the Odra River and is the home to the Museum of Polish Music.

We walked the truly lovely Odra River trail system, a combination of open (= sunny) riverside trail/exercise stations and wide, shaded lanes with playgrounds and benches.

We discovered a weekend music festival would be wrapping up in the evening, so took the opportunity for a restorative siesta before heading out to the outdoor concert venue. There we joined the 150 or so concertgoers, mostly Poles, mostly our contemporaries, waiting for the music to begin. The music was slow rock. Given that folks sang along with a few of the tunes, we surmise the music was a mix of original tunes and covers of a few golden oldie Polish rock songs. So fun to join this older group of people who'd lived through decades of Soviet rule and see them enjoying life.

Nonna Paola, always interested in staying hydrated, suggested a cool beverage at one of the outdoor restaurants in the town square. In the end, we ordered a local cheese board. We had to stave off a thieving bee that was as interested in the cheese board's raspberry mousse as we were. We must have lingered a while, as all the town's night lights were on as we strolled home.