Pasieka Wita - Welcome to the Apiary

- Backblip -

18.10.11 - I have changed the image here, as I now have permission from my friends to post this. You can see some of the hives I mention below in the background.

Day 2 of our visit to Poland. An 18km cycle ride through the local forest. Interesting to pass by many shrines fixed onto trees, and large crucifix with coloured ribbons. We saw varieties of very large mushrooms, old farm buildings and several carts which are still in use.

The highlight of the trail for me was the visit to the Apiary. Difficult to photograph because of the strong sunlight. The old beehives were fascinating, some hundreds of years old, everyone a different design. The owner didn't speak a word of English, but she made us so welcome with tea, mead, honeycake and thick bread with honey to spread. The hives are no longer active, but she still produces honey from several others in a different part of her garden, dating from the mid 1930s.

On past a memorial to the fallen in the war, and then to lunch - freshly caught trout at a local fish farm. It reminded me of eating St Peter fish beside the sea of Galilee.

In 28C, it was hard work cycling through the forest, but we all made it. After a quick change, we were on the road again, and spent the evening in Czestochowa. A third visit for me to the Shrine of the Black Madonna. We saw more of the site, walking around the Stations of the Cross, and viewing the new memorial wall to all those killed in the plane crash at Katyn last April.