Gone Be Civilisation
Trip Start
Jun 16, 2010
1
51
65
Trip End
Aug 18, 2010
Bełsznica, Opole Voivodeship, Poland
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Mom felt bad for me so she made a nice obiad and tried to distract me with conversation since by noon Ania was still not here. She called an hour later and announced that she would pick us up around 3 p.m. That was not to be either. I finally gave in and took a nap, so needed after the restless nights. Feeling rejuvenated, I gathered Vanya and we went to say farewell to Ciocia Jasia and Wujek Elvis. We managed to drink some coffee and have some cookies before Ania called once more and told us to get ready. At last!
Seeing the familiar station wagon Vanya exclaimed, "Now the fun begins!" Ania and Marek are his favorite Aunt and Uncle and he knows that he can count on Wujek Marek to make him laugh and come up with crazy adventures. I was just glad to get out of Głubczyce and have time to relax close to Mother Nature.
When we arrived in Bełsznica it was supper time and we ate it just the way I like to, on the front porch of our friend’s house. The house has changed a lot since our last visit. Iza and Darek decided to completely rebuild their little village home and turn it into a ranch house they’ve always wanted. Their story is quite amazing, considering that both of them are Music Academy Professors who live farmers’ lives. Iza directs a university chorus that has won many international awards. Darek is a great pianist and in addition to teaching college courses plays in a classical quartet. About 10 years ago Iza convinced her husband to buy a small cottage 45 minutes from their place of work. After fixing it up a bit they were able to realize another one of Iza’s dreams, quite by accident.
Someone came over asking if Iza could keep his horse in her unused stable for a while. Iza had always wanted to have horses so she immediately agreed. That was Richie. Then someone else called and told her of a horse that was supposed to be killed because a retirement home couldn’t afford to keep him as entertainment anymore. Iza got the second box ready. That was Cardinal. Next came Adah and later her offspring Adagio. A young girl, whose parents gave her a horse for her 18th birthday without thinking it through, brought Fatra, the spirited one, and finally another horse escaped the meat factory, when an anonymous caller tipped Iza off. That was Aplikacja (Ah-plee-kah-tzyah). The life of the Panek family was changed forever. Now, on top of their busy university jobs, they had to get up at sunrise to clean and feed the horses and let them out to run in the field. In the summer they had to pack tons of hay in the attic of the stable. They also decided to start a riding school so the horses would earn their keep. In the meantime Jędrek and Hania were born. Add that to the equation.
Horses were not the only lucky ones. Soon the yard was full of other animals that someone either abandoned or neglected. Today, you are welcomed at the gate by Aria, a 2-year old German shepherd dropped off as a puppy, Triton, a 4-year old pointer that was left in the forest when he wasn’t needed for hunting anymore, and Dushka, a poodle/cocker spaniel mix that my friend Ania stole from a garden where the dog was kept on a 20-inch rope, all year long, with a sardine can as a water dish and not a haircut in its life. There is also a cat, Greta, which appears unexpected and claims your lap before you can say 'no.’
The renovation project changed a cottage into a full-size house. There is a private part with bedrooms and bathrooms for the family. Then there is a part of the house with rooms suitable for participants of the summer riding camps. I’m glad that Iza and Darek kept the special atmosphere of their home and are still using the porch as the primary dining room. Rain or shine. The garden is still full of berry bushes and beautiful flowers. And there is still no cell phone service here, unless you walk halfway to the village. Sigh…
