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Legacy of Pope John Paul II. Included Features. WARSAW - Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing; visit the Cathedral of St. John and the Warsaw Ghetto NIEPOKALANOW - Visit the Franciscan Friary CZESTOCHOWA - Visit the Shrine and the Black Madonna
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Included Features WARSAW - Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing; visit the Cathedral of St. John and the Warsaw Ghetto NIEPOKALANOW - Visit the Franciscan Friary CZESTOCHOWA - Visit the Shrine and the Black Madonna AUSCHWITZ - Visit the remains of the concentration camp, the Martyrdom Museum, and St. Maximilian Kolbe’s cell KRAKOW - Guided sightseeing; visit Wawel Royal Castle, St. Mary’s Church, and the Shrine of Divine Mercy; farewell dinner WADOWICE - Visit the Pope’s birthplace and boyhood home KALWARIA ZEBRZYDOWSKA - Visit the Shrine; farewell dinner
Day 2Arrival in Warsaw, Poland • Upon arrival in Warsaw, transfer to your hotel. • Balance of the day is at leisure. Enjoy this evening’s welcome dinner with your traveling companions.
Day 3Warsaw. Excursion to Niepokalanow • Guided sightseeing of Warsaw includes the CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN, Lazienki Palace, and the WARSAW GHETTO. • Also enjoy an excursion to Niepokalanow (City of the Immaculata), and visit the FRANCISCAN FRIARY founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe who was canonized a saint by Pope John Paul II.
Cathedral of St. John • One of the oldest churches in Warsaw • Located in Warsaw’s Old Town • Main church of the archdiocese of Warsaw. • Originally built in 14th century as a brick gothic church, it served as a coronation and burial site for numerous Dukes of Masovia • In the crypts below the main aisle there are graves of several notable people Pre-war picture of Cathedral
The Warsaw Ghetto • The Warsaw Ghetto was the largest of the Jewish ghettos established by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust • In the three years of its existence, the population of the ghetto went from an estimated 450,000 to 37,000 • This was the scene of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, one of the first mass uprisings against Nazi occupation in Europe. Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Memorial
Niepokalanow (City of the Emmaculata) • A Catholic religious community near Warsaw founded in 1927 by Franciscan Friar Maximilian Kolbe • At one time, it was the largest religious community in the world, housing 800 men • The friary provided shelter to approximately 3,000 Polish refugees until it was closed shortly before Father Kolbe's arrest and later death • The community was re-opened after the war
Day 5Warsaw–Czestochowa • Journey to Czestochowa, one of the world’s most famous Marian shrines. • Afternoon at leisure to explore the SHRINE and see the famous BLACK MADONNA, an image and devotion Pope John Paul II held very close to his heart throughout his life.
Czestochowa • This city is in south Poland on the Warta River • The town is known for the famous Paulite monastery of Jasna Gora that is the home of the Black Madonna painting, a shrine of the Virgin Mary • Every year, thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to Czestochowa to see it. Jasna Gora
Day 6Czestochowa–Auschwitz–Krakow • Travel to Auschwitz and visit the remains of the former CONCENTRATION CAMP as well as the MARTYRDOM MUSEUM and ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE’S CELL. • Continue to Krakow. Guided sightseeing of Old Town Krakow, the city where Pope John Paul II served as archbishop, includes WAWEL ROYAL CASTLE and ST. MARY’S CHURCH. • Balance of the day is at leisure.
St. Maximilian Kolbe • Kolbe was born, to a Polish family of partial German origin in 1894 • He was a Polish Conventual Franciscan friar who volunteered to die in place of a stranger in the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz in Poland • He was canonized by the Catholic Church as Saint Maximilian Kolbe on October 10, 1982 by Pope John Paul II, and declared a martyr of charity • He is the patron saint of drug addicts, vegetarians, families, power workers, radio hams and the 20th century.
Day 7Krakow • This morning enjoy guided sightseeing and visit the world famous SHRINE OF DIVINE MERCY, home to the revelations by St. Faustina. • Pope John Paul II both canonized St. Faustina and instituted the Feast Day of Divine Mercy (the Pope passed away the day before Divine Mercy Sunday). • Afternoon is at leisure to explore Krakow on your own.
St. Faustina • She was initiated as a nun on April 30, 1926 with the name Sister Maria Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament • February 22, 1931 Jesus was said to have appeared as the 'King of Divine Mercy', wearing a white garment • His right hand was raised in a sign of blessing and the other was touching the garment at the breast • From beneath the garment emanated two large rays, one red, the other pale • Divine Mercy Sunday is now celebrated the Second Sunday of Easter
Day 8Krakow. Excursion to Wadowice and Kalwaria Zebrzydowska • Journey to the Pope’s hometown of Wadowice and visit his BIRTHPLACE and BOYHOOD HOME. • Also visit KALWARIA ZEBRZYDOWSKA, one of Poland’s most famous shrines and a UNESCO Heritage Site, which played a pivotal role in the Pope’s spiritual life. • Enjoy this evening’s farewell dinner.
Kalwaria Zebrzydowska • Poland’s first Calvary sanctuary established to provide pilgrims with a representation of Jerusalem at the time of Christ • The site includes a total of 44 buildings, among them many diverse chapels • The distances between the chapels here are longer than in Jerusalem itself, but within the same proportions • It is also Poland’s second most important historic destination for pilgrims • UNESCO World Heritage site
Day 9Your homebound flight from Krakow arrives the same day.
Meals • Daily buffet breakfasts • 4 three-course dinners including welcome and farewell dinners
Quality Hotels • WARSAW Westin Warsaw • CZESTOCHOWA Mercure Patria • KRAKOW Qubus subject to change
WarsawThe Westin Warsaw • A new, modern 20-story hotel is ideally located in the heart of the business district of Warsaw, on one of the prime thoroughfares, Jana Pawla II. • 361 guest rooms and suites with air conditioning, plush bathrobes, personal safe, hairdryer, telephone, radio, television, Heavenly Beds • 1 restaurant, 1 café/bar with live entertainment
CzestochowaPatria Mercure • Situated in the center of Czestochowa near the Jasna Gora Monastery • 102 guest rooms with hairdryer, telephone, radio, and television • 2 restaurants and 1 bar
KrakowQubus • Located in close neighborhood to historical district Kazimierz, close to the Vistula river and 2 km away from the Main Square. • 194 guestrooms, all with satellite TV, radio, telephone, safe, ironing desk and iron • 1 restaurant, 2 bars and a piano bar
To Know About Your Destination • Sometimes there is a small charge for public toilets • Stores may close earlier than back home and are usually not open on Sundays • Ice machines are not available in all hotels, nor are washcloths (you might like to pack a couple) • Please remember that it is not customary in Europe to drink iced water with meals. Ice is not normally added to drinks unless specifically requested • Many restaurants only serve bottled mineral water (for a fee). • Europeans generally dine slightly later than might be your custom • Coffee and tea are usually only served after meals and cost extra (ask the hotel staff).
To Know About Your Destination • If you intend to visit a specific museum or other public venues, ask your tour director for the days and dates they are open. • Request and keep receipts for all your personal spending (meals, souvenirs etc.) Sales tax or VAT (value added tax) is already included on price tags; VAT refunds, if applicable, will take about three months to process. Obtain the relevant tax form plus invoice from the store and hand it to the appropriate office when leaving Poland.
Money • 1 U.S. Dollar = 2.99399 Polish Zlotych • We recommend use of a money belt while traveling. • Please note that it is not very easy to change travelers cheques in Poland. • Even banks and exchange offices do not always offer this service and if it is offered, then charges are extremely high. • We therefore recommend that you take a credit card with you plus a small amount of cash (preferably in US dollars).
Additional Information • We recommend layered, easy care clothing, a pair of comfortable, tried-and-tested walking shoes, a heavy cardigan or jacket, and a small umbrella for the occasional shower. • Evening dress: smart casual. Shorts and bare shoulders are considered inappropriate at some religious sites, so carry trousers and a pullover in your hand luggage, or ask your tour director. • Having laundry done can be very expensive, so you may wish to bring some travel soap. • Remember a good quality, electric current converter (check that it is sufficiently powerful for your appliance) and international plug adapter for using electrical equipment abroad.
Additional Information • To reduce charges on calls home, we recommend you use a calling card (this service may not be available from every telephone in Poland). • Items to pack in your hand luggage: a good supply of any medication you are taking as it may not be available, extra film and spare batteries for your camera, a pen, light rainwear, a sweater, a road map if you enjoy "plotting your progress," and maybe a small travel pillow. • Label your camera and rolls of film with your name and tour code; should you lose them, there's a better chance of their being returned. • Remember to check that you have not left your camera or film on the motorcoach at the end of your tour.
Baggage Allowance • We will provide you with a carry-on bag • If you would like to take your own, carry-on bags should not exceed the dimensions of 12”x11”x6” • For safety reasons, wheeled carry-on bags are not suitable as hand luggage on the motorcoach • Porterage for one suitcase per person is included • One suitcase per person
Message from Pope John Paul II for the 22nd World Day of Tourism 2001 “May believers be witnesses to peace and bring serenity to all those they meet. Praying to the Lord that the experience of travel will always be permeated by Christian values and become a means of evangelization, I entrust all those involved in tourism to the maternal protection of Mary, the Mother of all humanity, and I invoke upon them the abundant blessings of Almighty God.”
