Not much luck getting close to the Black Madonna last night with throngs of worshippers. BTW, the monastery where she's hosted dates back to 1382 (established by Pauline Monks from Hungary). This morning, although Sunday--and Mother's Day at that, was vastly different. She was majestic as she drew you into her influence. Czestochowka impressed me with the deep religiosity of Poland's people--those I saw and those I heard about.
Now heading south by train to link back up to the Via Regia proper. Before leaving we stopped at The 17th-century St Barbara’s Church just 1km south of the monastery. Its location is believed to have been determined by the spring that emerged here when the Black Madonna needed to be washed after it was vandalised (it’s still bubbling away behind the church)--and, yes, we filled up our water bottles.
Then just minutes from the train station, we met an 85-year-old Lieutenant Colonel in the Polish Army, about to celebrate a WW II event. I shook his hand and thanked him for his service (through Eddie). He smiled when told I had also served in the US Army at that rank.
