Sep 25, 20212 min read

On the Road to My Birthplace-Miedrzyzec Podlaskie

We leave Lublin on the road to Miedrzyzec Podlaskie. About 130 kilomteres North.

Walter was born there October 24, 1924.

When he was 2 years old his father and family went to live in the East in Baranowicze where his father worked for the railway. He stayed in touch and remembers Miedzyrzec since his grandmotherstill lived here, Alexandra Lesisz and Grandad Walenty.

His Mothers parents. He remembers travelling every summer to visit his grandmother in Miedrzyzec and going fishing and hanging out in the area. Although it was well over 80 years ago he is drawn to his hometown.

After we leave Lublin and we drive several hours in the Beast and we arrive before 1PM. We go to Ulica 3 Maja, where Walter’s nephew lives with his wife Alice. Januszek is the only son of Wladyslawa, Walters only sibling and his father is Bolek Mikos. Greetings and feelings of joy are had by all. They kind of don’t believe that Walter made it back to Poland but are overjoyed.

After a nice soup and visit we go to their son Januszek, Magadalena and family at their new house where threy have just moved in. They have two daugters Daria and Paola. They built a beautiful new modern home on a nice property near town. Januszek and Jarek have done the bulk of finishing in the build and the house is stunning. We have beautiful evening, dinner and this is where we stay.

On the next day September 24 after breakfast we head over to Januszek and Ala’s house where we spend a nice day replete with potato pancakes and they taste so good Walter has 12, at least

I feel Walter is at home here and it is finally the most important element of his trip here.

Rest of the day is spent resting and talking at their place….we get home after 8 PM.

Next we arrange to all Travel to Bialystok to the Sybir Museum, just opened. More on what the word, the place the impact of Siberia in the hearts and minds of Poles and its meaning.