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BIKING ADVENTURE IN NORWAY!

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BIKING ADVENTURE IN NORWAY! After our work in Rzeszow, we took a train to Krakow and visited the Auschwitz/Burkanau where over one million people, mostly Jews, were murdered in gas chambers between 1941 and 1945, as the world looked the other way. We spent the entire day there, in the cold rain. The beginning of the 2nd world war was a coordinated attack on Poland by Germany from the West and the Soviet Union from the East, preceded by regular joint meetings of the SS and the NKVD (the predecessor of KGB).  It was time to head back to Helsinki to retrieve our bicycles. We traveled via Tallin, Estonia, (a favorite memorable place for Misha from childhood) an ancient city-fortress which was preparing to celebrate the 31 st  anniversary of Liberation from the second Soviet occupation, from 1944 to 1991.                                 A glimpse of Estonia’s beautiful Old Town After spending a day in Tallin, we took a ferry across the Gulf of Finland to Helsinki, assembled our bikes in Van
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SOLIDARITY

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  SOLIDARITY   Fire sirens went off this morning in the tiny village of Brzegi Gorne, where we set our tents in a farm yard the night before. Children gathered around, their eyes big: “Air sirens, here in Poland? Where do we go, Where is the bomb shelter?... This week we took 6 students on a high mountain traverse of Polonina Wetlinska, Polonina Carynska culminating with an ascent of Tarnica, the highest point in the Polish Carpathians. Four of our students were returning, two on their third week, and two on their second. This allowed for a partially existing level of community, closeness and trust.   Beginning the week with our last group of children Together on the mountain! The expedition started with a bushwalk and a warm farewell from Piotr, a mountain man, who was so genuinely excited to see kids off with their packs that he practically knocked the wind out of each of us with his bear hugs and shoulder taps that almost sent several kids off their feet! And . . . he made a true im
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  A WEEK IN THE MOUNTAINS Beskid (Bieszczady) Mountains form the southern border between Poland, Ukraine and Slovakia. Consequently, the Bieszczady National Park, located in the southeast corner of Poland, borders national parks in two neighboring countries comprising a formidable wilderness area; a sea of forested mountains with “Poloninas” (Alpine meadows) running along the summit ridges. The ridges are very linear, making for trails of exceptional aesthetic quality with beautiful views and easily discernible routes. An interesting local detail; camping is restricted to small villages in the valleys and the wilderness is left for the animals at night. It is so populated during the day with many hikers of all ages. The night gives the animals a rest and freedom to go where they wish. An honorable law! Development is mostly in the valley floors with lovely mountain villages full of accommodations ranging from hostels and campgrounds to “Domki” little and big alpine houses for rent. The
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