In 1967 Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. teamed up with Uncle Henry Cukierka and they ran their first organized Polka Tour to Poland. The tradition still continues today. Flights left Chicago and New York on July 29th and headed to Warsaw – the capital of Poland, to start an amazing 11 day tour of the beautiful country. Highlights of this years’ tour included lunch in the 15th century Debno castle in the small town of Tarnow, a short stop at a Bacowka (traditional wooden smoke hut where the tasty cheeses oscypek & bryndza are prepared), and a cable car ride 6000 ft high to the top of the Kasprowy Mountains. A touching Memorial Mass was held in memory of Eddie B Sr. at Święty Jacek Church in Chocholow. The tour made a visit to the charming one of a kind “painted” village of Zalipie, where competitions are held each year after Corpus Christi for the most beautiful painted cottages. A tour favorite this year was the exciting Festival of Beskid Culture in Wisla. Over 100 folk groups from many countries performed their music and dances in open air concerts and street procession parades. There were many folk art exhibits and a vast array of food specialties, desserts and beverages.

We would like to thank all the tour participants who joined us this year and made our 2012 trip a huge success. Thank you to Stephanie Pietrzak and Whitey Ryniec for their wonderful musical entertainment, and a great big thank you to Mary & Richard Gorecki of PAT Tours for their expertise and exceptional service. They are the BEST!

We will be returning to Poland in August of 2014 – details will be available soon.
We hope you will join us.