And now you, too, can be polish for a day during the day trip "Paczkis, Pierogies and Polkas," come February 12. You can visit beautiful old churches, historic neighborhoods and lively venues like markets, restaurants, bakeries as well as memorial sites so close to the history and traditions of the Polish community in Detroit.
On this fascinating excursion, our group will board the bus to the beat of "Roll Out the Barrels." From there to the Bakery to shop and eat Paczkis, then to the Polish Art Center for an egg painting demo and a brief talk about the rising price of amber. We'll also see shelves laden with handmade Polish stoneware imported from Boleslawiec, Poland. That's the first-quality pottery from the award-winning Ceramika Artystyczna factory. Stoneware from that source is appreciated the world over for its simple, functional form, and its unique and beautiful, characteristically Polish decorations.
Today from that small village, skilled artisans individually handcraft and hand paint each piece with the same unique stamp technique used for over 400 years, preserving the charm of Old Central Europe. Polish stoneware from Ceramika Artystyczna is an exceptional thing of beauty and has won numerous awards for its beauty and design. Each piece the stoneware on display is specially hand-selected by Ceramika Artystyczna for the U.S. market.
As the tour progresses, maybe some will buy Czarnina, Duck's Blood Soup, or some Head Cheese from the Polish Market. Or some peasant bread and tubes of caviar. From there a brief tour of St. Florian Roman Catholic Church – which is a Polish-language church and teaches religious education in Polish. From there a hearty lunch at the Polish Village Cafe. At this point travelers will have wished that they would have worn their stretchy pants as the Polish Platter is passed, featuring Pierogi, Kielbasa, Kraut, Mashed Potatoes and veggies including Dill Pickle Soup and dessert to quell even the wildest appetite.
And that's only the beginning.
This uniquely Polish Tour includes: Visiting two historic churches built over the years with actual parish members as your guide at each venue: St. Florian's, Hamtramck and Our Lady of the Scapular, Wyandotte. Tours will cover both interiors and exteriors of the structures.
Historically, many Poles have changed the world for the better. For example, we'll see astronomer Nikolas Copernicus' bust in front of the Detroit Public Library's Main Branch. We'll chat with docents about Thaddeus Kosciusko, Poland’s beloved war hero, highly honored in this country for his military genius during the American Revolution. We'll even learn that every state in the union has a statue of Kosciusko.
A guided tour of the Polish Market will introduce us to an abundance of typical Polish food specialties – from pierogi to pickled pigs' feet and how to make delicious recipes and unusual things like “Pisanki” (intricately decorated eggs) in your own kitchen. There'll also be an interactive amber jewelry display, and a show of specialty crockery. You'll be able to see how to create delicious Polish dining in a festive atmosphere.
And the group will learn Polish words at each location as well as a special Polish song we'll sing throughout the excursion.
This is a tour where history is piled on history, and explained by our gracious tour guides, wait staff, retail store owners and, appropriately, Catholic priests as the occasion arises. It’s worth every minute.
During the brief intervals on the bus there will be very short DVDs and a talk about the Poles in Michigan. We'll even learn some more Polish words at each venue.
As a special treat, we'll stop at a famous Blind Pig: We don't think there is another bar like this is all of Detroit. Some people call it a "dive bar." Why they use that descriptive is maybe understandable, but the reality is that this place is just a humble neighborhood bar, rivaling the personality and character that we've experienced in neighborhood pubs in London and Dublin.
In short, no pretension here at all. The staff is kind and friendly to us as soon as we walk through that door. This is place is a treasure, a true gem in Detroit. Do yourself a favor and go here. You don't want to miss out.
Monika (last names are rarely used here) will dance for us at a Blind Pig, a Detroit Legend in the old Polish neighborhood in Southwest Detroit, owned by Manay who has lived above the bar for 80 years. Monika our Polka Queen will show her true talents when she dances for us – with or without a partner. That's when she will reveal how she gained herself a scholarship some years ago..
While Mardi Gras is all the rage, Polish Americans get the festivities going a bit earlier, not just with Paczki Day, but with food, lively music and visits to their Catholic Churches, in preparation for the Lenten season to come (starting Ash Wednesday, February 18).
"With a group tour like ours, the experience is so much more enhanced because there is a guide at each stop geared to show and tell about the features of each location,” said Rose Szwed, Tour Guide for Step On Bus Tours.
“These are things that wouldn’t be available on a self-guided jaunt. That's why I researched each and every aspect of the tour, to create an enjoyable and memorable excursion that will keep everyone’s attention.”
What people don't remember is that Poland has for centuries suffered drastic takeovers by other countries (you know their names). Finally, their strong spirit was captured with Lech Walesa and his Solidarity Movement, which changed Poland, changed Europe and even the world.
Many of the travelers have been on this trip before because it is so moving, but also so much fun. "I've been going on this trip every year because it's so much fun," said Barb Maison, a regular tourist with Step On Bus Tours. "Rose changes this trip every year. There is always something new. She finds the most unusual things to show and tell us about. It's just so much fun"
