Hovering over the waters, the Breath saw a shapeless void and a dark deep. From this, the One of Ones formed the Whole. In breathing, the One of Ones filled it with Light. Eyeing the Light, the One of Ones knew purpose. And the first cycle began. Forever turning. Forever breathing. Raf Uzar
Category Archives: History
Wojtek the Soldier Bear
Reblogged from Newzar (by Kamila Kulma) The Wojtek Memorial Trust will erect a statue of the famous Nazi-battling brown bear that became the pride of General Władysław Anders’ Army. The bronze statue will stand in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh in 2014. “It will be a symbol of friendship between Poland and the United Kingdom,” saidContinue reading “Wojtek the Soldier Bear”
The Curious Case of Cacica
Cacica is one of those magical places that we find in Europe. It lies in an area forgotten by many and is not the easiest place in the world to get to. Cacica lies in Suceava county where the inhabitants speak a cocktail of languages: Romanian, Ukrainian, German, Polish, Slovak and there are also aContinue reading “The Curious Case of Cacica”
Lost Polish Tribe on Haiti…
It’s not something I normally do but the following post has proved to be so popular that I have decided to re-post it. Enjoy. Perhaps the most intriguing group of people among Poland’s huge diaspora (the so-called Polonia) are the ‘Poles of Haiti’. I heard about this lost little enclave of ‘Polishness’ on radio andContinue reading “Lost Polish Tribe on Haiti…”
Lost Polish Tribe in Turkey
Few people know that the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey) was the only major power to not recognise the Polish partitions and final dissolution of the state of Poland in 1795. What is more, Constantinople (now Istanbul) was the only capital city in the world to retain a Polish ambassador throughout the 123-year period during whichContinue reading “Lost Polish Tribe in Turkey”
Lost Polish Tribe on Haiti
Perhaps the most intriguing group of people among Poland’s huge diaspora (the so-called Polonia) are the ‘Poles of Haiti’. I heard about this lost little enclave of ‘Polishness’ on radio and began to follow, Theseus-like, the strands of stories that might lead me to some sort of end-point in my search for the truth inContinue reading “Lost Polish Tribe on Haiti”
Adventures in Lemko Land
Inspired by what I had read and researched for a recent post, I decided to grab my bike and head down south to deepest, darkest Lemko Land. I decided to pick a place (or places) that were close to water. My destinations were the villages of Łosie and Klimkówka (the latter being created after theContinue reading “Adventures in Lemko Land”
Lemko Land
History is all about ifs and buts and one particular region seems indicative of this statement. This region is Lemko Land, better known as Łemkowszczyzna or Lemkivshchyna. Sadly, the population of this region was decimated by Operation Wisła which forcibly repatriated and/or deported thousands of Lemkos changing the character of the region forever. It’s oddContinue reading “Lemko Land”
Adventures in Ruritania…
Once upon a time – long, long ago – there existed a kingdom, a nation which has now disappeared off the map without a trace. By many it was regarded as a beautiful, romantic land, with castles, palaces, a place of fairy-tales. Words like honour and romance were held in deep regard. In a word, RuritaniaContinue reading “Adventures in Ruritania…”
Silesia – city state or ethnic region?
Recently, the Poland’s Minister for the Interior and Administration Ludwik Dorn publicly announced that the government are moving forward in their plans for the creation of a super-Silesian urban aglommeration. The superpolis will swallow up seventeen towns and cities who will have no option to opt out of being part of the new metropolitan area. TheContinue reading “Silesia – city state or ethnic region?”
Raf Uzar 