Papusza

I recently watched a very good polish movie entitled "Papusza" made by Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof Krauze.  It is based on actual events. Bronisława Wajs, called in everyday life

Papusza, was the first gypsy poet ever translated into polish. It's not only showing her life but also a very difficult times after the II world war. 

I believe it is right to say that in those times and in her reality she might be considered as an emancipated woman. She was one of a few gypsies who knew how to read. She was also open-minded, she was looking forward and didn't have any doubts that the nomadic lifestyle of gypsies has to stop. 

A very important figure for the plot is Jerzy Ficowski, who was forced to join gypsies in their travelling due to the political situation in Poland. He was the first person who noticed talent of Papusza. He translated her poems into polish and helped to publish them.

For me, this movie was not only interesting because it is a portrait of a great poet, but also because it shows the reality and everyday life of gypsies during the first 20 years after II world war, while they were still allowed to lead nomadic lifestyle. 

It is also impossibile to mention the visual beauty of the movie. The cinematographers did very good job. It is a real pleasure to watch a film so beautifully made.

Visiting Sicily

As I mantioned in my first post, I found Sicily a magical place, full of interesting places worth seeing.  

1) Cefalu - it takes just an 1,5 hour to get there by train from Palermo. It's a small town, but it is one of the major tourist attractions in the region. Each year it attracts turists mostly with its beautiful architecture and magnificent gulf.

2) Agrigento - a birth-place of great italian writer Luigi Pirandello. But it is also a place where we can find ancient ruins of Temples.

3) Corleone - not particulary special, but a must-see for fans of "The Godfather" trilogy. There is also a mafia museum, that shows how huge problem it has been and still is.

4)  Syracuse - a historic city, known for its rich Greek history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture, and as the birthplace of the mathematician and engineer Archimedes

5) Scala dei Turchi "Stair of the Turks"- is a cliff near Porto Empedocle. It is a tourist attraction thanks to its unusual white color,