Kazimierz, the Jewish Ghetto of Krakow

Poland I would say is the cradle of the Holocaust. There is no other country in Europe that lost so many Jews and suffered the most than Poland. The country was torn apart during the Second World War and they were not only under the Nazi jurisdiction, but the Slovaks and the Soviet Union as well.


The Nazis have concentration camps all throughout Europe, from Norway down to Italy. Italy (Mussolini) and Spain (Franco) were allies of Germany and have cooperated well with Hitler. These concentration camps range from being labor camps to transit camps, prison camps, collection points, sometimes ghettos and lastly, extermination camps. The Nazi design was to have Poland pigeonholed for the build and execution of extermination camps. You can just imagine the atmosphere in the country during that time—the thick aroma of death was everywhere. People feared for their lives as well as for their loved ones. I’ll expound more about this in my Auschwitz entry soon.


When the Nazis invaded Krakow, they quickly moved all the Polish Jews to Kazimierz, a neighborhood just outside Stare Miasto. Below you will see fotos of present-day Kazimierz.

Although Kazimierz might have changed through the years, I can personally feel the ‘ghetto’ ambiance here. That stale lingering accent on the air, it’s not sickening—in fact it is surprisingly charming and friendly. Kazimierz has its own magnetism, decrepit yet full of character and charisma, kind of a bit hard to explain you know. I’ve been to the Jewish ghetto in Prague, Josefov and that place doesn’t really remind me of a ghetto, whilst compared to Kazimierz—Kazimierz come across more authentic, like life just picked up after the war. Maybe I am dismembering the details too much. You’ll have to see it for yourself and feel the place.



Left foto is Jozefa street in Kazimierz and on the right is a corner cafe terrace along Estery street right across the Nowy square.





Those plaques up on the wall I find quite charming. On the right foto, at first I thought it was just the usual graffiti art that proliferates in every ghetto, and then I saw Maxwell House (terrible coffee).





This is Nowy square. On top is an antique market and below are produce from the local market in the square and the trader's hall, once a slaughterhouse, now renovated, those windows are food stalls and pretty much a local favorite.





Kazimierz - more snug scenes of the neighborhood here.





More of the Jewish quarter here, you can see Hebrew written on doors and walls, and a close up foto of the infamous Star of David.





The Kupa Synagogue circa 17th century, the venue of the Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow and foto on the right, Yidishland exhibition in Kazimierz.





Left foto on the corner of Bartosza leading to Szeroka square which is on the right foto where all the lively and colorful cafe terraces convene.





Moi in Szeroka square having espresso coffee and Zubrowka vodka shot and of course my view to the square and the cafe terraces. It was a beautiful day.





Left foto shows a map of the Jewish Heritage Route; middle foto is a white grand piano on Wolnica square, these grand piano sculptures are scattered all over Krakow; on the right is the biggest Catholic Church in the Jewish ghetto, Bozego Ciala.





Here are Jewish trading stores preserved as they were 65-85 years ago.



More fotos here: Kazimierz, Krakow, Poland


Kazimierz is also the location of the infamous ‘Schindlers List’ (1993) movie. I didn’t get to see the factory because it was located in a different area and I was too lazy to walk over there, instead I parked myself on a café terrace in Szeroka square and enjoyed the beautiful sun, an espresso and 2 vodka shots of Zubrowka. Now that is life. I will try Belvedere and Chopin next time. Interestingly, while reading about vodka, I’ve come across a list of best rated vodkas in the world and I was surprised to find 2 Dutch brands among the Eastern European brands and 1 Swedish on the top 10 list!—Ketel One Vodka and Vox Vodka. I didn’t know the Dutch are into vodka?! Hmm, I better go to the alcohol store and check them out =0

Roman Polanski as well once lived here as a child during the Nazi occupation. I’ve watched his ‘The Pianist’ film (2002) set in Warsaw—ah, another lovely place to visit soon. That film is just outstanding, rightful for the award.

Clay Pot & Cactus

The Huffman-Hoffman Kinexxion :: Michael

Even though I wasn't sure if Dietrich Hoffman was the father of “my” John Hoffman, since I had the resources available, I decided to see what I could find on Michael Hoffman who was reported to be the father of Dietrich. The information that I had received from Maggie Evans in April .. was in the form of a family group sheet prepared by a 2nd cousin of her father. It showed that Johann Dietrich Hoffman was born June 22, 1751 in New Hanover, Pennsylvania and that his parents were Michael and Maria (Engle) Hoffman.



Update April 10, ..: Please see Questioning the Status Quo :: Oh, Maria! for my theory regarding the maiden name of Maria Hoffman.



In a previous post, I mentioned the baptisms of four children of Dietrich Hoffman in the Zion-Spiess Church records in Upper Alsace Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. What I didn't mention in that post was that the sponsors were included in the version created by William J. Hinke in July 1921.

• Henry b. Dec. 14, 1777, bapt. Febr. 20, 1778 – sponsor was Henry Alter


• John b. June 22, (1778) – sponsor was John Papp


• John Michael b. Mar. 10, 1782 – sponsor was Valentine Hartman


• Samuel b. Apr. 6, 1785 bapt. May 29, 1785 – sponsors were Frederick Lies & wf. Maria Engel

I also erred in the post mentioned above in stating that the mother of the children was not listed. The parents for Samuel were given as “Dietrich Hoffman, Susanna”. Susanna's maiden name is reportedly Alder, which could also be Alter, so I'm wondering if Henry Alter is her father or in some other way related. I have found one online tree that gives her parents as Georg Henrich “Henry” Alter (1715 – 1784) and Mary Magdalena (1727-) with no source information.



Also, you might have noticed that the sponsors of Samuel Hoffman were Frederick Lies & wf. Maria Engel. I did a double-take when I saw her name... perhaps putting the cart before the horse here, but Michael Hoffman's estate entered into probate on February 4, 1777. So, unless there was another Maria Engel in the area it looks like Michael's widow married Frederick Lies.



I need to spend more time reviewing the baptism records for Spiess Church, but it should be noted that Frederick Lies & wf Maria were sponsors for at least three other baptisms. This information certainly opens up some avenues for research into the Alder/Alter line as well as the Engel/Engle line.



In addition, two baptisms for children of Michael & Maria (Engel) Hoffman were found in the book “Trinity Lutheran Church - Reading, Pennsylvania; An alphabetized compilation of baptisms, marriages, and deaths from 1751-1904” prepared by Jacqueline B. Nein & Gail H. Hesser, 1988.

• Anna Barbara, born 10/22/1765, baptized 11/27/1765, sponsors Georg & Anna Barbara Schmarz


• Johannes, born 05/03/1770, baptized 06/03/1770, sponsors Johannes & Eva Koch

As stated above, Michael Hoffman's estate entered into probate on February 4, 1777. He did not have a will and his wife Mary Engel Hoffman was made administratrix of his estate.








Estate of Michael Hoffman, 1777

Berks County, Pennsylvania Probate Files

Family History Microfilm 1653590 Accessed February 11, ..

Know all Men by these Presents, That We Mary Engel Hoffman Widow and Relict of Michael Hoffman late of the Township of Alsace in the County of Berks in the Province of Pennsylvania Carpenter deceased, John Koch of the Township of Exeter in the said County Yeoman and John Myers of the same place Mason are held and firmly bound unto Benjamin Chew Esqr... for the Sum of Three hundred Pounds... Dated the fourth Day of February in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven.

I find it fascinating that, apparently, Mary's maiden name was usually included in records giving her name, at least that is the case with some of the baptism records and with Michael's estate. I'm going to take a wild guess here and say that there were probably other women by the name of Mary Hoffman in Berks County at the same time and her maiden name was used to distinguish her from the others. That assumption will be investigated further...



Since Michael did not leave a will, the next most important document for genealogists is one that names the lawful heirs. I've found several online trees on the family of Michael and Maria but most of them include only one or two children, while several have 10 or 11 children, some include Dietrich and some don't. There are several documents in Michael's estate file that list his children but apparently there was an issue with the number of children...



To be continued... see The Huffman-Hoffman Kinexxion :: Heirs of Michael

Handsome Fellows

Men's bicycles can be just as lovely as ladies'. Here is evidence!

An elegant transport bike in an ivy-covered courtyard. I love double top bars on a man's bicycle.

I see these Falter bicycles sometimes and don't know what to make of them. The frames resemble beach cruisers. But unlike beach cruisers, these bikes are enormous and are fitted with all sorts of practical components. I think of them as transport bike / beach cruiser hybrids. Either way, they are handsome indeed.

Even a relatively plain bicycle can be made lovely via stylish presentation. The slate gray frame on this mountain bike goes perfectly with the distressed, soft brown leather satchel secured to the rack off-kilter with a black rubber band. Very masculine and very lovely.

And of course there is this bronze-painted bicycle, parked against a bronze-painted wall. I call this "minimalist bling".

Tender Is the Night

Coming home the other evening, I was charmed by the grace of this lovely cyclist in the Vienna twilight. With her silver flats, tutu skirt and perfect posture, she looks like a beautiful ballerina.

And on a nearby street, a woman walks her bicycle past a stationery shop, looking longingly at the illuminated display of fountain pens and leather journals.

Maybe it is the blinking lights mingling with the streetlamps, or the sound of the spokes in the dark, but there is something about bicycles and the city at night that evokes a sense of tenderness and magic.

My picks for Queen’s Day in Utrecht

Sunday night and feeling a bit lethargic (in other words, lazy), we agreed not to head off to the Koninginnenacht (Queen’s Night) festivities in Utrecht. But this morning, we managed to move our bums and joined Utrecht for Koninginnedag (Queen’s Day, 30 April). This is a yearly nationwide event in celebration of the Queen’s birthday here in the Netherlands.

So what’s in store during this day? Street party, live music, stage shows, lots of drinking, dressing up in orange, spontaneous street acts and selling junk, well anything really.

Here’s my picks for Queen’s Day in Utrecht:

Little Miss Dutch Maid in the prairie.

Selling junk.

Like in most cities in the Netherlands during Queen's Day, there are designated areas and streets that one can sell their (used) wares. And well, some even offer blind date matching services.

Selling manicure services as well.

Dyed orange hair and a Netherlands flag boa are popular outfits for the day.

It was the first time in many years that it didn't rain during Queen's Day. 20C! These macho tattooed guys are definitely enjoying the day.

Street games - you hit the button and the girl in bikini goes down the tub of water.

'Zin in een vluggertje?' literally means 'Want a quickie (sex)?' but this one means a quickie chess game =)

I know, I know... I am almost 42 (in a few weeks) and I should not be wearing outfits like this. Just trying to be trendy for a day since I have no orange to wear. I don't think I will wear something like this next year.

I love this umbrella and I found a cocktail stall! Finally mojitos!

This man is just so cool. Orange bra is it.

Doing the rumba. Cuba here I come (in 2 weeks!).

Hollow Man has gone orange.

Boating is popular during Queen's Day. Unlike in Utrecht, in Amsterdam it gets hectic on the canals (read: boat traffic).

Best in channelling 'Oranje' and 'Nederland'.

'Hi, I am Miss Netherlands and we have lots of tulips!'

Best in creativity: Orange eyelashes for the win!

Live music of course. They are in every corner. Can you imagine the noise blaring from every corner, I mean everywhere? I am so getting old.

This man is brave enough to wear a (orange) ribbon on his head.

More boating fun on Utrecht's Oudegracht.

We didn’t stay long in Utrecht. Like I always say in this blog—we are getting old.

We don’t appreciate large crowds anymore. The noise is unbearable. It was nice for the first few hours though but after that I just want to escape and be back in the comforts of home. If you are young and reading this, you’ll understand when you get to our age.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Visit Period: April