Bytów

BOU AVENUE
Bytów

On 19 August 2023, Zosia Zgolak and I departed the Polish seaside resort city of Międzyzdroje and drove to the town of Bytów where we hooked up with Lidia Kozłowska, the wife of Zosia's godfather, Zdzisław Kozłowski (he was working out-of-town during our visit). Lidia fed us lunch before we all walked to the town centre to partake in the Kaszubska Sobota (Kashubian Saturday) festival that afternoon. Unfortunately, I was stung in the neck by a wasp shortly after arriving which immediately put a damper on my enthusiasm for the festival. The hot weather also made it unbearable to hang out for long in the sunshine, and we soon left the town centre to visit nearby Zamek Bytowski (Bytów Castle) which was built by Teutonic Knights in the 14th Century. The castle has been razed and rebuilt a few times over the intervening years and is now home to a hotel, a restaurant, a library and a museum. After our visit to the castle, we walked to Lidia's garden located on a small plot of land which she and her husband lease from the town. They also maintain a small cottage on the property, and Lidia treated us to some liquid refreshments to help cool us off. We also had a video chat with Zosia's godfather on my phone before returning to their apartment to have dinner and retire for the night.

A big thank you goes to Lidia for her great company and generous hospitality. Dziękuję bardzo, Lidia!

	This old German cemetery is located in the Polish village of Maszkowo. Graves here date back to at least the early 1900s, but the cemetery appears to have been neglected for perhaps decades. The remaining grave markers will likely be swallowed up by the forest undergrowth in a few years.
	Lidia and Zosia arrive at the Bytów town centre to check out Kaszubska Sobota (Kashubian Saturday), a one-day festival celebrating the culture of Kashubians, a Slavic population indigenous to northern Poland.
	Sonny had the misfortune of being stung on his neck by a wasp shortly after arriving at the festival. The annoying and persistent pain of the sting put a damper on his enthusiasm for the festival.
	Zamek Bytowski (Bytów Castle) was built around the early 1400s by Teutonic Knights. The castle changed hands and was destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries, but it is now the site of a museum and a hotel with a restaurant and library.
	The northwest outer wall of Zamek Bytowski has a unique feature at upper right--a hanging Teutonic toilet.
	Lidia, Sonny and Zosia stand guard alongside a Teutonic knight.
	Lidia and Zosia enjoy some refreshments at Lidia's garden.
	Lidia's garden is an urban paradise.
	At sunset, Zosia and Sonny take a selfie from the balcony of Lidia's apartment.