The Ladd Family: April 2008

Who would have thought that moving to Krakow, Poland would enable my kids to meet Prince Charles of England and his wife Camilla? Luckily, Prince Charles generously donated money for the construction of a new Jewish Community Center in Kazimierz, the historic Jewish quarter. The Jewish population in this area was desimated by World War II, but the area has a small core of holocaust survivors and younger Jews who have made Krakow their home. This center will help strengthen the bonds of this population.

While security kept Chris in the courtyard of the JCC (nothing personal I'm sure), the children were inside with their Sunday School teacher, Klaudia, to perform Israeli dances and sing a song for Prince Charles and his wife. Prince Charles evidently made a point of going to each table and talking with every child. This is easier than it sounds since they have about 12 kids in their entire Sunday School class. A little smaller than Temple Emanu-El.

Brody talked to Prince Charles about our time in Krakow, telling him that his dad worked for Sabre. Ariana had already told Prince Charles that her family would only be here for two years. While she didn't tell him Brody was part of her family, he somehow figured out that they were related as he later asked Brody, "So, you'll be here for two years, right?" Evidently my kids look alike.

Because Mom was

stuck in the courtyard, she couldn't take any pictures. She was relegated to standing with other moms, peering through the glare of a window while they all said, "Can you see anything? I think I see your/my kid? Are they dancing?..." Luckily, some very kind photographers took my kids' photo with Prince Charles. What was even nicer is that they actually published them. The European Jewish Press published the picture of Brody and Prince Charles along with a great article. The Associated Press published a number of pictures on their website, including the one with Ariana and her friend Natalia to her left (your right.) Natalia not only goes to Sunday School with Ariana, but she and her two brothers go to the International School of Krakow with Ariana and Brody.

Over Spring Break, we traveled to Barcelona, Spain with Chris' parents, Ray and Carolyn Ewing. We enjoyed strolling along La Rambla to La Boqueria, a colorful food market. We not only found food for breakfast, but fresh fruit too irresistible to hold off eating.

A walk to the other end of La Rambla found us at the Christopher Columbus monument, a marina and an aquarium. I think Columbus is saying, "The plane went that way."

The city also features amazing architecture, primarily by Gaudi.

His works can hardly be captured by photographs, but they are stunning in person. We went to the Sagrada Familia, a church he started in 1883, but which is still under contruction.

His designs incorpate aspects of nature, including a sanctuary whose supporting columns are shaped like trees with flower shaped skylights above for light. Even unfinished, it is one of the most beautiful churches I've ever seen.