The ancients used the heavens to determine many day to day activities. Constantly peering into the past. Looking for answers to the future. Searching for signs to make sense of life on planet earth.
Thousands of years have passed, yet we humans are still fascinated by what’s up there. Wondering about its impact, on what’s down here. At least nowadays though, we don’t need to say things like “Let’s meet after the first full moon, when Jupiter is rising in the east and the sun is at its lowest“.
Today we keep our heads down. No need to look up. Missy knows the way. Curiously, only because of what’s up there. We’re travelling to Toruń. Famous for two reasons. Its medieval old town didn’t get bombed during WWII. As a consequence, the buildings from that time are original and not reconstructions. Secondly, the man who put the sun at the centre of the universe (metaphorically of course), was born and lived here. None other than Nicolaus Copernicus.
We split our journey with a couple of stops.
A little further we give Beastie a second breather. Go stretch our legs. A church service is echoing around the block. A Corpus Christi celebration being broadcast loud and clear.
So far, campsite entries have been relatively straight forward. Mundanely easy even. Today’s provides some livelier entertainment. We (I) obey the instruction from above. “Turn Left”. The no entry sign is telling me “You idiot. Can’t read Polish? This red circle is universal”
No need for bike, bus, tram or train. today. We head into old town Toruń on foot. Search out the house of Nicolaus Copernicus. Now a dedicated museum to his life, works and family. It’s a brilliant display spread over five floors. From the outside, its tenement façade disguises its tardis-like interior.
The wealth of information tells us little about the man himself. Seems he kept things close to his chest. We learn more of the times he lived in. Seen below in typical attire of the day, with his wife – perhaps he had good reason.
Late afternoon and the intense heat hasn’t relented. The local kids know just where and how to get some welcome relief.
Our amble back to camp harks exciting news. Bells throughout the city ringing the changes. Crypto-currencies worldwide falling like tenpins. It seems someone can read the signs after all. Bitcoin and its like are no more . . . all to be superceeded by . . .
