Disturbed in Cracovia

I think this whole time in Poland, I have failed to mention the fact that currently there is no Polish government. Well, parliament, at least. Apparently the president and prime minister (who are the only head of states who are also twin brothers) are so impossible to work with that the parliament voted to dissolve itself. As an American, it is so hard to believe that a parliament or any governmental body could just vote to dissolve itself, and it is further unfathomable that this could happen and the nation not be in a complete state of uproar. If it were the United States, there would be total anarchy and chaos! I can't really talk, though, because I would be one of the feminists trying to establish the Feminist States of America! But it's another story in Poland, where the Poles merely say, "we'll have elections in October." Wow! I guess I am really impressed (should I be?) that people can take an event like this in stride and not go completely crazy; I don't think I am explaining this right, but I think there is a lesson in citizenship that Americans can learn from the Poles.

Some of my favorite performers on the square are the people who bring out their guitars and play random folk and rock rhythms amid all the accordions and violins playing their baroque and classical melodies. Yesterday I was walking down Grodska on my way to cause trouble at the castle when I walked past one such guitar player sitting near the gelato place. I picked up on the beat until the guy actually started singing. John Mellancamp's "Jack and Diane"--which is one of the songs that I absolutely can't stand--in Polish! I'm from Indiana, so of course I like John Mellancamp, but I very strongly dislike "Jack and Diane." A little part of me died inside when I heard it!

Then as I was walking back to hotel from the grocery store tonight, I followed two older men, in their sixties perhaps, merrily singing and dancing their way down the Westerplatte. Or maybe it was closer to skipping and hopping rather than random dancing. They were trying to do a hop step at the same time, and maybe it was my imagination, but they might have been skipping arm and arm. They were completely harmless, just two very merry and very drunk old men! I am not sure whether to laugh hysterically or to be traumatized from the experience!