05. Aug 2025

Zalbki - Giertwald

Route Info:

27.85 km 763.00 hm ca. 7h 33m

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Photo 1: Lego-Pilgrim that I met on the path today...

I am surprised that I have met no other pilgrims here in Poland other than Kati and her friend that I met a week ago. They ended their 8 day camino on Sunday and were a couple stages behind me. All the pilgrims from Lithuania that I had met ended their camino in Sejny if not earlier. Gilbert from France sent me a WhatsApp that he had to return to home because of a broken pipe at his house. I am sure there might other pilgrims on the path somewhere in Poland. I just have not seen any.

Photo 2: The three flags in front of the City Hall in Olsztyn: Camino, Poland and European Union

Photo 3 +4: I enjoyed walking through the Old Town of Olsztyn. It reminded me a little bit of the city Landshut near to where I live in Germany.

Photo 5: Path through the woods and along the lake...

Today was my longest hike on Snail-Trail 3.0, almost 43 kilometers. It rained the last two hours. I arrived in the small town of Gietrzwald in the early evening. It is the only place in Poland were the Catholic Church has validated multiple apparitions of Mary in 1877 to two young girls ages 12 and 13. It is said that Mary spoke Polish to the girls which was forbidden in school at that time by the Prussian authorities. Apparently the apparitions helped prevent an armed uprising, as the girls were told that the people needed to instead pray and repent of the sin in their own heart. Eventually this region became part of what is today Poland.

When I arrived at the church, it was full and a service was already in session, so I did not go in with my wet poncho and backpack. I said a brief prayer at the entry for God's kingdom purposes to be revealed at this place, for the Holy Spirit fire from heaven to bring genuine spiritual renewal.

There was a pilgrim house near the church, but it was not so much for Way of St. James as it was for people coming to the Mary shrine. Now I know why I could not make a reservation there a week ago... it was completely booked. I continued on another two kilometers in the rain to a Guest House in a nearby village. I just wanted to take a warm shower, eat, and go to bed.

Impressions