Traveling is always an interesting challenge...
One of the things I find hardest to get accustomed to - especially in the East - is the apparent "pushiness" of people. It's not really rudeness, but by American/British standards, it's a bit of a surprise, although you would expect I'd be used to it by now. Lines/queues really don't mean much, and it's always a shock the first time some little old lady pushes forcefully by you to get that prime spot on the bus, etc. It transfers over to traffic too...
Ania said it best - "here, you have to fight for every little thing." That goes double for a place at a restuarant, parking spot, or a chance to use a public toilet if it's busy. To me, it seems horribly inefficient, but then, I'm a little anal-retentive about that sort of thing anyhow. Luckily, I have learned to just grin and call it a cultural experience ;-)
4.5.07
Oscepek & Mead
I probably need Ania to correct my spelling... but "Ohs-tse-peck" is the variety of sheep's, goat and cow's milk cheese that is very common and traditional in the Tatras. It's made in these neat
little shapes depending on the size of the peice of cheese, and is typically available in several verieties - plain, smoked, and a sweetish variety that bears some resemblance to Scandanivian jegtost (jeeze, I can't spell that either). Actually, it also comes in even more interesting form-factors, like strings that look almost like spaghetti (this kind Ania likes because it is not as salty as the others), and even in odd little knots and braids. These types are a bit more on the rubbery side than the others - a lot like "string cheese" in the States.
You can buy it on the street and eat it cold, but it's also served grilled, and in a restaurant would typically be served with a berry sauce almost like cranberry sauce - again, with the cheese itself grilled. The more typical verieties are a lot like farmer's cheese or cheese curd, and if it's good and fresh, it squeaks when you eat it. YUMMY !!! I love the smoked goats variety myself. I have some cool pictures, but on Ania's poor little laptop, it's too much of a chore to download and process my RAW images from my camera, so I'll have to wait until I am home to share those.
Another speciality that pleases me to no end is the Polish predilection toward Mead. I've mentioned it before, but especially this time of year it seems even more common. It's most often served warm, and though on the sweet side, it's not the wine-with-honey-added crap that you find so many places that's pawned off as "Mead" - it's the real thing baby, and they have no interest in keeping it from finishing its fermentation - meaning it is strong and tasty. We had some in Krakow, and in Zakopane. Ania's Dad, unfortunately, is no longer in possession of his own Mead ("Miod"), but we were talking about it (well, we were discussing it with Ania) last night over the roast duck supper he prepared for us.
We're taking the day today to relax (we slept until nearly noon!) and do laundry and some other chores, and will have an early supper with Ania's Dad and then go out with a friend of Ania's to a local Pub/Cafe/Pizza joint later. Tomorrow we'll spend in Lublin, seeing some things like the castle interior and the "Church of Art" which I've never seen before. Being the 5th of May, there should be a lot going on tomorrow night and it should be a good time.
little shapes depending on the size of the peice of cheese, and is typically available in several verieties - plain, smoked, and a sweetish variety that bears some resemblance to Scandanivian jegtost (jeeze, I can't spell that either). Actually, it also comes in even more interesting form-factors, like strings that look almost like spaghetti (this kind Ania likes because it is not as salty as the others), and even in odd little knots and braids. These types are a bit more on the rubbery side than the others - a lot like "string cheese" in the States.You can buy it on the street and eat it cold, but it's also served grilled, and in a restaurant would typically be served with a berry sauce almost like cranberry sauce - again, with the cheese itself grilled. The more typical verieties are a lot like farmer's cheese or cheese curd, and if it's good and fresh, it squeaks when you eat it. YUMMY !!! I love the smoked goats variety myself. I have some cool pictures, but on Ania's poor little laptop, it's too much of a chore to download and process my RAW images from my camera, so I'll have to wait until I am home to share those.Another speciality that pleases me to no end is the Polish predilection toward Mead. I've mentioned it before, but especially this time of year it seems even more common. It's most often served warm, and though on the sweet side, it's not the wine-with-honey-added crap that you find so many places that's pawned off as "Mead" - it's the real thing baby, and they have no interest in keeping it from finishing its fermentation - meaning it is strong and tasty. We had some in Krakow, and in Zakopane. Ania's Dad, unfortunately, is no longer in possession of his own Mead ("Miod"), but we were talking about it (well, we were discussing it with Ania) last night over the roast duck supper he prepared for us.
We're taking the day today to relax (we slept until nearly noon!) and do laundry and some other chores, and will have an early supper with Ania's Dad and then go out with a friend of Ania's to a local Pub/Cafe/Pizza joint later. Tomorrow we'll spend in Lublin, seeing some things like the castle interior and the "Church of Art" which I've never seen before. Being the 5th of May, there should be a lot going on tomorrow night and it should be a good time.
Czesc !
is Polish for Hello !
So, we arrived in Krasnik last night on the LONG bus from Zakopane. We took a tremendous route through the mountains and into the forested plains that make up the Eastern part of Poland which runs into Beylorussia and the Ukraine. Hemlock, beech annd birch forests, rolling hills, and little streams lined the way after we came down from the Tatra foothills. It was a sunny day, and the views of the Tatra mountains and the foothills, with the craggy cliffs and mountain lakes were really remarkable. Unfortunately, we didn't do much stopping for pictures, but I will have some great images to keep in my mind for a trip here this time of year with a car - to enable stopping every few minutes to soak in the next view.
Especially high up in the Tatras, Spring is just coming. The peaks around Zakopane were still heavily snowpacked, and many of the trees were just sprouting buds. It is an apple growing region, and all the apple trees are in full bloom, making all the hillsides look like giant cotton fields (or something like that). Tulips and something that reminds me of columbine were in abundance in peoples gardens, and generally it's so quaint it would seem trite if it wasn't so cool.
So, we arrived in Krasnik last night on the LONG bus from Zakopane. We took a tremendous route through the mountains and into the forested plains that make up the Eastern part of Poland which runs into Beylorussia and the Ukraine. Hemlock, beech annd birch forests, rolling hills, and little streams lined the way after we came down from the Tatra foothills. It was a sunny day, and the views of the Tatra mountains and the foothills, with the craggy cliffs and mountain lakes were really remarkable. Unfortunately, we didn't do much stopping for pictures, but I will have some great images to keep in my mind for a trip here this time of year with a car - to enable stopping every few minutes to soak in the next view.
Especially high up in the Tatras, Spring is just coming. The peaks around Zakopane were still heavily snowpacked, and many of the trees were just sprouting buds. It is an apple growing region, and all the apple trees are in full bloom, making all the hillsides look like giant cotton fields (or something like that). Tulips and something that reminds me of columbine were in abundance in peoples gardens, and generally it's so quaint it would seem trite if it wasn't so cool.
2.5.07
Well then !
Ok, well, it's taken me a while to finally post, but I arrived here fine on Friday the 27th, and met Ania shortly after I arrived in Warsaw.
We spent our first two days together in Warsaw and enjoyed the realatively nice weather, which they had not been having up to that point. I guess maybe I brought some of the New Mexico sun (but thankfully not the wind!) with me. The temperatures have been hovering around 10C during the day, and though not warm, the sun has been shining. We saw some rain one evening in Warsaw, but the following morning was sunny and we spent the day walking around the Warsaw Botanical Garden and Belvedere. It was a really pleasant day.
So, the next day (Sunday) we hopped on an express train to Krakow, where we only stayed one night, but thouroughly enjoyed ourselves. Again, sunny if a bit chilly, but lovely for strolling around the old city in Krakow.
All this time I have been having Ania really try to beat some Polish into my head, and it must be working a tiny bit at least ;-) I have been attempting to order food and drinks, with relatively good success. Most other operations still are out of my reach, but I feel like I will leave Poland this time with a much firmer foundation in Polish than I have had before.
Monday afternoon, we took another train - this time to Zakopane, where we are now. Zakopane
is literally crawling with tourists, and although it's hard not to be a little xenophobic, it is fun. We're staying in a charming B&B/Pension, and it's a good thing I made reservations... This morning one of the ladies at the Pension was telling Ania that there is literally not a room free anywhere even in the nearby towns.
Running out of time. Will post more later !!!
~J
We spent our first two days together in Warsaw and enjoyed the realatively nice weather, which they had not been having up to that point. I guess maybe I brought some of the New Mexico sun (but thankfully not the wind!) with me. The temperatures have been hovering around 10C during the day, and though not warm, the sun has been shining. We saw some rain one evening in Warsaw, but the following morning was sunny and we spent the day walking around the Warsaw Botanical Garden and Belvedere. It was a really pleasant day.
So, the next day (Sunday) we hopped on an express train to Krakow, where we only stayed one night, but thouroughly enjoyed ourselves. Again, sunny if a bit chilly, but lovely for strolling around the old city in Krakow.
All this time I have been having Ania really try to beat some Polish into my head, and it must be working a tiny bit at least ;-) I have been attempting to order food and drinks, with relatively good success. Most other operations still are out of my reach, but I feel like I will leave Poland this time with a much firmer foundation in Polish than I have had before.
Monday afternoon, we took another train - this time to Zakopane, where we are now. Zakopane
is literally crawling with tourists, and although it's hard not to be a little xenophobic, it is fun. We're staying in a charming B&B/Pension, and it's a good thing I made reservations... This morning one of the ladies at the Pension was telling Ania that there is literally not a room free anywhere even in the nearby towns.Running out of time. Will post more later !!!
~J
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