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.