Almost out the door...

... I woke to Ania calling me this morning. I had gotten almost everything I needed to get done completed last night so I slept in this morning. Even now, I'm enjoying being on vacation ;-)

I'm so happy to be headed to see Ania. I'm about to hop into the shower and get ready to leave. My Aunt Mona is coming in about 40 minutes to pick me up and give me a ride to the airport.

I'm scheduled to leave Albuqueruqe at 13:05 - no storms or anything today here or in Chicago, so I imagine the flights will be running on schedule. I have a 5½ hour wait in Chicago, so I'm not exactly in a rush...

So, it's not much really - just two lenses, my XT Rebel body, video camera and assorted batteries, cards, tapes and chargers - but I feel like I'm taking a studio with me. Even so - with clothes and everything - I'm packed into about 23 lbs. and a single carryon.

Ania's Internet service should be turned on by tomorrow evening, so hopefully I'll be able to post something here after I arrive in Krasnik. If not, I'll be looking for an Internet café in Gdansk once we're there.

Dowidzenia !

Back to the Baltic

I'm really looking forward to seeing the Baltic coast of Poland again, and exploring the region of Pomerania around Gdansk in some more detail. One of the highlights for me will be a chance to see Malbork and the castle there. Aside from Malbork, I'm hoping we can drive out onto the Hel peninsula.

The seafood along the coast is usually good, although I'm not overly enthusiastic about eating too much from the Baltic (as it's unfortunately fairly polluted). I'm sure I'll try something pulled from the sea, though. I remember on my sabbatical last year having dinner one night in a really nice place that specialized in pieroggi - I'm hoping we can visit it again. Kozlak beer is a local specialty, and is definitely something I'm looking forward to having fresh. It's a dark bock-style (some say it's a porter) and is a nice contrast to the continental lager styles that predominate the Polish beer scene (not that that's a bad thing, but variety is nice).

We're staying in a private apartment with a kitchenette, so we'll be eating most of our meals in, and preparing picnic lunches to take on our day-trips.

The Car

This is the Opel Corsa B City we'll be driving. It's Ania's father's car, and he's generously letting us borrow it for the week. It will be nice having a car and a little extra freedom in getting around.

Highways will be interesting with that thundering 1.2l engine ;-) But, on the flip side, the gas mileage should be great.

Basic Itineary

Aug 31:
• I fly ABQ->ORD->WAW
Sep 1:
• arrive Warsaw, meet Ania at airport (Yay!!)
• train Warsaw->Krasnik
Sep 2:
• drive Krasnik->E372->Warsaw->E77->Gdansk
Sep 3,4,5:
• around Gdansk
• Malbork
• Hel peninnsula
Sep 6:
• drive Gdansk->E77->Warsaw->E372->Lublin
Sep 7:
• drive Lublin->Krasnik
Sep 8:
• bus Krasnik->Warsaw
Sep 9:
• I fly WAW->ORD->ABQ

Packing again

I have a short week at work, and on Friday I fly to Warsaw again. I'm getting my stuff together tonight so I don't have to worry about it later in the week. Although I'm not looking forward to the flights, I'm thrilled to be headed back to Poland.

I'll arrive in Warsaw in the early afternoon on Saturday, September 1st. I'll meet Ania at the airport, and then we'll be met by her Aunt and her cousin's girlfriend who will then drive us to Warsaw's central train station. We'll then catch a direct train to Krasnik, where we'll spend Saturday night. The plan is that we'll be driving from Krasnik to Gdansk in her father's car on Sunday the 2nd. We'll stay in Gdansk for four nights, and on Thursday the 6th we'll drive back to Lublin, where we'll stay one night. Then on Friday back to Krasnik, and the next day we're on a bus to Warsaw again, where we'll stay one night and then I'll head home the next day. I'm sure it will be over before it seems like it's even begun, but I am looking forward to seeing the Baltic coast again, and - naturally - seeing Ania is the big highlight.

I've put forth a little bit more effort this time to get some rudimentary Polish under my belt, and although I haven't learned much, I think there will be some opportunity to show little improvements. We will see.

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