Best Jobs in Krakow

                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun jobs exist everywhere in the world – here are some winners from Krakow, Poland…..selling art on the old city wall; touring fathers (priests) with backpacks, cellphones and baseball caps; Subway sign holder; beer guy; Da Vinci actor in market; vegetable stand by the train station; puppeteer in the market; horsedrawn carriage driver……bringing happiness to the tourists….what could be better?

 

 

 

 

Krakow, Poland

               This quick look at Krakow will give you some idea of how beautiful the city is….busy with street cafes and artists, no shortage of distractions.  History, art, shopping, fantanstic restaurants, clubs, and lots of fun await you in Krakow.  Last sleep tonight and then I’m home to enjoy my favourite season on Rice Lake.  Hope to see you there!

 

 

(Photos: Polish bakery with fresh carbs, Krakow Teatro, market square, swami act in square, our dity tour bus, streets)

Dracula Castle and Poland

   

First stop today was a 14th century castle in Oravsky Hrad, in the Tatra mountains.  The first silent Dracula movie was made here and I can see why it would be a perfect castle for the drama.

                       Next stop – lunch…..although my favourites were available at this fast food kiosk we opted for a restaurant and I tried the bryndzove halusky  (gnocchi with sheep cheese sauce and bacon chunks) and my yummy potato pancakes…..zemiakove placky…..nice light meal after the steps in the castle.

No sooner had we started driving north when we stopped at a traditional Slovakian cottage (a colleague just happened to be vacationing there so I was able to take a walk through the 1895 buildings….these cottages are heated with wood and are right on the road.  It was a lovely day for digging potatoes and that’s what the locals were doing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In no time we had crossed the non-border into Poland where we visited the Auschwitz Museum.  It was an incredible 3 hour experience that requires some reflection.  I was especially taken with the words on the wall……

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are overnighting in Krakow with a city tour booked for the morning.  No one can exchange zloty but you must have them….it’s all part of life’s rich pageant.   So far, English is spoken and the people are very friendly.  Krakow is also listed in the Top 100 Beautiful Cities of the World…I’ll let you know if I agree!

 

Don’t forget the BlogBling offer….book 3 pay for 2 nights over Labour Day Weekend. 

 

 

Tea, Thermal Baths, Blogbling

       

Although it was overcast in the Tatras Mountains (Slovakia) we had a lovely coffee stop (I had the full tea service) at the Kempinski Hotel, watching the boaters and marvelling at the ski jump across the lake.  After tea and the best wild mushroom risotto ever (and I’ve had alot) we headed out to the thermal baths (the hot springs are over 70 degrees and must be cooled with spring water).  It was exhilerating!  Visiting and more eating completed a perfect day in the mountains.

 

I saw this large bird in the field and then in a high nest and was told it was a stork…..can it really be?

 

BLOGBLING OFFER……..book a three night vacation over Labour Day Weekend and pay for a two night stay…….must be booked before Thursday. Call 1-800-461-1940 and take advantage of our last summer weekend special.

 

 

 

 

Tatra Mountains with Spa Stop

      The spa town of Trencianske-Teplice is our first stop enroute to the Tatra Mountains…the turkish baths and film festival sights as well as the recuperating patients (spa is a destination for wellness so there are many patients here to enjoy the clean air and baths).  I enjoyed the cafe and the kupelne-oplatky (local delicacy).  So far I’m eating my way through Slovakia and loving it!

We stop for lunch at Tri Studnicky Hotel (the hotels serve the best food) just at the base of hte mountains and enjoy more local specialties.  I’m going to the caves next….the Demanovska Jaskyna Slobody caves are amazing…first I have to hike up 800+ m to the entrance and then I’m the only tourist in sandals and t-shirt (I’ve carried a jacket all week but haven’t needed one until now) to see the one hour tour of the most vibrant and spectacular sinter decorations.  The caves were discovered in 1921 and only 1150 m of the 35 miles of cave network are shown today.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another feast and then darkness….some rain in the mountains but the stars are out.

We heard fireworks and found a wedding….the bride was most accommodating as we took a look (same set up and decorations as a Canadian wedding) and a photo.  We didn’t exactly crash the wedding – we just gave our blessing.  Groom on left, brother of the bride on right,  my new Slovakian friends far right.     It’s been quite a day!

Bratislava hot, hot, hot

The best way to stay cool in this heat is to find a seat at a sidewalk cafe (with wifi – here’s Martina, my travelling host and friend, checking messages and facebook) and try a limonady.  Here are some recipes we have tried……

Yellow Ginger:  mix fresh ginger, ginger syrup, fresh lime, mango juice and water

PInk Panther Lemonade:  mix watermelon syrup, fresh pink grapefruit juice, tonic, sparkling water

Ice Tea Cucumber:  green ice tea, lime cordial, cucumber syrup, fresh lemon, fresh cucumber, water

Herbal Lemonade: lavender syrup, fresh lemon fresh thyme water

served in a half or liter pitcher with a straw

 

 

Update on the Gypsy concert:  magnificent!  I think I was a gypsy in another life!   Scenes of Bratislava…

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know Andy Warhol was born in eastern Slovakia?  The languages in Slovakia and Czech Republic are different – imagine being consolidated into a country and speaking a differenct language than your neighbours……..

 

 

Slovakian Wine Country Tour

The weather in Bratislava continues to top 40 degrees….it’s wonderful!  Today we are touring the wine country around the city of Bratislava…..the locals are selling burciak which is young wine not fully fermented but sweet….it sells like lemonade on the street.  Of course the potato pancakes are also sold so you can have a complete roadside treat!   Martina and I are touring the Cerveny Kamen (Red Stone Castle in the hills).  So much history.  Tonight I wil attend a gypsy concert…sounds exciting….I wonder if Johnny Depp (gypsy in Chocolat)  will be here!  Photos to follow.

         

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cafes lining the banks of the Danube (see the young people under the bridge) are filled with locals enjoying coffee and ice cream, beer and pancakes….some cafes had bean bags on the grass….very comfortable.  Wonder how easy it would be to get out of one after a few beers.  The cafes are outside a huge shopping mall (air conditioned) with every designer shop imagineable.  Very similar to the mall on the waterfront in Lima, Peru.

Bratislava, Slovakia

This morning we were treated to breakfast at the Ryba SK factory owned by Martina’s mother – we tried the various products and then took a tour – the factory supplies local delis with fish based salads and filets.  Delicious!

             

 

Meet Martina and Betka (baby) my hosts in Slovakia.  As we toured the city I was overwhelmed by the architecture, history and abundance of outdoor cafes.  We are now lunching on the shores of the Danube….I am trying everything local…of course.

 

 

 

Vienna Visit

        Today I arrived in Vienna, via Paris, to meet Martina and Betka for a visit in their homeland – Slovakia – only 30 minutes away, down the Danube is their home in Bratislava.  The weather in Vienna is hot, hot, hot.  I took a city tour and saw the highlights including the Opera House and gardens with statues of the music greats (Mozart, Beethoven et al). The city was teeming with tourists – strangely enough none of the musical concerts or operas are shown in summer.   The rest of our touring will be in Slovakia with a stop in Krakow, Poland.

Labour Day is looming….still time to get a few days of waterskiing and relaxing by the water for those of you at home!

Treasures on the Road

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we were driving through Mennonite country in Pennsylvania we found several quaint shops with collectibles….some more creative than others.  It’s amazing how busy the countryside is with winefests, fairs, yard sales and fruit markets.  You can’t drive fast – you miss too much. (Just for the record – I did not purchase any treasures on this trip).

 

The Peterborough Exhibition is now on – it’s all about midway, agriculture and fun.   See the YouTube video with Mary Elmhirst as she describes her changing role in the local fair over the last 50 years.

 

Blogbling feature for Labour Day weekend…….to be announced Monday….standby.

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