Day 4: Warsaw/ Zakopane, Poland

The street view while walking the streets in Warsaw

Started off the morning by having a few hours to do our own thing. While many people went to the Warsaw Rising Museum, or slept in, or just wandered, Shari and I tried to go shopping, and get some coffee from a local cafe.


The shopping center wasn't stupendous...the inside was beautiful, with gold-trimmed escalators and pillars, and double glass elevators. But turns out there were only about 3 shops, and the rest were offices or medical clinics.

The cafe, however, was absolutely amazing. We sat in overstuffed armchairs next to a window, watching people go by, and drinking the best hot chocolate Ive had in my life. I had a latte too, but that was before I discovered the magical drink Shari ordered.

Plus, the place mats on the tables were proof that the cafe was made for me.

The Cafe from the outside

After that, we hopped on a 2 hour train, and 2.5 hour bus to Zakopane, south Poland. We drove through/around Krakow as well, the former capital. Its very industrial, to the point of being run-down. Plaster is missing on much of the buildings, and things look very dilapidated. I didn't snap too many pictures, simply because it wasn't terribly impressive...

This is one of the many industrial looking
 buildings in Krakow/Zakopane...in
 better condition than others

Very cool to see actual smoke come out from
 actual chimneys in the Polish countryside

My two drinks of the night

We dropped our stuff off at the hotel, then walked to dinner to a local and traditional Polish restaurant- one of the best places I've/we've been! The food was AMAZING- between our 6 person table, we tried Goulash (a beefy, dumpling-y stew), cannellies(?) (like an enchilada with bacon and onions on top), traditional fish, rabbit, Bigtos(?) (meat and cabbage mixture), and ribs with potato dumplings, ice cream with rum poured on it, traditional cheesecake, wine, cherry vodka, polish vodka, straight white vodka, and beer. But also! we asked what Chittings was while deciding what to order... when hearing it, we decided against it. Our waitress brought out a sample though, and it was SO GOOD!

You know what it was? Animal intestines. Never found out which animal...but it was delicious! Tasted like chicken noodle soup! And the goulash was probably some of the best stew I've ever had. And all the alcohol is fabulous here...the best part is, its super cheap!

 I ordered my Cannellies, a glass of beer, and wine for dinner, with everything coming to 25 Polish Zoltzys...which equates to less than $8. My wine? 5 pz which is a dollar fifty. And tip is only 10% here, if at all (mostly the custom is to not tip). 

Germany was much more expensive, normally on par with American food. But here in Poland, food is significantly less expensive! Which of course we love!

Jeanine, Shari, Lucy, Jess, Helen2, Me, Helen1

Intestines, beer, and wine!

Proof I ate the Animal Intestines! (Chittings)

Outside of the best restaurant!

Also fun fact....I'm pretty sure there arnt any safety regulations when it comes to the workplace...we saw a construction worker in the hotel working...he was standing on a ladder, with one foot on the top rung on each side, essentially straddling it, but standing up. Then to move, he would just rock back and forth and scootch along. He wasn't wearing a helmet or anything! Then another guy had to cut a piece of metal, and just used his electric hand saw to do it, with sparks flying everywhere! No helmet or protective eye wear, and we were 5 feet away!