We were thrilled to have friends from D.C. spend several days with us as they wrapped up a short summer trip in Europe. We met Sarah and Willi in Kraków on Tuesday night, and the four of us set out by bus on Wednesday morning for new ground for all - Zakopane.
Zakopane is a popular town in southern Poland that is located at the foot of the Tatras Mountains, very close to the Slovakian border. With a funicular, a ferris wheel, a hundred market stalls, two chair lifts, and ski slopes, Zakopane is a bit of a zoo. But its Polish mountain charm and usefulness as a jumping off point for hiking in the Tatras National Park lured us in, and we really did enjoy our time there and would recommend it to others!
The highlights:
1/ Hiking to beautiful Morskie Oko (the largest of the Tatras lakes)
2/ Tasting the regional cheese oscypek (smoked, salty sheep cheese) which is a protected specialty item under EU law... and pairs very well with cranberry jam when grilled!
Yummm!
3/ Riding one of the chair lifts (in the rain, no less!) down from the viewpoint over the city
4/ Bartering for goods at the market stalls downtown. The haul included: natural sheepskin (for Willi), wooden gnome "Pan Las" (for Bryan), felt laptop kitty bag (for Emily), and postcards (Sarah). No photos so here's a nice stock photo of the pedestrian street:
5/ And finally, celebrating a return to Warsaw at the boat bars by the river :)
It was a week to remember, and we hope that Sarah & Willi found Poland to their liking :) The countdown continues, and as it does we feel sadder and sadder about our imminent departure from this country we've enjoyed calling our home away from home. More soon! Goodnight from Olszytn ;)
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