01 Feb
Europe 2010: Pt I
Remember that time we went to Europe… 4 months ago!??!?! I think I’m past due to spend a little bit of time telling you about it. As TAMN would say, if I don’t post about it, does it even happen? In all seriousness, I think that somewhere down the line I really would regret not documenting such a big adventure on my blog. So here I go, our trip to Poland in multiple parts. I’m keeping the posts nice and short because last time I overwhelmed you with pictures I was told that people were having problems loading all of the pictures (which reminded me that when I read blogs from my ipad I can’t see all the photos in really photo-heavy posts either!)
We had hoped to visit Poland every other year or so, and in 2010 we had extra incentive to visit because my sister-in-law was getting married! I love weddings, and I was excited to experience a Polish event.
We left for Poland on October 1, 2010. It’s not a flight directly from the US into the Krakow area where TH’s family lives, that’s too expensive. So the picture you see below is T1 chillaxin in the German airport we had a layover in.
The moment when we get into the car with my father-in-law is always so wonderful. Finally the journey is almost over! Poor little T1 was so confused. Was it time to sleep? Eat? Poop? He had no idea. It was Saturday afternoon when we landed and we worked hard to force our sleeping patterns to fit the time in Poland.
While I was at BYU I worked on a project for a folklore class that involved interviewing That Husband (back then he was That Boyfriend!) and learning more about Polish holidays. One that he talked about very fondly is called Odpust, and this year we flew into Poland the day before it started! TH can’t remember much about the original meaning behind the holiday, but it is a day when the church is full all day long. After church goers are finished they get to spend some time browsing the stalls set up on the street right next to the church.
It was interesting to spend some time browsing the stalls with TH. He used to think this festival was positively magical, but now that he’s a bit older and wiser he recognizes that it’s not quite as fancy as he remembers. We had fun though!
We didn’t buy any toy guns or firecrackers like he used to, but we did indulge in some candy.
My favorite treat was the cotton candy.
TH has always said that cotton candy in Poland is better than the stuff you find in the US. After devouring this giant puff I have to agree!
My father-in-law has spend a lot of time on the landscaping in his backyard, and it’s a really beautiful place. That yellow house in the background is TH’s childhood home!
While we were playing at Odpust, T1 was doted on by his grandparents.
The bride and groom stopped by to say hello and we presented them with part of their wedding present.
I think it was a hit. 
Later that afternoon the bride and groom, TH and I, and my FIL all went out to dinner together. I have a cut picture of my SIL and her fiance together in this spot, but I’m not allowed to show his face on the blog. Boo!
This is a beer brand in Poland. When I spotted this sign, I laughed so hard I couldn’t even talk, imagining American men walking into a bar and ordering a beer by this name. My Polish relatives were very amused.
Polish relics/paraphernalia are absolutely everywhere in Poland!
If you can’t read Polish (I can’t, I’m writing this from memory) this says something like “Today’s Fashions”. I really hope this is an old sign because this guy’s outfit has me humming this song to myself.
The napkins in Poland are very different than what we have in the US. They’re very thin and practically useless for messy eaters like me.
I wish I could tell you what this was, but it was better than it looks. I’m always a little nervous to try things that look gelatinous, but I was feeling brave that day.
Vegetarian crepes! This made me very happy.
TH chose something a bit more traditional.
Strawberry ice cream sundae. Polish ice cream is so good and I finished off the tail end of this because it was so delicious.
My dessert wasn’t quite as yummy, but it was pretty. I can’t believe it myself, but my FIL claims that the bill for this meal came out to about $5/person! So crazy cheap for a meal this nice. And we didn’t tip the waiter which was strange to me, but it’s not the way they do things there.
This is something America needs to catch on to! Bars on the stairs to help people bring strollers down to the train with them. Hello New York, what’s your deal? I have friends who are hauling double strollers up and down subway stairs that could really use something like this.
Next Europe 2010 recap? A faux-engagement session with the bride+groom!
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
Love the pictures! And that food is making me really hungry… especially those crepes
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1I always love seeing the picture of your diaper bag, since I have the same one and really enjoy how it doesn’t look like a traditional diaper bag. It’s so cute. One of my favorite purchases!
Anyways, my brother went to Poland and said they had great food and pretty women and also very thin napkins, lol.
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2OK, that cotton candy and your dinner looked amazing. And TH’s sister is super fashionable!
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3It’s cute to look at how T1 has changed, he looked more like a baby then and now more like a little boy/toddler.
The food looks amazing. In France we don’t tip either, or a euro or two if the server was really good. Service is included in the cost of the meal (so is tax for that matter, which is something that drives me nuts here). But I do feel that in most cases people on tipped position make an extra effort to please their guests because that’s how they make their living. I fell I’ve come accross more morose waiters in France than here in the US.
Going downhill on those tracks looks a little scary.
Your SIL in so adorable, I love her outfits. And for that matter if your FIL is a sign on how TH will age, you’re good to go to
(They say that for women-to look at the mother to see how the daughter will look down the line-, I don’t know if it’s the case for men.)
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Jessica @ One Shiny Star Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 11:24 am
I was going to say the same thing - in Germany the tip is included, so we usually just rounded up to the next Euro (so if it was 12.50 we left 13.). I like it better that way.
The way restaurant tips work here are kind of crazy. At the end of the night the servers turn in all their tips and then it gets divided among all of the servers/cooks/hosts. Some places let them keep the cash tips they get but the tips of credit cards get put into the pool. For that reason - if I like my server, I’ll try to tip in cash so they get the most of my tip.
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Sophia Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 5:05 pm
When I waited tables we didn’t share tips at all- we didn’t even tip out to the bus boys because they were making $8 an hour and were making $2.19 and my manager didn’t think it was fair. I don’t know that I could wait tables at a restaurant that pools tips!
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Jackie Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 6:36 pm
When I studied abroad in Prague, the custom was the same. But on the check it would always say in English, “Tip is not included!” I thought it was funny - waitstaff probably made a little extra off of American tourists who were used to tipping!
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Jo(ke) Reply:
February 2nd, 2011 at 11:53 am
I’ve been to Prague twice and I saw ‘tip is not included’ everywhere. So strange. In Belgium it is the same like Cécy said about France. Taxes are included and you tip 1 or 2 euros.
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I loved reading about some of your Polish experience.
I would freaking LOVE to have those rails on the stairs going down to the metro here in Montreal. It would make my life so much easier, and my back muscles wouldn’t be so tired.
Although, would it be possible to use them going upstairs also? Hmm.
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5My husband would not be able to control himself around that beer. He would probably order it anytime he had a chance, just to say the word. I can see it now….hundreds of servers all over poland shaking their heads at him!
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6I really think I’ve seen rails in the train stations before… but I’m having a difficult time remembering if it was in DC or when I lived in Germany. lol. My mind is failing me!
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7I had to laugh a little. You could have taken very similar photos here in Germany. I just love cotton candy. Not when the wind blows. Because it blows your air right into the cotton candy. Yes, I’ve been there
We also have those thin napkins. They surely can’t be used if you spill something
Greetings from Germany.
Yvonne
P. S. My blog template is also made by Joy Kelly. I found her via your blog.
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8Oh I had so much fun reading your post! Pictures are really nice. We were so lucky with weather! I can’t wait to see faux-engagement session tho
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9I am in love with that second pic of T1 when you’ve just arrived. He seriously looks exactly as described- so confused about what he should be feeling!
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10That cotton candy looks ridonk. And for some reason I heart the photo of T1 chillaxin at the airport.
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11Oh my! We have to get those mini ramps! My back would be so much happier (although my guns wouldn’t be as huge:)
So happy you’re going to write more about your trip! I’ve been dying to hear all about it.
I want some Polish cotton candy:)
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12Cotton candy and Ice cream is a treat anywhere yummy!
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13I’m so excited for these posts! I love love love Krakow and it’s so fun to see it through your eyes.
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14I’m glad you’re blogging about this! I never got around to fully blogging/sharing pictures about the 10 days I was in Chicago, and now I’m thinking “well, maybe it will just be a retro post” haha. It looks like the weather was lovely while you were there. Our trip to Egypt/Jordan was canceled, and then we booked another trip to fill that time but we had to go through a different airline, and so now we have a credit we need to use before the end of 2011 and we are thinking Eastern Europe- I might need some tips on places to go in Poland since you’re an expert by now
I also can’t believe how different T1 looks! Babies change so quickly that first year of life. It never ceases to amaze me…
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15Holidays in other countries are always so interesting! When I was in Germany, April 30, the day before May Day, kids ran around taking candy and other things from their neighbours. Also, if you had a guy that liked you, he was to cut down a small birch-esque tree and tie it to somewhere on your house. The higher the tree was, the more he liked you! (I saw many trees tied to chimneys on the roof, so kudos to those German guys lugging a tree that far!)
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16Oh, that looks like so much fun! The food looks SO tasty, and how strange that they don’t tip! I always love hearing about small differences like that in other countries!
It looks like you had a wonderful time - I can’t wait to hear more!
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17WHAT?! They have stroller ramps down the stairs?!!? That is the greatest invention ever known to man.
I’m glad you had fun! We can’t wait to head out that way someday!
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18So fun! I love seeing different foods. That looks like head cheese!
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19I love reading about your trips to Poland. My family is Polish, but I have lived in the US since I was a year old. It’s interesting to see your take on the traditions I recognize, and what Polish traditions other families do.
Wanted to let you know the m?ska in the advertisement means men’s. You were very close with Today’s Fashions though, because móda is a word for what’s trendy or cool.
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20Many subway stations in NYC have elevators, or people carry kids in carriers. Just an FYI.
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21I love that picture of you with the cotton candy! There is something very disarming in your expression. I traveled a bit in Poland when I was living in Germany and had some of the best and worst travel experiences. In Warsaw, at the train station, a man came up to me very friendly like and asked if I was an American. (This was back in the 90′s and not too long after E. Europe became open to the West.) I enthusiastically chatted with the man, having become used to people’s curiosity about Americans- especially a 20-something girl traveling alone. I thought, ‘Aww.. what a grandfatherly old gentleman…’ right up to when he asked me ‘How much?’. I was confused for a moment and then he smiled and made a vulgar gesture, pointed at me and said, ‘American prostitute, yes??’ NOOOOO!!!! A couple weeks later I was on a train and headed up to Estonia to visit a friend of mine from boarding school. At the border to Lithuania, one of the Polish conductors started hassling me and telling me my ticket wasn’t any good. I gathered he was threatening to throw me off the train in a cow pasture in the middle of nowhere. Several people got up out of their seats and rescued me- one guy got all up in the conductor’s face and this lady pulled me back into the compartment and another guy got into it too. They explained afterward that the conductor was corrupt and would threaten people to get them to pay him to stay on the train. It was a humbling experience to get myself into a few scrapes and then be rescued by kind strangers who had no reason to get involved or subject themselves to danger. Anyhow, thanks for the trip down memory lane… =)
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Jenna Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Wow, what stories! My experiences in Poland have been nothing like that, but I always have a street smart native speaker by my side
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It’s so fun to finally see these pictures! I especially love the one of TH’s childhood home and landscaping…beautiful! I can’t wait until the next installment!
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23Jenna,
Would you be willing to do a post on traveling internationally with an infant? Specifically on the logistics of it?
I have a 2 month old and my husband’s family is in New Zealand so we are planning to travel there in the next few months. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of taking a baby on such a long flight with time changes.
I always find your posts so helpful and informative & would love to hear your perspective on this.
Thanks!
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Jenna Reply:
February 2nd, 2011 at 1:23 pm
I’ve already done a post about flying with a baby (though I can’t remember if I touched on international flying). Have you read that? Search “flying with baby” and other similar phrases using my toolbar on the right. Let me know if that doesn’t answer your questions!
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Where is your polka dot diaper bag from? It looks so cute! Do you like it?
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Jenna Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
It’s by Skip Hop and I love it! Very highly recommended. http://smartmomma.com/Skip-Hop-STUDIO-Diaper-Tote-Pewter-Dot-p-18866.html
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