Our trip commenced on August 14th at 8.30am when we were picked up in the centre of Manchester,
where we also met my mum and dad as they came too.
And so began the arduos journey (by coach!!) to our destination of Zakopane, Poland.
We drove all the way down to Dover (once we'd negotiated the huge traffic jams near London!)
eventually arriving 2 hours late for the ferry. The sailing to Calais took 1 hour 15 minutes.
After travelling through Northern France, we then continued through Belgium and into Germany
through the night. We slept (haha) on the coach through the night,
to awake mid-way through Germany where we stopped for breakfast.
The coach stops every couple of hours and has a toilet on board, so it really isn't as bad as it sounds!!
We then continued to the Polish border where we met up with the "I'm a man with a gun" mentality (border guard)
After keeping us waiting for 40 minutes (just because he could!) we then entered Poland....at last!
We eventually arrived at our hotel at 8.30pm......a whole 36 hours later.
We've done several of these types of holiday before, but this was by far the longest we've done.
Monday saw us taking a trip around Zakopane, admiring the local wooden architecture, including the churches.
We were very pleased to see it was gloriously hot and sunny too!
Our Lady of Fatima church was built to honour
Pope John Paul II, when he survived an assasin's bullet.
THE KIDS AND I AT A LOCAL CHURCH
THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA
The mountain you can see in the background below is Giewont, known in Poland as the Sleeping Knight.
Legend says that the knight will awaken to come to the aid of Poland when the nation is in trouble.
THE VIEW FROM THE CHURCH
After visiting the church we went back to the hotel ready to join the rest of the party that
had opted to go on the afternoon excursion to the Dunajec Valley. We travelled through rolling countryside
and saw the many storks that build their huge nests on chimney tops in the villages.
They migrate to Poland in the summer, flying back to Africa in winter. Couldn't get near enough to take
a photo of them from the coach. We then stopped off at a beautiful 15th century church.
SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE
15TH CENTURY CHURCH
Next it was off to a lovely restaurant to enjoy the local speciality - savoury Highlander Pancakes.
We chose the ones stuffed with goulash and they were gorgeous!! The meal with drinks cost us about £8.
The Polish don't seem to be too sure about vegetarian concept. Chris ordered vegetable soup which arrived
with what looked suspiciously like bits of meat in it! Good job he isn't actually vegetarian! They also like their vegetables
"fresh", so fresh in fact that they were literally picked from the garden. Holly's side salad arrived complete
with a caterpillar! Mark told her to pretend it was a free toy like you'd get at McDonalds! Didn't go down too well with Holly!
Another thing to think about in case you wanted to plan a trip to this area, animal skins can be found all over
restaurant walls. There's a lot of rugs and such which is fine as they simply shear the sheep and use the wool.
There are, however, stuffed animals, skins and deer heads etc, particularly higher up the mountains.
It's probably not the place to go if you are an animal activist!!
THE KIDS AND I OUTSIDE THE RESTAURANT
The stream shown here was full of trout. You could take your catch to the hut at
the back and they would cook it for you.
OUTSIDE THE RESTAURANT
The lads thought this tree branch was hilarious! No doubt the locals did too!
NO COMMENT!!
WE TRAVELLED ALL THAT WAY ON THIS COACH!!
THE DUNAJEC VALLEY
CHRIS IN THE DUNAJEC VALLEY
HOLLY IN THE DUNAJEC VALLEY!
Next it was onto the studio of a local wood carver. He was born in this house but now uses
it as his studio. There were some fabulous pieces!
WOOD CARVERS STUDIO
INSIDE THE STUDIO
After a busy day, it was off on a folklore evening! We were picked up in a mini bus
by a Polish woman with a death wish. I'm quite surprised we arrived in one piece! I think maybe
she was attempting to break the land speed record!!
Anyway, we arrived safe at a local restaurant where there was a highlander band and dancers.
This is me 2nd from left after being DRAGGED up by the guy behind me.
FOLKLORE EVENING
This is my dad joining in the usual "lets make the British look stupid" game.
Looks like he was having fun considering he hates getting up!!
We couldn't get Holly off the dance floor! Mark kept a low profile!!
FOLKLORE EVENING
MUM, HOLLY AND DAD AT THE FOLKLORE EVENING
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Although not particularly graphic, some people may find the content disturbing.
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