So what’s the story behind nesting dolls? Posted by Kasia on Jan 14, 2014
Who doesn’t love them? While the modern day nesting doll is most popularly associated with Russia or Poland, the first nesting dolls actually came from China. The Chinese crafted nesting boxes that date back to the Song Dynasty, around 1000 AD. These boxes were both functional and decorative. Sometime during the 1700s they applied this…
Let’s ski in Kotelnica! Posted by Kasia on Jan 9, 2014
Just years ago, winter was a dead season for the Kotelnica Mountain, quiet under a quilt of snow. Today Kotelnica vibrates with activity from countless ski fans who flock to the new resort, one of Poland’s most trendy. The amazing transformation happened in a decade and reflects the inventiveness and spirit of enterprise seen in…
Few basic facts about Poland Posted by Kasia on Jan 8, 2014
Ask any tourist about Poland and you might get a mumble of beautiful cities, vodka, communist rule, Pope John Paul II and Euro 2012. Here are few facts I picked up to help make your visit even more meaningful and interesting: * Nearly 35% of the 60 million Poles live abroad and large Polish speaking…
Meeting, greeting,leaving…what to say? Posted by Kasia on Jan 5, 2014
It is always nice if you go abroad on holidays and can say at least few words in the country’s language. Usually, it’s either saying hello or introducing yourself. Often local people become much more friendly if you make an effort and try to speak few words in their language. In this post you will…
Auschwitz-Birkenau barracks back in Poland Posted by Kasia on Jan 4, 2014
I have to be honest, I didn’t know that Auschwitz-Birkenau barracks were on the display at the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington… Half of a historic Auschwitz-Birkenau barracks that was on loan to the U.S. has been returned to Poland after two decades and long negotiations. The Nazi barracks was one of the main items at the…
Stary rok, nowy rok Posted by Kasia on Dec 31, 2013
In Poland New Year’s Eve is known as St Sylvester’s Eve. This name according to legends arose from Pope Sylvester I, who was supposed to have imprisoned a dragon called Leviathan who was suppose to be able to escape on the first day of the year 1000, devour the land and the people, and…
Zimowy poemat Posted by Kasia on Dec 30, 2013
Snowy winter always make me think about poetry…so it is time for a snowy poem by Krystyna Kunigiel-Jabłońska! Zimowy poemat Gdy ludzie zgonieni po codziennym trudzie, do snu ułożyli pomęczone głowy, za oknem czarodziej wziął się do roboty, by z nową nadzieją – dać im dzień zimowy. When people tired after daily toil, They put…