Ahh the wonderful Polska!
Last time I was in Poland was in 2000, I just started going out with Steve and was about to start University. So many things have changed since then...
I travelled alone with Lea and all was well until 3 minutes before our second to last flight was about to land, in all we took 4 flights. Just as we were about to land Lea vomited all over me, but I mean all over. I was able to wash her up and change her, but I unfortunately did not think of bringing a change of clothes for me, note to self for our next trip. Our last flight is when Lea has had enough! She wanted to have nothing to do with sitting on me or next to me or being held, she was just fed up, regardless how the flights were I was happy that we made it there safely.
It was great being there for 3 weeks before Steve joined us just enjoying time with my Babcia (grandmother) and not doing much. I don't think Lea has ever spent so much time outside; she was always entertained by someone and was not bored for one minute. Lea's first tooth come out at 10 months and started eating table food. My Babcia cooked for Lea every day and when we came back to AD there was no way of going back and cooking baby food for Lea. It makes things much easier for her to just eat the food we eat.
In my eyes Poland hasn't changed much, it's more developed and there are many more western stores available, but besides that it's the same thing. I just feel at home when I'm there, the air even smells better!
For 3 weeks before Steve arrived we didn't do much. We took long walks and spent most of our time with my Babcia who was nonstop cooking for us (YUM!) Once Steve arrived we shifted gears, we started touring and for 2 weeks we were on the go. We visited Wroclaw which is the 3rd largest city in Poland and it's the city that my Babcia lives next to. Then we visited Lichen which is a Holy place where the Virgin Mary has appeared many times, then Ksiaz, Auschwitz, Krakow (we both fell in love with the city, it's just so beautiful there), Wieliczka (a salt mine that's just out of this world), Czestochowa home of the Black Madonna and where about 1.5 pilgrims come every year.
Steve loved the food and every time we ate out it had to be Polish food. I don't think he was ready for all the history but he got through it and I'm sure that something stayed with him. I on the other hand felt like I revisited all these places again and it was great seeing it from a tourist's point of view. Lea was great, adapting well everywhere we took her. She also discovered the power of her voice on this trip as she would try to scream over every tour guide we had and loved to voice herself in Churches, museums and the salt mine :-)
All in all we had a great time and I'm very happy that Steve was finally able to see where I'm from.
Here's the link to our Picasa Web Albums where you can see all of our pictures
http://picasaweb.google.com/Weclask
