Day 20 - Random Thoughts

Back in Krakow for a Day of Nothingness

It's quite grand to get up in the morning, start laundry and lounge around the house with the cat and two rats. Melodie has been taking care of the menagerie while I prepare some breakfast then lunch later. Our clothes are all done and dried and we hope we have plenty of time tomorrow to clean the bedding and remake the beds. In Poland, it is not usual for anyone to have a dryer. All clothes are dried on one's balcony on a rack.

And, in driving, here are a few words you might want to know the meaning of because you see them everywhere or can use them regularly:

do widzenia - goodbye

dzien dobry - good day/hello

dziekuje - thank you

przepraszam - sorry, excuse me

Zjazd - exit

pierniki - gingerbread (Torun is famous for its pierniki)

Sklep - shop

Gmina - municipality; appears to be similar to the outskirts of a city like Gmini Krakow

Objazd - detour

na sprzadaz - for sale; nothing is for rent around here

Download a free app called PL Lite which will help you in the pronunciation but you must have internet/wifi access to use out-and-about in place of saying these things yourself.  Good practice in advance and the Poles love that you even try!

And watch those road lines! If there are yellow AND white, the yellow takes priority. If you ever see the speed limit signs appear close together and lower the limit, there WILL be an obstruction, narrowing of lanes, or construction ahead so SLOW DOWN. If you want to drive the speed limit, be sure to be in the right hand slow lane. Even when I plan to make a left turn, the drivers behind me crawl up my bumper, zoom around me on the right while driving RIGHT ON the line and then cutting me off very close as they get back in front of me while missing my front bumper by inches (or is that centimeters?).

All traffic must stop for pedestrians in the white lined cross walk. And pedestrians, to avoid a hefty fine, must only walk when the green walking man appears on the light. Crossing tram lines can be dangerous since the trams are not noisy so be sure to look both ways. I'm talking from experience here.  Large busy highways will usually have an underground walkway for you to use.  Otherwise, do make the effort to walk down to the lines crosswalk even if it's a half block away.

Walking. Mind those bike lanes and be sure to walk in YOUR path/lane. Crossing a bike lane, look both ways because they come zooming by if you don't.

I'm liking these European style breakfasts of tomatoes, cucumber, meat (or egg), and coffee. Will have to make a list of items needed to replace and go the Lidl grocery store one more time with a brief stop for tram tickets for tomorrow, gas up the car, and get a car wash.

These security guys dressed all in black are little unnerving and the emergency sirens of Anne Frank days send chills up-and-down my spine.

I think the cat enjoys us (Melodie, that is) being back too. He's quite the talker. Last night, just before bed, he came in from the balcony and Melodie saw him with a dead bird in his mouth! I did the pushing from under the bed with the mop and she caught him with a towel. He dropped the bird and she took care of the cat while I scooped up the bird and tossed it outside. He whines and cries when he doesn't get his way. We weren't supposed to let him in Hania's room (where the rats live) but he cried and raised a fuss for an hour or more until Melodie opened the door and let him in to sleep in Hania's top bunk. THEN she could get some sleep.

We ordered dinner from the Banolli Restaurant just down the street on the corner. I got the grilled chicken with pesto and gnocchi and salad and Melodie ordered Shawarma chicken with rice and vegetables. I don't know what it means for a section called "pig iron" but you can choose coleslaw, beets, carrots, or a mix of pig iron.  She got the pig iron which I guess turned out to be a mix of the choices listed above.

My dinner

All the laundry is done. Going to Krakow for a little shopping and to see the wooden altarpiece in St. Mary's Church on the Main Square which is only opened at noon daily for a short period of time. Tickets to enter are required but you can pretend to come in to pray by entering through the front door and pay nothing. 

Only bedding to do tomorrow and have dinner with Monika. Time for a shower.