#5 (12/4/10)

(((I wrote this on Dec 4 about Dec 4, and am just posting it a day late since I didn't have a computer last night)))

I am in Poland!
The place we are staying at is so cute- a refurbished barn owned by a couple of Brits. Loving it!
Let me back up! I have been awake for way too long. We got on the road at 0630, and it was 17 degrees. Cold. The drive was not bad at all, and the company was great. P is such an amazing woman, so it was great to have so much time to talk.
We got to Boleslawiec around noon and headed straight to the shops. We went to three different 'skleps' (shops in polish) and found some really great stuff. I am a huge cheap-o but was able to let mysekf buy without looking at the prices. And I still spent less than I thought I would!
It was getting way past lunchtime and we were starving. So we picked a restuarant and went it. Ohmygoodness! It was so awesome! It was cute and comfy. I loved the waitress' uniforms - white cardigans with a cute apron/skirt. And the food! Beef with gravy, fried potatoes, and a local polish beer. Simple enough, right? It was one of the best meals ever, the beer was great, and it was super cheap!
After eating we finally found our hotel, checked in, and then headed out for some more shopping. At store #4 I bought more stuff and spent a good chunk of Euro! But the stuff is just so pretty... :)
It was dark and cold so we headed back to ouur hotel where we are a lovely dinner and got to chat some more - that is all we have been doing all day. It has been great!
At the first store, I fell in love with these cute teapots. But I didn't get one, because I figured i would find some at another place and I didn't want to buy a ton of stuff at the first store... Well, I didn't find another one that I loved as much. So tomorrow the mission is to find a teapot!
J, P, and K are doing fine without me. It is crazy how much I miss my baby girls when I am away... But I am so thankful I have had this experience.
Poland is different. A few times today I felt like I was on the set of a Cold War movie! The buildings, cars, people... That is the best way for me to describe it. The people seem pretty friendly overall. This place seems to be a poor state, and in someplaces downright ghetto! The Russian influence is interesting to see...
Ok, eyelids are getting heavy. I will be writing more about Poland tomorrow, as I experience more. But let me tell you, this has been a great day!