On the Road again
Arriving in Poland, Warszawa always excites me, she is a chameleon, each year she gets bigger, taller and more beautiful, and she now holds her own amongst the capital cities of Europe. IT companies have moved in making it very cosmopolitan and edgy but there is still that old world Polish charm resonating from those back streets god how I love this city!
So how do we do it when we are in Poland? Well once out of the airport we head to our apartment to make a plan, but not before stopping for those much needed supplies. At the supermarket our basket is filled with polish delicacies and of course the odd beverage. After a few late nights reminiscing over a wine or two, and negotiating our way around regional Poland it is not long before a plan is hatched. Next morning our bags are packed, Lonely Planet in the glove box, coffee and a weekend bag we are on the road again. Knowing Poland as I do this country can be full of surprises I am excited - so let’s go.
Ever since I can remember it is this feeling that keeps me in my happy place. Returning now as a Polish citizen this country has captivated me and it has now become my country. It has opened up many opportunities for me, I keep exploring not knowing what I am looking for but I know something special is out there. This has been my mantra since I was 18 when my traveling days consisted of a backpack, traveller checks and staying in pensions, and letters from home were delivered via Poste Restaurante. Sitting on church steps with hundreds of other backpackers reading letters from home, it was great. Meeting people, swapping stories magic, and I believe it still can be. The only difference now is that my old backpack has morphed into a lightweight suitcase and those pensions are now fabulous hotels. One thing I know that hasn’t changed are the people, the ones I meet travelling remain the same, they are all looking for something new to see and experience, and I believe Poland is that place.
Driving on Poland’s smart new motorways ensures that travel between cities is quick and easy, but to see the real Poland we choose to go off-piste. This is not always easy resulting in our GPS getting totally confused at times, and believe me it created many a light hearted moment in that car and a lot of laughter. Most of Poland is as flat as a pancake with the exception of the southern mountains so the roads go for miles and miles. Each region offering something different, we usually choose one or two regions for each research visit ensuring we can see as much as we can to be able to offer the best and most interesting places on our tour itinerary. The picturesque south is known for its mountains and ski resorts, the north has the haunting Baltic coastline with its white sands. The west is where the romance is with its Prussian Castles and vineyards, while the east has the mysticism of the Old Russian occupation and those quaint villages.
Days spent in the car equates to lot of talking, endless stops for photographs, debates on world politics, dinner menus and what the next stop will be. It’s perfect, music constantly fills the car along with empty coffee cups driving in the hazy summer days it is truly blissful! Our days can start at hand painted villages where time stands still, moving on to gothic towns who are hiding the most amazing restaurants. We hunt them out so we can indulge our palates’ with menus full of local game and fresh produce. Add to that the odd boutique winery and I honestly can say out loud days don’t get much better than that. At the end of each day, you won’t find two more satisfied tours guides in the world, we do a debrief over a delicious Polish wine with fabulous food then always toast to how lucky we are to be here in Poland.
There is still so much of Poland that I still haven’t seen and so many places I want to return to. This vibe is enviable and it captures my heart every time. These are the thoughts that keep me going through these crazy Covid times. I had such great plans for 2020 and 2021 which were shelved, but I still hold onto the hope that there will be a vaccine soon allowing us all to travel in 2022. The ideal months for travelling in Poland is from early June which I love with its crisp dewey mornings and sunny days, through to August when we are in full summer swing and temperatures can reach up to 32C+ Each season is a picture postcard, it is a big playground if you want to see something new, roll on 2022, fingers crossed for next June!