Beer from Siepc Poland

Brewed in Siepc Poland and part of the Carlsberg Group. It's a non-pasteurized pilsner with a 35 day shelf life, light tasting and refreshing. I think the future holds a taste test between this one and a non-pasteurized pilsner to see if I can tell the difference.

A honey beer. If you like sweet beer, this is the one for you.

Local brew pub

The other week, Dave, Gary (the other two Fulbright professors here) and I visited a local brew-pub in old town called Groezka Browar Restauracja. They offered up three choices of beer: lager, pilsner and wheat in 1/2 litre and 1 litre mugs (and bottles and growlers for take away). I tried both the pilsner and lager in 1/2 litre mugs (had to take it easy, I was walking home later). The lager had more flavor and was a dark, maple color. It didn't stand out any amongst the other brew pub beer that I have had in the past but was good none-the-less. The pilsner looked and tasted like most pilsners (the better ones). They are light to begin with, so I never expect much. I wasn't disappointed. I don't know if they brew the beer there from start to finish, or bring in the wort and finish the process. Regardless, it is beer and beer is good (just ask Ben Franklin).
The restaurant consists of two big basement rooms, a bar and a dining area (both smoking I believe), and an upstairs dining room (non-smoking?). The kitchen is apparently on the bottom floor as I saw wait staff carrying food and drinks upstairs via an elevator. As in the other restaurants that we have visited in old town, the menus are also in English and the wait staff speak English. I like this as I get a chance to practice my Polish pronunciations with someone who can tell me in English that they have no idea what I just said (and I don't end up ordering something a little too exotic for my taste).
I am looking forward to another visit, not only to try the wheat beer but to also sample the food.

Bread choices

There are many wonderful choices of bread available here.

So naturally, Delaney will only eat pre-packaged white bread (called "toast").

Last week, while the kids were out of school for spring break, Delaney and I visited a new friend's flat and we were served this bread, zytni razowy bez drozdzy (rye wholemeal without yeast). The ingredients list only rye flour, water and salt (all natural). Delaney loved it. Naturally (pun intended) there is only one store that sells it, and only on Thursdays. I believe that it is safe to say that Delaney's tastes are both unique and rare.

Tractor Crossing

Lublin is surrounded by farm country, so it shouldn't be too surprising to see tractors from time to time, but they still catch me off guard when I see them driving down a city street as I'm waiting at the bus stop...

Delaney the Daredevil!

Delaney has been taking great delight in riding her new scooter around, including down a large hill on her way home from school, and all over the local parks!

Wide selection of meats

David has already remarked on how good meats taste here.  You also have a huge selections of different kinds of meat with every possible cut imaginable.  In the store we go to, the entire back wall of the store is a series of giant meat counters - one for chicken and turkey, one for beef, one for deli meats, and another for fish.  I was looking for turkey breast one day and stood in one line for a while.  When it was finally my turn I asked for what I wanted and was informed that I had been standing in the wrong line...move over, try again.

 The people were probably wondering - who is this strange woman taking pictures in the grocery store?

Spring clothes shopping

I finally felt like doing a little clothes shopping for myself the other day (I'm not real keen on shopping in general, but the warm weather and all of my turtlenecks made it a necessity).  I found a pair of sandals, a pair of pants, some spring scarves (my favorite buy), and several short sleeve shirts.  I looked for some shorts and a broomstick skirt, but didn't find anything I really liked.  I had a lot more success shopping for Delaney.  She's basically outfitted for the rest of our stay here, with the possible exception of some sandals.

What weapon do you prefer on the bus?

I had to do a double take the other day when a lady stepped on the bus with what appeared to be a full sized axe.  Yep.  Its a shiny new axe!  I'm guessing (hoping) its for doing some pruning/yard work.  Apparently this is a common item to shop for at this time of year given this large bin at the grocery store...

Stowaway!

Delaney and David saw me off at the train station and Delaney brought her new birthday doll along.  She tried to stick the doll in my backpack.  I told her no, there was no room.  Later, when I got my bag down on the train, I heard a "baby cry"...when I wasn't looking she had sneaked that talking baby into my bag as a special sign of love while I was away.  Kind of annoying, but VERY SWEET! (I hope the baby bottle that she included has enough milk in it to keep the baby fed for the whole trip, haha)

Are the words "airline" and "service" oxymorons?

I admire those people who can keep their cool when things are hot – literally.  Riding on the train to Warsaw today was excrutiatingly hot and stuffy.  I was the only one of six people in the cabin who apparently wanted the window open, although the man next to me was perspiring heavily, no one else was even breaking a sweat, even while wearing long sleeves and corderoy pants when it was 75+ degrees!  I was so glad to get off that train!

I experienced uncommon airline courtesy on my flight from Warsaw to Brussels…the flight attendant approached me midway through the flight and said “you have a very short connection time and you must clear customs and security and go to another terminal.  Would you like to move to the first row of the plane so you can be the first one off?”  I move up and made the connection without any problem.  Merci Brussels Airlines.

My hotel is pretty bare bones by US standards, but quite roomy by British standards (and better be for the rate!).  A queen sized bed, very nice TV, and really interesting bathroom “module” that is something like a giant port-a-potty with shower, toilet and sink inclusive.   

Do you speak British?

Apparently I don't!  The customs agent had to ask me three times if I was coming to the UK for business.  My ears are so used to listening to Polish...I'll have to enable my "British" setting for them now!

Dad and daughter day

Delaney and I made our way to a greenbelt that winds it's way down from near the grocery store that we frequent. The paths were full of people walking, riding bikes and pushing baby strollers. The grassy hills were a perfect place to sit and read. We brought some books and found a shady spot under a copse of trees and enjoyed the shade and the cool breeze. As you can see, the crop of dandelions is in full bloom.
On the hills lining the paths were new apartment buildings, one set still under construction. In front of one of them were garden plots. We have seen these types of plots scattered throughout the city.
The path that we followed was all downhill, making it the perfect scooter riding path for Delaney. After riding quite a way, we climbed up a hill to a street and caught the a bus that drops us off right at the corner near our apartment. It was a wonderful way to spend the last day of the kids school break. Tomorrow, back to the routine.

Classroom Simulations

I'm very pleased to report that all three of the role play exercises that I planned for my classes have been completed and went well.  I will be presenting a preliminary research paper discussing how "exportable" active learning exercises are to other cultures at the British International Studies Association Conference in Manchester this week.  I've been reading a lot of other articles by faculty who have taught abroad and written about their experiences.  It is so interesting to see how different cultures value different elements of education and use certain teaching methods.  I feel like my experience in Poland was a relatively comfortable fit, with the students being open to trying new things and the faculty being supportive of my methods and research.

More spring pictures around Lublin

We spent much of our extended Easter vacation outdoors enjoying the weather and the scenery.  Here are some pictures from around town.

Park at Plac Litewski

Ogrod Saski (Saski Gardens)

Blackbird nests in the trees - boy was it loud right here!

Happy Birthday to Adam!

Adam celebrated his birthday on Easter Sunday this year...Delaney's predictable response... "No fair!"

We had a bit of a disaster with Delaney's birthday cake, so we tried again with Adam's.  Delaney wanted to do it all by herself.  She mostly did (with lots of verbal instructions from mom).  Chocolate cherry cake with two layers of frosting!

Adam received iTunes gift cards (spent immediately), cash (saved for home), two movies (watched with family), chocolate bars and gum (that he didn't have to share with anyone), and a really cool lego space shuttle!

My idea of heaven...

After spending an afternoon in a beautiful park, we went into the E. Wedel cafe for delicious chocolate treats...real melted hot chocolate, chocolate ice cream sundaes, parfaits...

Naleczow

Pronounced "now-en-choof"...This town is a spa resort and is supposed to have a very healthy micro-climate that is beneficial to cardio patients.  The central park is quite beautiful. Totally delightful!   The three little kids and the big kid (Adam) chased each other around playing tag, fed the ducks and swans, then played on the playground.  We took a break at a cafe on the grounds and then the kids ran around some more.  Delaney was ready to drop when we finally got back home!

The pond is full of colorful floating plastic easter eggs!

Fun sculptures that came from the same blacksmith museum...

Kazimierz

Kazimierz is a small town on the Vistula river which a popular destination for people from Warsaw as well as Lublin and the surrounding areas.  The Vistula was a major transit route for hundreds of years, grain was hauled to the river and shipped down stream to the harbor in Gdansk and then West to France and the Netherlands.  The town of Kazimierz housed a number of wealthy grain merchants (houses pictured below), as well as an old castle and beautiful church.

Delaney, playing on the muddy river bank, dressed in beautiful white skirt and shirt : )

Fortunately she did not fall in...

 Hunting decor is apparently as popular in Poland as it is in the Czech Republic...  

This is the chandelier in the sanctuary.

Before Easter, each church will have a special side chapel where the tomb of Christ is symbolically represented.

Beautiful organ with the sunlight coming through the windows.

In front of some of the old merchant houses in the main square.