Poland

1) The itinerary

Day 1 : The great departure

Depart for Toulouse at 1:30 p.m. at the Grand Macdo de Rodez by carpool. Trip with three very pleasant people.

When I got to Toulouse, I had to take the tram to the airport. After arriving at the airport, I waited about two hours before checking in my checked baggage.

Once done, I looked for the boarding gate, which I could not find. I asked someone from the airport who explained it to me. Having understood nothing of his explanations and not finding I was forced to ask again. I passed the security check and arrived at the boarding gate, a young Polish man begins to speak to me and after a moment of exchange, he offered to host me to show me his city Poznan. Boarding time struck. Since there were a lot of people, I waited on the seats. And then a guy working at Airbus starts talking to me.

Then I got back on the plane. Next to me, an old lady made the sign of the cross just before the safety instructions. During the flight, the Airbus guy came to chat.

Three hours after boarding, I arrived in Warsaw Modlin where I exchanged some change to buy my ticket for the luxury shuttle which took me to the center of Warsaw.

I’ve been driving for 45 minutes.

I walked two kilometers with my 15kg suitcase and my 8kg backpack and all that at 12:30 am in the rain to reach my accommodation where Inga and her companions were waiting for me.

Day 2: Visit of Warsaw (Warsawa)

Wake up this morning to visit Warsaw.

Simon, Inga’s companions came to get my suitcase and I went on a tour, on foot with my backpack and in the rain. Difficult to walk around the city given the time and the incomprehension of Polish.

After an hour of walking without finding the old town, I decided to take the metro. And there, surprise! Nothing is written in English. I asked a lady who helped me and indicated the line I should take.

When I got to the station, I was still far from the old town. I decided to walk and look for a post office and a currency exchange office. I found a currency exchange that looked like a bird cage.

I entered this tiny airlock and no one there. I decided to press the button believing it was the doorbell.

And there, more light.

Suddenly a granny comes to see what’s going on. She changed my currency without understanding anything in English.

Then I went into a post office to buy stamps. There, I took a ticket except that I had the wrong service.

Then I decided to go eat in the Bambino milk bar.

Arrival at 10 meters, impossible to find. I asked someone who says she doesn’t know. Then I ended up finding it.

There, a place that looks like a canteen, self. First we say what we want, we pay and with our ticket we go to the kitchen where we give our ticket.

There, there are lots of pots on the fire in the middle and “Maïtés” with all the equipment which take care of us to eat and serve us. We recover the meal and after eating, we bring our plate on a ledge.

For only € 3, I ate Pierogis, a kind of super good ravioli and a slice of Sernik, white cheese cake and raisins. Two specialties from Poland.

Then I looked to book my night bus to Krakow. I realize that it is canceled and that there is one at 6:05 p.m. But I have no accommodation. So I looked for accommodation on Airbnb where I found it.

Then I left to collect my suitcase from Inga. When I got there, Inga helped me and explained to me how to get to the bus. She accompanied me with a dog to the metro. Good time for a chat. Arriving at the destination of the metro station I asked a lady where the bus is. She accompanied me to the bus stop.

Then I took the bus.

Arriving in Krakow at 11 p.m., I took a taxi to my accommodation, which it took me a while to find while I was outside the door. My host neither answered my calls, sms and emails.

I found myself in a dormitory with a Chinese since it is a shared room.

Day 3: Visit of Krakow (Krakow)

Today’s visit to Krakow after a short night, the Chinese with whom I shared the room snored and spoke all night.

I went to put my suitcase in my other accommodation and then left to explore this city.

Very beautiful city, prettier than Warsaw.

Then I looked for food. I arrive at a milk bar where the food was not typical. I come out of this place and there a grandpa accost me to help me. He gave me a restaurant address and gave it to me. When I arrived at the restaurant, I ate a typical dish called Golabki, a kind of stuffed cabbage that was too good. All for about 3 euros and above all well calibrated.

Then I continued walking the streets. I negotiated my traditional folklore costume. Then I tasted the specialty pink donut in Krakow. Very good, by the way. I asked a lady to go see Wawel Castle. She took me to the street I had to take and explained the rest to me. I stopped in a souvenir shop where I made the saleswoman struggle. She was so nice that after paying she took me to these bars to wish me a good trip and good luck.

Then I arrived at this magnificent castle where I had a nice big hot chocolate.

I left but I had no more battery on the laptop so it was impossible for me to find my way home. I asked a lady who looked up the route on her phone and after asking the taxi for a pen wrote it to me on a piece of paper. Being super strong in location, I got the wrong street and I asked a young man who looked up the route on his cell phone and took the time to explain it to me. I arrived safely where Russian tenants were about to leave. We exchanged a little then, after the departure a couple of Portuguese arrived. We exchanged in French and we decided to eat together. I prepared the meal (pasta and cold meats) and they were looking for beer to make an aperitif. Very good time with them where they told me about Mylène Farmer and Stomae.

Day 4: Visit of the Wieliczka salt mine

Today visit the Wieliczka salt mine and some places in Krakow.

A grandpa accosted me to offer me a coffee that I refused. He kissed my hand as he left.

Then I decided to go and eat Bigos, a style of Polish sauerkraut, one of their specialty for 4 € in the most beautiful cafe in Krakow. It’s a truly sublime museum-style cafe with classical music. Very good time when I had the impression that time had stopped and above all a very good dish.

After strolling through the streets of Krakow, leave for Wieliczka to visit the longest-operating salt mine in Europe. Beautiful area.

I spoke with a Portuguese businessman who during the visit where I did not understand much since it was in English translated me into French.

When the tour ended, I looked for a bus to go back. But he was leaving in an hour. He advised me to take the train which left a quarter of an hour earlier than the bus.

So I took the train.

Arriving at the right destination, I was bought my evening meal: Pierogis, Sernik and chocolate.

Then I came home.

On the way back, I saw a Polish rapper in a park. I stayed there listening to it for a while. It was great.

And I came home.

Day 5: Visit of Auschwitz

This is a special visit that awaits me today. That of the two Auschwitz concentration and extermination camps.

I was first at the station on foot with my big suitcase (2-3km).

Then I left my suitcase in a locker at the station before leaving for Oswiecim by bus.

When I got there, I took an entry ticket which cost me 0€.

I ate and left for Birkenau since I entered Auschwitz at 4 p.m.

There no words can describe what I saw, experienced and felt during this visit. It’s very addictive and moving to imagine the horror it could have been. The place has that.

I was able to attend a Jewish mass at the monument of meditation. It was very emotional. No smile can be read on the lips.

Then after about two hours of visiting, I returned to Auschwitz.

While waiting for the time of the visit, I met two very nice English women with whom I exchanged and took selfies.

Then I am back in the completely different second camp.

The atmosphere is more relaxed and one enters the blocks transformed into a museum which reconstructs all the stages of this journey to hell.

After two hours of sightseeing, I took the bus to Krakow where another bus for Zakopane was expected.

When I arrived in Zakopane, I took a taxi which brought me to the accommodation.

I called Jakub to explain and give me the entry code.

He had hidden the keys from me in an envelope that I had to look for.

I was amazed by this beautiful place where I was going to spend two days.

Day 6: Hiking in the Tatras

This morning wake up to music because where I sleep there is music in the corridors and common rooms all day. Royal breakfast (scrambled eggs, salad, cold meats, bread, butter,…)

Then I got ready to go to the Tatras.

I was informed at the tourist office then direction the mountain.

I walked about 3-4 hours in these mountains with sublime landscapes before returning to Zakopane (I shit).

Then I wandered the streets of this beautiful city and went home.

By the way I bought a gastronomic specialty of this city an Oscypek a kind of smoked cheese.

When I got to the room I had to eat it because it smelled bad and embalmed the whole room. It was disgusting. Whether it is cow or goat.

Then I wanted to do my laundry in the sink in the bathroom. And there disaster impossible to find the handle to reopen the sink (bring up the cap). I had to call Jakub and explain my problem to him in English of course.

Then I decided to eat at the restaurant but not any, the oldest in the city where there are very good Polish dishes. I ate a beet broth called Barszcz super bon and a breaded pork chop with roasted potatoes called Kotlet Schabowy for only € 7. I went out with a full stomach.

I went back home with the wrong street of course but without GPS after having walked 20km today.

Day 7: Visit of Zakopane

Today quiet awakening because I only visit Zakopane.

After having a great lunch, I got ready and when I closed the suitcase, one of the two zippers broke. I managed to close it after sitting on it.

Then I went downstairs and saw that it was raining. I took my courage tomorrow and went to visit the city. After about an hour, I realize that my backpack is tearing more and more and that I have to buy another one. Here I am looking for a backpack that I found easily.

Then I went back to the apartment to eat under cover. I stayed for a while and then decided to go to the city’s aquatic center.

When I got to the locker, I had to ask for help because their system is different from ours. When you take the entry ticket you are given a bracelet with your locker number and the color of the locker. Then put the place where there is the number on a white strip that there is on the locker and the locker closes or opens. Super nice center where there is a heated outdoor swimming pool in front of the Tatras. But unfortunately given the bad weather, we couldn’t see anything. After changing, I took the exit and there the controller tells me that I have exceeded the time that I had taken at the entry (1h) and that I have to pay 3 Zloty.

Then I left. Seeing that it was still raining I decided to open my umbrella and there never 2 without 3, the umbrella was in a bad state which obliged me to buy another one.

Then I came home with my new umbrella (your best friend in Poland).

I went to the station to take my bus, dressed like never before, with a kind of red plastic poncho.

When I got to the station I took my bus. I had a hell of a night.

Arriving at 1:30 am in Krakow I asked for help to find my bus to a couple who by helping me missed their bus.

Then I left Krakow at 2am. At 3:30 am, the driver turned on the lights and spoke into his microphone in Polish to say that we had arrived at a station. Super awakening! It was the same thing at 6.30am.

And I arrived at 9.45 am in Torun.

Day 8: Visit of Torun

Difficult night on the bus.

Arrival in Torun, I inquired first to leave my suitcase at the station.

I had lunch and washed off in the train station toilets.

Then I went to discover this this beautiful fortified city.  

After a few minutes, I found myself in a square filled with monuments and statues. Magnificent place.

I went to eat in a restaurant. I have ate a kind of Pierogis. Very good as usual.  

And I wandered the streets of this beautiful city.

Then I visited a gingerbread museum because it is the city’s specialty.

I made my gingerbread. So awesome.

The tour was in English and being very tired I didn’t understand anything. At the end of the visit, I left to join my bus for Gdansk.

After 2km of walking in less than 20 minutes, I realized that I had chosen the wrong place and that the bus was opposite. I had 15 minutes left to go. I had to take a taxi. I arrived 5 minutes before. Impeccable to recover my suitcase.

And I took the bus to Gdansk.

When I got to Gdansk I asked a nice gentleman where the 167 bus was. He helped me for at least 10 minutes. In view of his rough explanations I took a taxi.

The taxi driver explained to me that when he was a student, he was harvesting in France in the Provence, Marseille, Toulon, Hyères.

Then he took out three words in French and counted up to 10.

He brought me to the door and dropped me off suitcase in front.

He gave me a gift of 3.5 Zloty.

When I got to the apartment, I rang the bell. A lady opened the door and I realized that I was wrong.

I called Monika, my host, who explained to me in French because she speaks it a little.

My roommate opened me.

Finally, I decided to go get myself meat. Luckily, a shop was open 500 meters away.

I came home, I ate and I slept.

Day 9: Visit of Gdansk

Oily morning and wake up after a good night’s sleep. I party to visit Gdansk. For arrival at the center I did 45 minutes walk.

Then I found myself in a city with a particular architecture. I found some pretty places but I would say it is not my favorite city.

After visiting the city, I decided to visit Oliwa Cathedral. I took the tram to get there. Very beautiful cathedral. I walk in the cathedral where a very beautiful organ is present. The sound of the organ sounds. I was very happy and surprised that the organ started working for visitors. But in fact it was the mass since in Polish 🙂

I set off again by tram for Nowy port which borders the Baltic Sea in order to see the lighthouse. I arrived at the end of the sunset. I found this place very pretty.

Then I came back by tram.

Sure the way back a controller asks me for the ticket. I present and he tells me it’s not good. I explain to him that I am on vacation and i am french. He took me down to the next station where he left me with his colleague. I have explained to his colleague my problem. She understood and explained to me how buy my ticket and take a tram. Then we discussed a moment of my trip. A moment that turned out to be nice then that it was off to a bad start.

Then I went home. I decided to buy a beer to accompany my evening meal. Except that no bottle opener and after more than 15 minutes, I couldn’t open it. Then at the end of my meal I started again ! I managed to taste a Polish beer.

Day 10: Visit of Malbork

Depart for Malbork to visit the largest castle in Europe.

To get there, I walked to the tram stop which took me to the station where I took the train to Malbork.

Arriving at 12:25 pm, I looked for a milk bar where I ate the Barzcsc beet soup and Pierogis for € 3.

Then I went to visit this big red brick castle which is located by the Nogat river.

After taking a walk, I went back to train and tram at home to prepare for departure from tomorrow morning.

I also looked for my accommodation for tomorrow evening.

Day 11: Arrival in Poznan and Visit

Departure for Poznan, the former capital of Poland. Get up at 5:45 am to get ready and take a bus which brought me to the station where I took another bus to Poznan.

Arriving in Poznan I walked 1.5 km with my suitcase and my big backpack to reach my hostel. I found it fairly easily. The hostel is on the 3rd floor of a building, of course, without a lift. Arriving at the reception I couldn’t take it anymore. There lady showed me my room and explained everything to me. Very nice place.

Then I left to explore this city and especially eat because it is 1:30 p.m. , the lady climbed on a chair to show me what she proposed as various Naleskini. I asked her for the best and the most representative of Poland. I saw my plate arrived with 2 huge pancakes and a whipped cream with a hot red fruit coulis. In my head I say to myself, a good hot salty dish that looks super good. I tasted it and there surprise it was sweet. It’s a kind of pancake stuffed with sweet cottage cheese. So I ate a starter and a dessert that day.

Then I went to roam the streets to discover this city. A very pretty town in the center but where you can still see the marks of war. I could attend a concert in a modern square.

And I went back to the hotel to rest a little bit in order to discover this city at night. I had a good meal: Beer Zymiec, pasta and placki (specialty from there which is a kind of potato pancake with onions).

And I went out to the old town where I attended the end of an acrobatics show. I sat on the terrace of coffee and I had a glass of bison grass vodka Zubrowka. The most famous and the best according to the sayings of Polish. I asked for the bill from the waiter who started to speak French.

Then I came back exhausted to my room.

Day 12: Departure for Lublin

Today this is the departure for Lublin, the last destination of my journey.

In the morning I strolled through the streets of Poznan and sunbathed in a beautiful park.

Then I went back to eat and took the way to the bus station.

There big problem, a roulette of my suitcase does not hold any more, it is difficult to pull it. In addition on 1.5km. But I’m too strong so here I come. There I found my bus. The driver laughed at my little voice. I got on the bus but I couldn’t find my place then I was asked the driver who laughed a again from me.

Then I left for Warsaw where I arrived at 6.30pm with the rain.

I have took the metro which took me to the other bus stop where I took something to eat in a store where the saleswoman was very nice to me.

Then a man entered the store and kissed my hand. When he came out, he did the same thing by speaking to me in Polish. Then I looked for my bus to Lublin.

There I met a guy who was looking for the same bus as me and with whom I talked for a while. He invited me to visit his museum on Tuesday.

Then I took the bus in the rain.

Arrival in Lublin around midnight I took a taxi which brought me to the place where I booked. Seeing that I couldn’t find the number, I called my host who came to pick me up and who even carried my suitcase.

I settled in and we chatted for a while. I asked him how to go to Zamosc. He helped me find a solution. The best was blablacar. He made a request for me.

Then I went to bed.

Day 13: Visit of Zamosc

Alarm clock good enough time to visit Zamosc. My host tells me that the blablacar request was denied. He made me tea and looked for another blablacar. He phoned a gentleman to let him take me.

After having done that he tells me to hurry to take a bus which will lead to the carpool location. He accompanied me to the bus stop. I arrived just waiting.

Then I took the bus and I stopped at the bus stop he has told me.

He texted me saying he had contacted the carpooler and that he had given him all the directions.

And I took the carpool to Zamosc. There a very nice gentleman drove me to my destination. We exchanged during the whole trip and my host sent me a message to know if everything was going well.

I have visited for an hour and I was eaten at a restaurant a new specialty. It was duck with a sweet sauce with broccoli and vegetable croquettes. It is called Klacki and it’s very good. At the same time, I asked my host to find me a carpool for the return. He did nicely.

Then I went for a walk in a park where I stopped for a while to sunbathe.

And I decided to go taste it in a highly recommended place. I tasted a very special hot chocolate, it was thick and a very good meringue and ice cream cake.

Then I admired this beautiful place in the sun.

And I looked for the location of my carpool but I couldn’t find it so I put on the gps except that I had no more battery for that and my phone stopped. So I managed to turn it back on and I phoned my carpool so she could tell me. Very nice, she tells me that she comes to get me where I am. She arrived and led me to the front of my house. During the trip she started to speak French because she had studied the French language and adored France. She even invited me to her house for my next stay in Poland. Then I went home.

Day 14: Visit of Lublin

This morning woke up a little sad because it’s my last day in this country before returning to France.

I got ready to visit Lublin.

I first had a long chat with my host. During this exchange I asked him how much I owed him for yesterday’s carpool. He wanted to give it to me and didn’t want me to give it to him.

Then I was 2 km away to take my bus. I visited this very pretty city for a while and I went to eat on the Rynek in a good restaurant that my host had recommended to me.

I have ate one in case that was offered by the restaurant. It was of four slices of bread of two different kinds with two kinds of spread on it, one tasted like vinegar and the other looked like duck fat with crispies, and accompanied by pickles.

Then I took Golonka, a typical dish. It’s hot ham caramelized with half an onion and garlic, all cooked with two sauces, one tasted like mustard but was not not mustard and the other of several spices. And I took a typical dessert with a vanilla cream, crispi and pieces of apples called Jablecznik. All accompanied by rosé wine for taste another typical drink. Of course it was very good.

I set off again to roam the streets, buy a little vodka with the help of a store customer to choose the best one and I stopped in a pretty park. But not for long because the rain started to fall. I took shelter in a bar where I had a drink before leaving to take my bus.

Then after taking my bus and walking 2km I arrived at the House.

My host asked me which bus I will take tomorrow because he explains that he will take the same bus because he is leaving on a trip tomorrow from Warsaw.

Day 15: The return home

That there it is, the big start.

The host’s mother picked us up to take us to the bus which brought us to Warsaw.

We had time to chat with my host one last time.

Arrival in Warsaw, of course it was raining, we said goodbye and I went to get food. I stopped at a truck making burger in the parking lot where I arrived and where I had to take the shuttle to the airport. While i was eating a gentleman came to eat at my table and we chatted.

Then I asked her where my bus was for the airport. He explains to me then says to me: I have time, I will accompany you and carry your suitcase to the bus. And we went to find the bus. He put my suitcase on the bus and told me that if I want to come and spend holidays with him I am welcome.

After 45 minutes by bus I arrived at the airport where I did save my suitcase.

Oh my god! She weighed 20kg200. But the gentleman did not hold has 200g extra.

Then I went to control where I got caught in Polish because I forgot to take my pc out of the bag and my shoes as well as my sweater. One of the controllers said to me with a smile eh Vanessa!

Finally I waited for the boarding doors to open before I could get on the plane.

And we took off. I still love the plane as much.

Arrival In Toulouse I talked to a Polish girl on my trip. She gave me his business card so I could rent his apartment if I’m coming back to Poland.

And I took the tram. During the ride on the tram, a young man told me says what is there? I tell her I’m sorry but that I was looking at the route above that head because I don’t didn’t really know if it was the right tram. I explain my journey. He decided to help me carry my suitcase to the subway train.

Then I took the metro to join my carpooling.

I took my carpool and went home.

2) My ranking of places and restaurants

The 4 stars (essential)

Auschwitz: Once-in-a-lifetime visit. You can choose to do it with a guide, in which case it is chargeable, or do it without, in which case it is free. A shuttle takes you from camp to camp for free and quickly.  I highly recommend this visit  

Krakow  

Tatras: Nature lovers, very beautiful hikes available to you.

The 3 stars (to see)

Malbork

 Torun  

The Living Museum of Gingerbread: I recommend doing this museum because the visit is interactive and dynamic.  The guides immerse us in the magic of making gingerbread and its history.  I became a child again during the visit where I made my gingerbread with which I left.   

Zakopane

The 2 Stars (Not extraordinary)

Warsaw  

Wieliczka Salt Mine: Visit that I don’t necessarily recommend. I did not find it worth the detour.  Obligation to take the guided tour which is not necessarily in your language and we are quite numerous per group. The duration of the visit is correct.  When you buy your entrance tickets, you are offered the authorization to take photos and videos during the visit for around € 2. Especially not to take because even the people who have not paid the supplement, take the photos they want. It is not controlled.  

Gdansk  

Poznan  

Lublin  

Zamosc

3) Namely (timetables, money, capital, electricity)

Poland is a European country whose capital is Warsaw.  

The electrical outlets are the same as in France.  

The currency is the Zloty. 1 € = 4.24 Zloty

4) The memories to bring back

embroidery

 jewelry from North Sea amber  

bottles of vodka: Sywuchen and Żubrówka…  

Boleslawiec earthenware  

Koniakow lace  

“kierpce” (leather shoes) from Zakopane  

Silesian porcelain

 fabrics  crystal objects (such as vodka glasses)

 “oscypek”, cheese made from raw sheep’s milk  

“piernik torunski”, Torun gingerbread

5) Gastronomy

The entrees

Śledź: herring, generally marinated, optionally served in oil, with cream, onions or tomatoes. It is accompanied by a small glass of well-chilled vodka that whets your appetite. The best śledź are very tender.  

Tatar: steak tartare, served with salted pickles, an egg and a finely chopped onion. Avoid during the summer period.  

Surówka: red cabbage, white cabbage and grated carrots. An almost systematically winning third!

The soups

Barszcz: beet broth, often served with a pasztecik, a meat treat. Its sweet and sour taste confuses many, but when it’s homemade, it’s often delicious. Even if its name looks like, it is very different from the Russian bortch.

Grochówka: very thick pea soup, with bacon and pieces of spicy meat. Excellent in winter for warming up.  

Żurek: sour soup with rye flour, with pieces of sausage or bacon and various vegetables. Pure and hard eat it with a hard-boiled egg. It is often served in a hollow bread loaf.  

Flaki: tripe soup, very filling.

The dishes

Bigos: the Polish sauerkraut, to taste absolutely. Cabbage, meat, assorted cold meats, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes and dried prunes. The more it rested, the more flavorful it was.

Golonko: ham marinated in spices or beer, then simmered or cooked in broth.

Gołąbki: literally mean “lovebirds”. But if that (overall) looks like it, it’s not pigeon. These are cabbage leaves topped with a stuffing made from pork (sometimes beef), rice and onion.

Kaczka z jabłkami: duck stuffed with apples, often served with pyzys, large grated potato dumplings steamed (quite spongy). We dip the pieces of pyzy in duck juice.

Karp: carp. A thousand ways to prepare it, Polish, Jewish, jelly, always excellent.

Kotlet schabowy: breaded pork chop. It is the most popular meat dish in Poland.

Naleśniki: these are pancakes stuffed with all kinds of salty goodies (spinach, among others). Also exists as a dessert, with fresh cheese, with whipped cream. As there are crêperies in France, Poland counts its nalesnikarnie.

Pierogi: great and economical, these large ravioli are generally stuffed with potatoes and cottage cheese (pierogi ruskie) or cabbage (pierogi z kapustą) and / or mushrooms, more rarely with meat. Also exists in a sweet version (blueberries, strawberries …). The new pierogarnies are now playing the inventive card and are available in all ways. Be careful to differentiate the classic version, steamed, from the denser oven version, which is more like a slipper.

Zraz zawijany: beaten and rolled beef with smoked breast and salted pickles inside. Excellent, often served with kasza gryczana (buckwheat).

The desserts

Viennese pastry lovers will be spoiled

Sernik: cottage cheese cake (cheese cake, what …).

Makowiec: a cake rolled with poppy paste and amazing dried fruit (we are kidding …).

Jabłecznik: little cousin of szarlotka, an apple cake served with crème fraîche. The original recipe is the work of the mis-named confectioner Marie-Antoine Carême (French by trade), who created this sweetness in honor of the future Empress Charlotte (Szarlotka in Polish) of Russia.

Chrusty: carnival donuts reminiscent of the Lyon bugnes. Larger, they are called faworki. Classic donuts (round) are called ponchki.

The drinks

If the state still controls five producing companies, the rest is ironed in private hands – especially those of Pernod-Ricard, which bought the Wyborowa brand. The priority is now to quality. And, after tasting the flavors of best Polish vodkas, it’s a safe bet that you will delicacy on pale versions, substitutes which are sold in the shelves of western European supermarkets.

In Poland, there are no less than 80 types different from vodkas

The most famous brand (literally and figuratively) is the Żubrówka, bison grass vodka, produced in Białowieża. Like her cousin produced in Łancut, each bottle incorporates a blade of this herb steppes – scented, say the wrong tongues, in urine of the animal … Notice to cocktail lovers: its notes of vanilla and light almond (cinnamon for the Wisent) go very well with apple juice. The Biała Dama (” white lady ”) by Polmos Łańcut alludes to the ghost of Julia Potocka, one of the most beautiful women of the 18th century, died of tuberculosis at 30 years old. Vodka flows through the veins of the family for more than 2 centuries, and the Potocki, taken over by a descendant, remains today a benchmark, much appreciated by the jet set! Besides Wyborowa (best known for export) and Luksusowa, let’s also mention Żołądkowa Gorzka produced in Lublin, a vodka with herbs, spices and dried fruits ideally served as a digestif. More brandy than vodka, Śliwowica, reminiscent of rakia from southern Europe, is a plum liqueur which titer 70-80 °. Finally, there is better (or worse!): Spirytus Rektifikowany (rectified alcohol) which titers up to 95 ° and that some people have the bad idea of ​​drinking as it is …

Be aware that, in urban areas, vodka tends more and more to be supplanted by imported spirits (eminently more chic and much more expensive in Poland), in particular whiskey.

6) Traveling as a single woman

It is a safe country where a single woman can travel without problems.