Christmas in Poland

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Merry Christmas from Poland! On Wednesday, Dec. 24th, I took the train from Wroclaw to Kostrzyn Nad Odra to meet Rick and Jakub, 2 of Bri's college friends. Jakub is Polish (went to high school and college in the US, now works in DC) and his family still lives in Poland. Jakub's family was very welcoming and I enjoyed my few days in their home.

The train was quite full on the journey to Kostrzyn - I had to stand next to the door (cold!) for the first half of the 5 hour trip - but I got a seat after a number of passengers got off in Zielona Gora.

The big Christmas celebration happens on the 24th in Poland. Dinner consists of 12 dishes (not meat), including 5 fish specialties. The Konysz menu consisted of barszcz (beetroot soup), herring soup, pickled carp, fried carp, baked carp and jellied carp.

After dinner, St. Mikolaja came to bring 3-year-old Szymon his presents. Ol Mikolaja had some presents for me, which was a nice surprise.

On Christmas day, we had more food, including Golabki, a Polish dish of meat and rice rolled into a cabbage leaf. We also went to a church service in Kostrzyn with Jakub's family and then played card games.

It was a lovely holiday with many thoughtful cards, packages, emails and texts from friends and family around the world. Thanks to all for making my holidays special.

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Photos

Wroclaw Christmas Tree
Chelsea and Marika in front of the tree

Christmas market
Christmas market in the Wroclaw Rynek. A sort of holiday carnival with rides, food, hot wine and trinkets.

Santa visits
Jakub's dad plays Santa for Jakub's nephew.

Bri's surprise present!
Bri mailed rick a present to bring to me in Poland. (and I'm wearing the scarf Rick and Jakub gave me).

Konysz family
Jola, Jakub, Dorota - my kind hosts.

Americans in Poland
Ricky and Chelsea at the Konysz home for Christmas.

Christmas (Eve) Dinner
Rick and Chelsea with Jakub's brother Bartek in the background. Please note the jellied fish. Mmmm.

Home away from home
Rick, Chelsea, Jakub and Gaja

Walk along the Odra River in Kostrzyn
Kasia, Bartek, Chelsea, Jakub and Szymon

Santa packing the heat
Only in Poland

Outside the Wroclaw museum
When Jocelyn from Gliwice came to visit, we did the touristy/museum thing.

Wroclaw University
Interesting. Was mostly destroyed in WWII, but beautifully rebuilt.

On top of the World!
Observation tower at Wroclaw University.

Pretty doors
Wroclaw University

Ridin' them broncos
Or goats, whatever. Butcher street in Wroclaw - art galleries/pubs/etc.

With my peeps
Butcher Street

They're not going anywhere
Near the train station. These poor souls walk out of the cement on the other side of the street.