Guess where I am

Guess where the pictures were taken! 

With many thanks to my dear student Aneta Jakubaszek who kindy agreed for the above photographs to be published on this site! 

Any reason is a good reason...

"When live abroad you are more likely to lose your existing friends than you make new ones". How many of you are nodding heads and saying uh- huh??

As a rule, I am not afraid of making friends with other people. As a rule, I don't judge them by their rank, class, occupation or physical appearance. Whoever they are, I am pretty much all the time willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Off to a good start! Perhaps this is it; my small contribution to the big, ongoing global discussion on tolerance and non-segregation. 

Being an immigrant as much as it gives you a chance to make friends with people from a number of countries and origins, it also makes you see your own nation from a completely different angle. They say that you do not acknowledge what is right in front of you, until you do not have it anymore. Common saying and completely true in this case. 

When I first emigrated, I felt really lucky to be able to engage in social groups with other cultures and thought there are real chances that some of these relationships may turn into a real friendship which, when so far away from home, I needed quite badly. When starting a new life overseas, people usually begin to seek some similarities in their new environment; something that either reminds them of their old life or gives them sense of belonging to the new one. For instance, those who were close to family and friends in their home country try to surround themselves with as many new faces as they possibly can so it feels like home. 

With special thanks to my super talented sister -in- law, Beata Wiktorowska, who kindly drew these beautiful pictures for me. Enjoy!                                

And that is exactly what we Poles do. Try to make friends. 

I must admit that over the past few years my views on friendship underwent a drastic change and now I choose friends wisely. I may have only a few but they are "carefully selected" and definitely tick all the boxes! Here is why I praise my Polish friends so much:

• they may not be the smiley faces and chattiest people in the world but this is not what I look for when making real friends, 
• extremely reliable and trustworthy. 
• catch up meetings are organised around dinner table so you can freely eat and drink as much as you like while you are talking (it always leaves me in a good mood!)
• no biting around the bush. You will instantly know whether you are truly friends with them
• they are hard on the outside but soft on the inside. Warm and charming people when you really get to know them, 
• sincere. Luckily we are not trapped by etiquette and social conventions so you always know exactly where we stand
• people of more discreet character. They may seem to be guarded and do not open up easily, though I don't know what is worse: not saying too much or telling other people your whole life story within the first 5 minutes after you met them??

Whatever reason you choose to start making great friends with Poles who live all around the world, whether you search for fun, laughter, support or inspiration, I encourage you to give it a go!

** ** Let's make love, food and Christmas magic! ** **

Are you all ready for Christmas yet? Before the moment of festive magic starts for good, I hope you take a short break from last minute Christmas rush, sit with your feet up and let me wish you a holly jolly Christmas this year! May your Christmas be white and filled with many happy memories. May you spend this festive season at home surrounded by family and those you love and care about. 

Let's create this Christmas magic through following traditions, making great food and sharing the love. At last, it is the time of a year when you let your h-e-a-r-t, and nothing else, do the thinking! 

From all my heart, to every reader of Everything Polish, I am wishing a truly merry Christmas. May all your Christmas wishes come true this year! xxx

Handmade is Hot!

It is this time of a year again. Christmas is coming and you know exactly what that means - Christmas shopping! With this festive season fast approaching, I thought I would make a list of unique gift ideas and inspire you to have a look at some awesome handicraft stuff. I am so excited to share with you the beautiful modern art with a traditional Polish touch which just stole my heart away! 

Buying presents can truly be a great fun as long as we change in our heads the perception of gifts as such. For some people gifts are only physical objects which are exchanged during Christmas when in fact giving a present has always got a meaning and always shows our true intentions. Obviously they are people whom we buy usual boring gifts, but I think that our loved ones deserve to be snowed under more personal, meaningful presents. Ironically, the best presents do not cost a fortune.

If you think your partner wouldn't bear getting another pair of men's novelty Christmas socks and you cannot think of anything worse than getting another hot bottle warmer or set of PJs, this post will surely be helpful. A unique look and value for money were the two main criteria which determined mine choice. Here's the list and details of where to look for more original Polish handmade Christmas gift ideas:

1. Beautifully hand painted porcelain tea cups by talented Polish lady, Hania Jakubiec. And yes, I am a massive fan of her folky designs already! Morning tea must taste like heaven when you drink it in such a sweet gorgeous candy easy on the eye cup. For me - a real masterpiece! 

in red - red roses tea cups

in blue - blue roses

the shadows of grey

a red roses tea set 

a red rose and gold flower combination tea set

and a beautifully wrapped wedding gift 

With many thanks to Hania Jakubiec (Malowanki Hanki blog), the author of the above photographs who kindly agreed for them to be published on this site. For more exciting photos of  hand painted cups, dinner sets, shot glasses, clothing and eco bags, all decorated with traditional Polish folk designs, mainly ethnic floral motifs visit Hania's official fanpage on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Malowanki-Hanki/286532751462828?fref=ts or follow her blog: folkifashion.blogspot.com. 

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2. Handmade vintage crochet and embroidered designs by Ania Szwarc. I have to say this. Ania gets my immediate admiration for cultivating basis for these Polish craft traditions that are slowly dying out in the contemporary world. I absolutely love the quality and great care for details. Just imagine snuggling down under fluffy handmade blanket on a cold wintry night with chilly winds howling outside your window. Just the idea of it has warmed me up! lol And if you are a fan of vintage, this is definitely your perfect choice.  

With many thanks to Ania Szwarc (Kot Bury blog), the author of the below photographs who kindly agreed for them to be published on this site. For more artistic photos of handmade crochet cushion covers, beautiful cuddly knitted soft toys, hand made house decorations, accessories, extraordinary crochet throws and blankets  visit Ania's official fanpage on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kot.bury or follow her blog: http://kotburykot.blogspot.co.uk/

 Halloween house decorations

crochet cat face keyrings

hand knitted purses

and finally a crochet bed throw

3. And last but not least, one of women best friends - jewels! lol I still cannot express enough of my admiration to astonishing personal creations by Izabela Stachnik. How clever can one be to do such great gifts out of nothing, basically? All she needs is a handful of beads, she says. A variety of unusual beading patterns, a range of colours and skillful hands when put together can do a real magic! A high quality and contemporary look made this jewellery an absolute timeless hit. Any woman who gets such a nice Christmas prezzie would surely love you to the moon and back!

For more artistic photos of amazing works including: handicraft artistic jewellery, stained glass, handmade table lamps, handcrafted folky keyrings, handmade animal felt hand warmers visit Venabell handicraft gallery: http://www.venabell.com or its official fanpage on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/venabellshop?fref=ts. With many thanks to Izabela Stachnik (Venabell handicraft gallery), the author of the below photographs who kindly agreed for them to be published on this site. 

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever tried to measure how many positive vibes one can trigger by treating their loved ones with a carefully chosen meaningful gift??? For now, myself and Agatha (below) are wishing you lots ofun doing your Christmas shopping! xxx

Yet again, many thanks to Izabela Stachnik (Venabell handicraft gallery), the author of the above photograph who kindly agreed for it to be published on this site. 

A place that makes a culinary difference - Kaliszki Manor in Mazury

After a full day of exploring the great outdoors, you may feel like satisfying your appetite on the savory aromas and local dishes prepared by talented chefs. My proposal? Kaliszki Manor in Biała Piska. A carefully renovated 19th century mansion with stylish interiors, great food and beautiful surroundings. A complex combining 4 star hotel, a restaurant, tea room, drink bar and SPA guarantees a stay worth every penny! 

A few words about the restaurant. Although it is posh, you will be nicely surprised by how much high standard cuisine you can get for a very reasonable price. The owners of Kaliszki Manor's promote healthy, eco-lifestyle and the dishes so much reflect these fascinations. In the menu, you will find nothing but traditional, regional Masurian dishes prepared with a great care, made from organic products from the local forests and manor's private herb, fruit and veg garden. Simply great food experience. What I particularly appreciate about the place is the fact it serves food for people having strong food allergies and those whose diets are restricted by celiac disease. The staff is so polite and flexible that you do not feel awkward asking for a low-fat, low-salt or gluten-free dish cooked and served especially for you. This was the main reason for awarding Kaliszki Manor restaurant with many county cuisine awards (among them membership of European Network of Regional Culinary Heritage, for more details click the link below:

http://www.culinary-heritage.com/foretag.asp?regionid=53&foretagid=3355#.UpJlK9I72OI

With many thanks to the owners and management team of Kaliszki Manor, who kindly agreed for all the pictures to be published on this site. For more super tasty photographs and information about Kaliszki Manor visit the official website: http://www.dworkaliszki.pl

The chefs ensure their dishes are seasonal and always involve those tastes we ling for: a taste of traditional preserves made of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, homemade bread, a selection of wines, delicious fresh fish, duck meat stuffed dumplings or game so rarely served in current restaurants. All in all, fine organic food that has nothing in common with what we daily see in stores. 

If travelling around Masurian Lake District, I do hope you pay a visit in this exceptionally beautiful place. I wish it became a part of a rewarding experience providing you with a lifetime of rich flavours and memories. "Kaliszki Manor- a place worth staying longer..."

Thanks for stopping by in Pasym!

When travelling along the borders of Masurian Lake District, you are more than welcome to pop in to Pasym. Here, in the oldest town in the region time hangs heavily and unlike big and noisy tourist resorts, Pasym upon Kalwa Lake is the Mazury where you can just sit and savour the silence. You may like to pop in to the local fish market in the morning, talk to the owner of the only store in town or simply find spare hour for a good read. A good read like "Dom nad rozlewiskiem" by Malgorzata Kalicinska with a great setting and enjoyable characters. Well written, accurate and engaging fiction bringing some sunshine and simplicity to our busy lives.

Pasym  - with many thanks to Mieczyslaw Wieliczko, the author of the above photograph, who kindly agreed for it to be published on this site. For more photographs by Mieczyslaw visit his official website: www.wieliczko.com.pl.

I must say that my taste in places and ways of unwinding underwent a drastic change. It probably happened around the same time I started to live in a city. So, I will be the first to pre-warn you that my suggestions may seem déclassé to some but that is the way I am. Instead of recommending shiny disco clubs, I would rather persuade you to stay in a distant place, find a good book and pair it with a fine hammock and shady lawn. Or simply enjoy the water splash and rock the boat in the moonlight shadow... 

That is how you make the sweetest memories you wish to hide away, cherish forever and never let them fade away :) xoxox

Kalwa Lake - with many thanks to "Oleszka", the author of the above photographs, who kindly agreed for them to be published on this site. For more photographs and Oleszka's adventures, follow her blog: http://wildand3.blogspot.co.uk. 

Mazury - away from the hustle and bustle...

Finally, I am able to do what I have wanted to do for a long, long time: to fill you in with more info about the beauty spots of Poland! And I am so excited to share the beautiful pictures with you too!

I was skimming through holiday brochures looking for Poland's top holiday destinations. The place away from the hustle and bustle of city life where we can enjoy the peace and tranquility is what I want! 

Here comes the Great Masurian Lake District - my perfect choice. A mystic land offering it all: peace, bliss, tranquility... no crowds, no traffic or no network, if you decide to venture deep into the landscape park. On the top of everything else, exceptionally beautiful surroundings and plenty opportunities to get closer to nature, simple and unspoilt. A truly special place where you can enjoy the delights of the richest wildlife areas of Poland, the freshest air and fresh fish served straight from the clear waters of Masurian lakes. I have been there before but next summer I'd like to come back for more. The region on its own is so big that any nature spotting enthusiasts can easily spend each year's holidays and there still will be plenty left to explore. 

Beautiful surroundings like these, you can see here in every corner:

With many thanks to Jacek Fałatowicz, the author of the above photographs, who kindly agreed for them to be published on this site. For more photographs by Jacek visit his official website: www.jacekfalatowicz.pl. 

(above: Dadaj Lake)

With many thanks to Mieczyslaw Wieliczko, the author of the above photographs, who kindly agreed for them to be published on this site. For more photographs by Mieczyslaw visit his official website: www.wieliczko.com.pl.

You must know that Mazury (Polish for Masuria) is the place every Pole takes a real pleasure in praising shamelessly. I couldn't not to join in as I genuinely think this place is worth even more positive attention! I am aware that it seems almost impossible to exhaust the topic, although I will try to include as much information as I can in the 3 consecutive posts which create, (the words are probably too big), "a small Masurian saga" :) At the same time, I promise I will put in an honest effort to come back to the subject and make a photographic statement of my next trip to Mazury.

I believe in strong arguments. Here're a couple:

- Firstly, this is a reasonable choice for everyone, no matter of your age, preferences or size of your wallet. Literally everyone will find something special to do! If you are a man / woman of leisure, you can book one of the finest luxurious Masurian Lake District hotels offering spa and golf facilities (eg. Hotel Młyn Klekotki in Godkow or Golebiewski Hotel in Mikolajki) or one of the pleasant restored manor houses like the one in Kaliszki. If you are of rather primitive nature, there is a big choice of camping, campering, cottages rentals and B&Bs. Sometimes it is worth just to pack away a tent together with a good camping equipment and start an out of schedule trip...

- Secondly, outstanding natural beauty, nature reserves and wildlife. The Masurian Landscape Park covering over 500 km² of lakes, rivers, canals, forests and 11 nature reserves is the oldest in Poland. A few special places worth visiting are: 

* Łuknajo Lake which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is a must! This shallow (only 0.6 metres deep) freshwater lake is a shelter for the largest in Europe surviving community of mute swans and home for other rare bird species including waterfowls and raptors. Already in 1930s, the area was put under special protection being a place of international importace. A true paradise for ornithologists and other nature lovers!  To read more about Łuknajo Lake Reserve: http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=POL+03&mode=all

* The Borecka Pushcha forest with a breeding station for European Bisons. A real gem! Not everyone knows that this is an incredibly valuable nature corner of the entire continent. This large primeval forest complex offers a plenty of nature spotting opportunities: you can trace here: bizons, elks, red deers, packs of wolves, wild boars, beavers or lynxes. To find out more about a great safari experience in Puszcza Borecka click on: http://www.skyscanner.net/news/5-european-safaris-take-walk-europe-s-wild-side

* Krutynia Kayak Trail - one of the most unique waterways in Old Continent. Measuring almost 100 km, offering a variety of attactions ranging from: a varied tracks, through the opportunity to see the wealth of the surrounding natural beauty to a night spent on the desert island,  Krutynia Kayak Trail is believed to be one of the most stunning outdoor activities you can experience in Masurian Landscape Park. To read more about these picturesque kayak safaris click on: http://www.poland.travel/en-gb/tourist-route/kayak-trail-on-the-river-krutynia

- You can't really get bored in here with the entertainment operating all year round. In summer, Mazury with over 2.000 lakes, beautiful forests and picturesque meadows is a paradise for a variety of outdoor and recreational activities including hiking, fishing, kayaking, sailing, horse riding, cycling, strolling on moonlight nature walks or picnicking alongside one of many stunning lakes in the the region.

- In winter time, the lakeland offers a great opportunities for diving under the ice (the clarity of water reaches its highest note with visability of 10 metres!), fishing, sleigh rides, ice sailing or cross country skiing (it may come as a surprise but the truth is, in order to satisfy all tourist appetites, Mazury easily turns into a real winterland meeting the standards of Zakopane, for instance. All outdoors attractions are reasonably priced plus most of the luxurious resorts are cheaper in winter season so why not to give it a go? To read more about skiing in Mazury:  http://www.poland.travel/en/skiing-and-snowboarding/skiing-in-the-warmia-mazury-region

This is the end of part 1. Over the next days few check out  for parts 2 and 3. Bye for now! I'm leaving you with the beautiful pictures of Masurian lakes by Mieczyslaw Wieliczko! Enjoyyyy!

(above) Sniadrwy Lake

Kisajno Lake

Yet again, many thanks to Mieczyslaw Wieliczko, the author of the above photographs, who kindly agreed for them to be published on this site. For more photographs by Mieczyslaw visit his official website: www.wieliczko.com.pl.