Greetings from Poland and a Day to Forget!!!

Apologies for not blogging earlier however the lack of internet connections had made it impossible, but not for lack of trying!!!

Tuesday morning brought us the opportunity of either mountain climbing, relaxing at the resort and walking around the beautiful lake with its incredible scenery or traveling to the "wonderful" town of Zakopane, Poland. If anyone sees a sign for Zakopane with a line through it, please forward it on to me because the word Zakopane is now considered a four letter word in my vocabulary!!!

The day started off wonderfully...Kathy Stenach dropped her glass in the bathroom and shattered it and Polly flooded the bathroom because she couldn't figure out how to use the European shower heads. After using every available towel in the bathroom to clean up the mess, it was Emily's turn to take a shower and she proceeded to re-flood the bathroom!

We finally found our group that was heading to Zakopane and started off an hour late! We decided this time that George Chakot would be our navigator and Polly our driver. Three and one half hours later, after missing several turns, taking various U-turns (the same one twice) and backing up on many occasions, we finally made our three car caravan to the village of Zakopane for a little shopping but not before we went through the village of Huncovce where Karen Varian called our car and said to look for the wooden Rusyn church. After not being able to find one, we stopped and in my best Slovak I asked a gentleman where the church was. He insisted there was none, just a Catholic church and a Protestant one. But of course we insisted that there MUST be a wooden one somewhere. It took him a few minutes but then he told us that the church we were looking for was in Hunkovce, not Huncovce...details!!!. When we finally got to Zakopnae the place was a zoo! We all had to park in three different spots and met up at the center of town. Of course by this time we all had to use the WC (water closet) so we stood in line at McDonald's. Using the facilities in Europe usually requires payment or a purchase at an establishment so I dutifully bought my bottle of water and took a place in line. I was then informed that no one was really monitoring it and it was on the honor system...people were just holding the door open for the next person. Great! I was next in line and the Gestapo shows up and demands that I pay to use the room. I flashed the receipt in her face and headed into the WC.

In the meantime, we all needed to find an ATM so that we could get some Polish currency for our fabulous purchases that we were about to make. ATM machine #1 worked fine for Polly but did not for the rest of the crew. We finally found another one and everyone else got their dough!

By this time we were also very hungry and found a place that served shish kebobs. About the time our food was ready it started to rain. Oh, did I mention this place was outside??? So, after sitting in a slight drizzle for a few minutes we opted to go inside to finish our meal. As we were leaving, the downpour started...and kept going...and going...and going...and going. We sought shelter under a vendors booth. After realizing that we were going to spend the rest of our lives there as the rain would not let up we decided to make a dash for the car.

In the meantime, it was obvious that we were going to be delayed in returning to Strbske Pleso so I needed to call the hotel to inform them that Dede was not going to be back in time for her massage. After trying to track down the number of the hotel, I called and explained to the gentleman that I needed to reschedule a massage. He seemed a little confused and finally told me that I was talking to the Patria Company in Bratislava and NOT the Patria Hotel. I hope I made his day!!!

So, after driving 3 1/2 hours to use the WC at McDonald's and eat a shish kebob we headed home as we had dinner reservations at the Koliba. The ride home was pleasant as we fought for space on the roadway with horses and we all laughed at how the day went and tried to deal with smelly, wet shoes. Polly had decided to wash her clothes in the morning and her only clean outfit was a victim of the morning shower flood so upon arriving at the hotel had to borrow an outfit from Sue to wear to dinner.

The day ended on a high note with our lovely dinner at the Koliba complete with musical accompanyment. We sang, danced and sang Many Years to a German couple celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary.

So...will someone PLEASE find that darn Zakopane sign and send it to me!! Oh...and remind me to never go back there again!!!