Sunday 10-4-09 Zakopane to Slovakia for a swim
Hank Guzevich is a great trumpet player. He is the leader of a fun polka band - Polka Family Band. The band plays all over the country. He is also an accomplished classical trumpet player which he learned on his own by playing and talking with people about music.
One evening after dinner we walked down the colorful streets of Zakopane. Music spilled out from the doorways of small cafes and larger restaurants. Musicians played Polish mountain music which included an accordion or a couple of fiddles and bass violin or cello. It was fast paced. Strong voices sang verse after verse of songs to mesmerize the people listening.
These places had open fires cooking pork or beef turning slowly on a spits along with juicy sausage. Potatoes were wrapped in tin foil and baked along with the meats. The bars poured glasses of beer. Zywiec (pronounced jgyviets) is the most popular brand.
Few people dance along with the music as it is mostly for listening. Those who do dance in these crowded bars, dance with such quick steps to track the music that it is almost a blur to watch their feet.
The restaurant one evening - Bakowa Zohylina had five musicians playing interesting music created from influences of Polish, Slavic, Hungarian and Russian sometimes at the same time. One violin took the lead and a couple other violins played melodies round the lead player. The bass violin kept the beat while a piano shaped dolcimar whipped out another beat and melody. Interesting creative and fun. Polish mountain music jazz.
Food was serviced on blond unfinished tables and included ham, lamb, fried potatoes and several polish salads; cucumber, tomato, carrot and of course dill pickles. Desserts were delights of small pieces of cheesecakes, blueberry (blue through and through) cake and cakes with layers of apple. The drink this evening was mountain tea that included high octane spirits.
On Monday 10-5-09 we took a short 7 -8 mile drive to the countryside outside of Zakopane to Cho Cholow to look through a humble museum depicting how people of Poland lived at about the turn of the century. We saw spinning wheels and great large wooden vats about four foot across used to make up sauerkraut. The small single bed was shared by husband and wife. A cradle hang above the bed from ropes for the baby.
In the next room was a father (Jan Zieden) and son carving wood. We are all creched -up now with the most delightful carved music box. Hope it makes it back home.
Off to Slovakia on Monday 10-5-09
We went across the border to Slovakia to the Meadows which is a water park right at the base of a ski area. For 10 Euros ($15) you can play all day or at least a couple of hours. We debated whether to go or not and finally decided to throw caution to the wind and pay the fee to enter. They gave you a plastic bracelet that is used on the scanner to determine your locker # and open and close the assign locker as well as run charges when buying food at the snack bar. Very high tech for me as I haven't been to a water park since they gave us a pin we pinned on our swim suit and a basket to hold our clothes.
These locker rooms re co-ed. Europeans are not as modest as Americans. Some just change right by the lockers. Americans load up the lockers with stuff, grab their swim suit and rush shyly to the changing rooms. Aren't we silly really? Then lock the rest our clothes back up and off to the pools.
Bubbles are everywhere timed like a symphony. The four and a half foot deep poll has a part built so you can lay down on slanted tiles while the bobbles come on. It is a delight for the body.
The next pool was filled with different minerals rich with sulfur supposedly good for the joints. My knees and hands feel fine so maybe it did some good.
There is also a big wave pool and one for swimming laps. The slide was off today as it is at the end of the season.
The small villages are filled with interesting houses and steep roofs.
U Zieby restaurant had the best food and great music
Itineary:
Excursion to Slovak Republic. Don’t forget your bathing suit !!
Day to relax and enjoy the benefits of the hot springs in Oravice.
Afternoon return to Zakopane . Free time to purchase some local souvenirs .
7.00 pm . Dinner at “U Zieby “ with bon-fire & polka party !
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