Travel

Smok Wawelski, the Wawel Dragon

April 20, 2018 by polishhousewife 2 Comments

No trip to Krakow is complete without a visit to see Smok Wawelski, the Wawel Dragon, or more accurately, a visit to see the bronze statue which commemorates the dragon of Polish mythology. Along the Vistula River, Smok is located in front of his cave at the foot of Wawel (pronounced VAH-vehl) Hill, home to Wawel Cathedreal and Wawel Castle. The statue which stands on a limestone boulder is 6 meters high or over 20 feet. Designed by Polish sculptor, Bronislaw Chromy, it was installed in 1972.

When I first saw Smok, it appeared to be waving six arms. Since then, I’ve read that the statue actually has seven heads. Those arms are actually long necks holding the six smaller heads.

To make it especially interesting, this is a fire-breathing statue of a dragon. Once every 5 minutes, flames, made possible by a natural gas nozzle, shoot out of the dragon’s mouth. A recently added feature allows visitors to call up the flame by sending “SMOK” via SMS (text message) to 7168.

The Legend of Smok Wawelski, the Wawel Dragon

What led to the propensity of dragons in mythology? Whether is was giant crocodiles roaming far more of the earth or the frightening discovery of dinosaur skeletons, it seems like everyone has a dragon, and Poland is no exception.

The mythilcal dragon required weekly offerings of livestock because without them, it terrorized the locals, ransacked their homes and devoured their animals and their daughters. Most versions of this story have King Krakus who lived in the 8th century (or possibly his sons) slaying the dragon by offering it a lamb or a calf stuffed with sulfur.

The sulfur burned the dragon’s insides so that it drank too much water from the Vistula River and exploded. One of the earliest tellings of this story is credited to Wincenty Kadlubek, Bishop of Krakow from 1208 – 1218. He was a noted historian and prolific writer. Scholars try to offer explanation for the legend. Simply a war against evil, or possibly the dragon was representative of hostile people living on the hill? In any case, there are giant bones hanging at the entrance to the cathedral, originally thought to be dragon bones. Scientists have since identified them as belonging to a whale, wooly mammoth, etc.

Another common theme (similar to one associated with San Xavier del Bac in my home area) when the bones drop, it will signify the end of the earth. On that solemn note, I’ll wish you well until next time.

Do zobaczenia!

Lois

Thanksgiving in Poland — Expat Holidays

November 10, 2017 by polishhousewife 4 Comments

Thanksgiving is one American holiday that hasn’t crept into Polish culture. The fourth Thursday in November is just another work and school day. It’s a strange feeling to know that your loved ones are gathering on the other side of the world without you. That your extended family’s day will be one of familiar and special traditions while all around you, everyone else is carrying on with their normal day-to-day life. We had several Thankgsgivings in Poland, and celebrated in a lot of different ways. I can’t say that a Thanksgiving abroad is better than one at home surrounded by loved ones; it is different but can be just as memorable.

I didn’t plan anything for Thanksgiving our last year in Poland, but at the last minute, we received two invitations for early Thanksgiving meals on Saturday. They were at different times, so we threw caution and calories to the wind and decided to do both.

Our first meal was with the Poznan International Church, a potluck meal with a very international flavor. There was, of course, turkey. Brooke, my friend from Arizona made sweet potatoes; we brought stuffing, And now it gets interesting; it was an international crowd as the name of the congregation suggests. We had two Indian dishes, some kind of spicy potato dumpling, and and spicy rice. Ed told Prethi, our hostess, it was the best rice he’d ever eaten. I hope she doesn’t think he was exaggerating; he was quite serious. Lots of pies and cakes, and an enourmous tiramisu for dessert. Then we hopped on the tram to make our way to Turkey dinner #2.

It’s customary to remove your shoes when entering a home – the collection as we were leaving turkey dinner #1

Dinner #2 at Sweet Surrender

Our second meal was with the staff and church family at Sweet Surrender, a ministry coffee shop where I used to volunteer in the kitchen. Our friends Monika (our Polish teacher) and James cooked all day, and again it was an international potluck, with favorites from the USA and as far east as Russia and Kazakstan. I would guess that James is in his mid-twenties. Armed with a degree in Christian Education, he’d come to Poland for a year of coffee shop ministry at Sweet Surrender. Shortly after his arrival, he found himself in charge of the coffee shop and the church. So he was part coffee shop manager, part pastor. He’s a very sharp young man and was up to the tasks.

I was so moved by the simple words he shared before we broke bread. It’s not the food on the plate that matters but the people around the table. He wanted everyone to know that he loved us and that Sweet Surrender loves us. Then he read Bible verses about always giving thanks. 1Thessalonians 5:16-18, maybe? Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Amen!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lois

PS – other Thanksgiving posts

An evening meal (after work for our husbands and school for her sons) with my friend Caroline & her family

One year, all of the American’s from Ed’s office took the week off for a road trip

My First eBook, Berlin Insider Travel Tips

September 29, 2017 by polishhousewife 6 Comments

Personal recommendations to help you make the most of your time in Berlin!

Sneak peak from Where to Eat & Drink–

Buy it now on Amazon!

Markthalle Neun on Thursday nights you can join Berlin hipsters for this street food happening. Everything you can imagine from the traditional Berlin meatballs to a Korean “hotdog.” This historic market hall, dating back to the 1800s, is packed with every kind of food and drink vendor. Pay a small deposit on the glass and wander the aisles while sipping your beer or wine. On Friday and Saturday during the day it’s a traditional farmer’s market.

Introduction

During the five years that my husband worked in Poland, I’ll bet we’ve been to Berlin 15-20 times, and we’ve only scratched the surface. In case you don’t have the luxury of living just three hours away, here are my tips for sightseeing in Berlin to help you make the most of your time. This started off as a very long email to a friend who was planning to spend a few days in Berlin after she’d asked for advice on what to see and do.

Isn’t the best travel advice, that from a friend who has already been there? These are outings we’ve had in Berlin, some of them many times because we’ve wanted to share the experience with family and friends who were visiting.

I often feel overwhelmed by traditional guidebooks with a hundred or more offerings for a city the size of Berlin. I won’t presume to know your special interests and give you sample itineraries that cram six, seven or even eight things into your day. It’s just not realistic. I usually feel that it’s been a full day if we fit in two or three sightseeing activities with a little shopping.

You need to take time for meals and to travel between locations. I hope you’ll take some time to sit outdoors at one of the many cafes or coffee shops. That’s an important part of any European experience, watching the people go by and imagining their stories.

Amazon Reviews

Go visit Berlin, and take this book with you!
What a great little book to read before planning a trip to Berlin.
. . . a useful read whether you’ve been to Berlin before or not. . .

If you’ve bought Berlin: Insider Travel Tips and found the information helpful in your travel or just an interesting read, please do leave a review on Amazon. It really does help a publication get noticed in the sea of millions. Many thanks!

Leaving Poland, not Polish Housewife

December 6, 2014 by polishhousewife 12 Comments

If you follow Polish Housewife’s facebook page, you’ve probably picked up on the fact that we’re leaving Poland. After five years, it feels like Ed has taught the Polish Air Force all that he can, so we are headed back to the United States. We’re leaving Poland, but not leaving Polish Housewife. I’ll continue to blog about what I’m cooking, much of it Polish. I’ll also write about things that I find interesting in daily life or in our travels just as I’ve done while we’ve been in Poland. I also have a wealth of connections in Poland that I hope will write occasional guest posts for me.

We began the countdown in August; we’re getting close!

Leaving Poland

The ball is rolling. The our household goods have been shipped. The keys to our flat have been returned to the landlord. We’re staying in a hotel for our last two weeks in Poznan. It’s an emotional time.

I never expected to feel an attachment to the little two bedroom flat that was originally referred to a Blue Kitchen while Ed was apartment hunting. Over the course of five years, a lot happens, many memories were made in that flat:

wandering the flat aimlessly after Ed left for work in my early days, until I found things to fill my time
a lot of baking was done in the tiny and appliance challenged kitchen
the fun of getting the guest room ready for family and friends from the states when they visited
meals shared with Ed’s colleagues from Tucson and our Polish friends
illnesses and recovery for all three of us, Ed, me and our dog, Benson
adapting to life as empty nesters, now that our daughters are grown

But it’s time to move on, to treasure these memories and to make new ones.

Life long changes

As you would expect, our move has found its way into most of our conversations lately. When I visited an artist’s studio last week with some friends from the Poznan Internatinal Ladies Club, my friend Kasia (a Polish woman who lived in the Netherlands for seven years) said that, based her experience, my time here would change my life forever. I have to agree with her.

I think it would be impossible to be so connected to a new culture for so long and remain unchanged. If nothing else, the things that I see as “different” about Polish life have all taught me something about American culture — things I knew but gave no thought to.

I’ve become more aware of the fact that we, Americans, are a diverse group, and sadly not all that cohesive. It’s important to most of us that we’re seen as hard working and honest. We think about work a lot! American signage is amazing. And my own sub-culture, as a military family, we are very welcoming to new people, quick to bring them into our lives and to try to help them settle into their new location. We could work on our appreciation of the arts, and our medicine while state of the art, would benefit from a more holistic approach. Of course, I must also think about Americans and our relationship to food. We want it fast, not just fast food. Which do you think is more common in an American kitchen, homemade soup or canned? I think my Polish and international friends would be very comfortable whipping up a pot of soup, no recipe required.

As comfortable as I have become at “Blue Kitchen,” I can’t wait to be back in our own home, with more than just a balconey for outdoor space. I can’t wait to be with our family and stateside friends, without an eight hour time difference and thousands of miles between us. It will also be nice to know how to do everything, to know what is expected of me in all situations, and to be able to understand everything!

We’re planning to visit Poland again, so as we said at our farewell open house, this isn’t goodbye but see you later.

Waiting for the movers; I guess I’ve ordered a few cookbooks from amazon.co.uk while I’ve been here 😉

25 Super Tips for Sightseeing in Berlin

November 20, 2014 by polishhousewife 3 Comments

Coming Soon

What can I say about Berlin? I have a love-hate relationship with the German capital. It’s just a little freaky for a conservative accountant type, and we’ve been yelled at too many times for breaking rules that we didn’t know about.

That being said, I am drawn back time and time again. There is so much to see and do in Berlin. There is so much happening in the city. In the last five years, I’ll bet we’ve been there at least 15 times, and we’ve only scratched the surface. In case you don’t have the luxury of living just three hours away, I’m putting together an ebooklet of my tips for sightseeing in Berlin to help you make the most of your time!

Handy Polish Phrases

October 10, 2014 by polishhousewife 2 Comments

The good news is that, as a traveler in Poland, you can manage in the cities without knowing Polish phrases. Restaurants will have English menus. Most people you’ll come in contact with will speak a little English. Some of them will be fluent, but they will still apologize for their English. It’s the Polish way. 😉 I have included my attempt at pronunciation here, which for those of you who speak Polish is sure to be good for a chuckle.

In spite of the fact that you can get by in English, it’s nice to know a few Polish phrases. Compared to American English, Polish conversation with strangers is more formal and polite. I’m adding a few familiar phrases, but don’t use them with people that you’re not very friendly with. They’ll come in handy if you have Polish friends or you want to use a little Polish with your traveling companions to add local flavor to your day.

Fortunately, I’m good at picking up on body language and visual cues, so I learned the first time I tried saying cześć to the lady in our local shop, that it was not appropriate. Even though she had been waiting on me several times a week for months, even though she knows I’m a foreigner and always invites me behind the counter to show her what I want rather than having me point, we now stick to dzień dobry.

Yes — Tak (tahk)

No — Nie (knee-a)

Please/you’re welcome/ here you go (when giving something to someone, such as your seat to an elderly person on the tram) — Proszę (PRO-sheh)

Thank you — Dziękuję (jen-KOO-yeh)

Thanks — Dzięki (JEN-key) informal!

I’m sorry or excuse me — Przepraszam (psheh-PRASH-am)

Good day (used morning and afternoon) — Dzień dobry (jen dobray)

Good evening (from 7 PM onward) — Dobry wieczór (DO-bray vee-A-tchure)

Good night — Dobranoc (do-BRAH-notes)

Hi or Bye — Cześć (cheshch) informal!

The bill, please — Rachunek, proszę (ra-HOON-ek PRO-sheh)

Cash or card (your waiter will ask this when it’s time to pay) — Gotówka lub karta (go-TOOV-ka lube KAR-ta)*

Price — Cena (TSAY-na)

Right/Left/Straight (on the rare occasion that you know where to go and the taxi driver doesn’t, these will come in helpful) — Prawo (PRA-vo)/Lewo (LAY-vo)/Prosto (PRO-stow)

Here — Tutaj (TWO-tie)

Street — Ulica (u-LEE-tsa)

Square — Plac (plahts)

Coffee — Kawa (KAH-va)

Tea — Herbata (hair-BA-ta)

Beer — Piwo (PEE-vo)

Cheers! — Na zdrowie (na SDRO-via)

Still water — Niegazowana (knee-a-gaso-VAHN-a)

Sparkling water — Gazowana (gaso-VAHN-a)

Big — Duży (DUZH-aye)

Small — Małe (MAH-way)

Very — Bardzo (BARD-zoe)

Polish words change depending on how they’re used, so if the beginning of a word looks something like what I’m seeking, I assume it’s correct. For example, coffee = kawa. So “let’s have a coffee at the coffee shop” becomes “niech się kawy w kawiarni.” kawa, kawy, kawiarni, close enough! *My use of cash and card probably falls into this category.

These are just some of the Polish phrases I’ve found most helpful, but it’s certainly not all inclusive. What would you add?

Poznan Top 10 or Poznan in a Day

September 19, 2014 by polishhousewife 6 Comments

After years in Poznan, it’s difficult to limit myself to a Poznan Top 10 list. It could easily be a book. This was situation we found ourselves in recently when we had a friend visiting, and we only had one day to show him around and give him a feel for our city.

Sam is the same age as our youngest daughter, and his work as an engineer has brought him to France twice this year. The first time I was in the states and Ed went to visit him in Marseilles. The second time, he came to see us for a day in Poznan and one in Berlin.

Sam’s visit was close to being no-notice, so Ed still had to go to work. That left me the pleasure of showing Sam around town. He had a great time with my Poznan Top 10, if I do say so myself. The photo of him in front of the merchant’s houses in the Stary Rynek is still his Facebook profile pic six months later! 🙂

1. Ostrów Tumski

We left our flat a little before 10:00 AM on bikes. We rode to Ostrów Tumski or Cathedral Island. This is where Poland began so it made the perfect start for our trip. The cathedral structure that stands today, has been rebuilt over the years. Wars and fires have taken their toll and nothing remains from the original built in 968. The crypt, however, has survived and contains the bodies of Poland’s first rulers. There is a small admission price to visit the crypt, but you may wander the cathedral itself freely. Sam was raised Roman Catholic, so this gave me an opportunity to share some differences in the practices between the US and Poland. For the most part, it seems that Poland has chosen to ignore Vatican II and changes that the US embraced in 1962.

2. Stary Rynek

With the noon hour approaching, we wheeled our way to the Stary Rynek (translates to Old Market, but I usually think of it as the Old Square). Poznan sustained much damage in World War II, but restoration has been done very well. You feel like you’re stepping back in time. We settled into an outdoor cafe just across from the old town hall. We had a beverage and watched the goats on the big clock that come out and bump heads 12 times at noon. We also watched all of the tourist who were gathered to see the same thing. Knowing that we had a lot to do, I paid the waitress when she delivered our drinks, so we could make a quick getaway. After the goats and the call from the trumpeter in the tower, we perused the square, doing a little shopping. You’ll find lots of vendors selling the typical tourist mementos, postcards, lapel pins, toys, jewelry. After a few obligatory post cards, we visited the two for more substantial and truly Polish gift shops and purchased gifts there. I could see Sam’s engineering skills put the test as he did some very careful packing of the fancy Easter eggs he purchased for his mother and his fiance. Since he hasn’t been in touch about replacing them, I think they made the trip back to Arizona safely. 😉

3. Fara Church

Just off the Old Square, we visited Fara (Parish) Church. In my mind one of the grandest buildings in Poznan, and one of the first you notice as you travel the city. The baroque exterior is pink and white, which led Ed and me to nickname it the Pink Church. After many years and many visits, the interior is still awe inspiring. There is an huge pipe organ in the rear. They do free mid-day concerts on Saturdays (dress warmly if you go in the winter). When you know the secret of this church, it’s even more amazing. The enormous marble blocks and pillars are all made of wood and painted to look like marble. I would have never guessed! There is another trick for the eye. From the back of the church, you’ll see a cupola above the chancel area. Walk forward and stand under it; you’ll see that it’s trompe l’oeil, painted on the ceiling to look as if there were a dome. A tour guide told me that there simply wasn’t the money in the area to do all of this with marble and a real dome in the ceiling. That wasn’t seen as a deterrent, the eye still thinks it’s all real and rich!

4. Zamek

Back on our bikes; we’re off to Zamek! The castle built for Kaiser Wielhelm II in the beginning of the last century. Taken over by the Nazis, the castle was remodeled and decorated in the style of the Third Reich. A balcony was added for Hitler to review the troops, but officially, Hitler was never at the castle. The castle was damaged as the Soviets took over the city. The main tower was originally much higher. Since the war, the castle has been used by a university, served as the seat of government, and has been a cultural center since 1962. Half of the castle is still decorated as the Nazis left it, with a few items from the Kaiser’s time here and there. It’s very old, everything is very large, very masculine. The other half of the castle has been renovated with funds from Poland and the European Union. It now houses multiple, state of the art theaters. The size and shape of the stages and the audience seating can be easily changed depending on the needs of a production. This half of the castle is now topped with a glass dome. Underneath it, you’ll find a trendy cafe. The juxtaposition of the old and modern is very striking.

5. Poznan June 1956 Monument

Just across from the castle, there are two large crosses jutting out of the bricks. A memorial to the uprising that occurred in Poznan in June of 1956. It was the first of several protests in Poland during the Communist times. The revolt had to do with the poor economy. 100,000 gathered for what was a peaceful protest. In an effort to keep this protest from spreading, a Soviet General, who was in charge of the armed forces in Poland, responded in a manner consistent with Russian standards, 10,000 troops and 400 tanks. It’s estimated that 100 people died. Hundreds were injured. Hundreds were taken into custody. Although this protest was put down violently, it’s seen as one of the turning points in ending communism. As I was telling Sam this history behind this, I had to add that this was just a few months before I was born. When I get frustrated with things in Poland, I have to remind myself that we’ve had very different histories.

6. Termy Maltańskie

We’re half way through our Poznan Top 10 and it’s time for sport. Sam swam competitively in high school and college, so our next stop was the new aqua center at Lake Malta. We swam for a bit and Sam took in the sauna. I’ve used the sport pools, but our favorite is the wave pool, but the waves aren’t the attraction for me. It’s one of three filled with water from a warm spring on site. It water comes from the Jurassic period and is full of minerals. After our swim, it was time for a quick shower and to dress for dinner.

7. Ride the Trams

In the evening, we left the bikes at home and took the tram to the city center. It’s such a convenient way to get around the city and you’ll see a lot. You never know what kind of tram you’ll get in Poznan. We have some of the most modern trams and also trams that I would guess are from the time of the 1956 uprising and everything in between. Some tram stops have ticket machines. You can also buy tickets at the Ruch newsstands you’ll see around town, or in the tourists information offices. As of this writing, a 3 PLN ticket is good for 10 minutes, just validate by getting a time stamp on your ticket as you enter the tram.

8. Ratuszova

We took Sam to dinner at the restaurant Ratuszova in the Stary Rynek. We sat downstairs, which is kind of cave like, with murals on the walls. After our busy day, our friend was hungry and eager to taste Polish cuisine, and try it he did — Zurek, Pierogi, and Wild Boar. The wait staff at Ratuszova all speak English, and the service is fantastic. We’ve always been happy with the food and the beautifully set white table clothes, although there are a number of restaurants that could be part of your Poznan Top 10.

9. Kriek Belgian Pub

Complaining that he’d eaten too much, we took Sam to one of our favorite bars, Kriek, just off the Stary Rynek. They have an ever changing selection of Belgian beers. Besides the good beer, the owner, is one of the most hospitable people in town. This pub can easily become your personal version of Cheers! It’s very popular with the medical school students.

10. Cacao Republika

For our last stop, it was off to Cacao Republika. Just a block from the Stary Rynek, they serve the most thick, decadent, European style hot chocolate. It’s a cross between chocolate pudding and chocolate ganache. If you like, you can add a shot of liqueur and a huge pile of whipped cream to your chocolate. It’s the perfect end to an evening.

11. Take in a Lech Poznan football match

You’ve been so nice to read all the way to the end. I’ll throw in this bonus activity! It didn’t work out while Sam was here, but it’s local perspective of life in Poznan. I like to sit as close to the pitch as possible. You see the fouls and rough play that way. The crowd will provide as much entertainment as the team.

* * * * * * * * * * *

This has to be my most long-winded post, but there you have it. My Poznan Top 10 list. If I had only one day to show you the Poznan I have come to love, this is what I would want you to experience.

Some sightseeing, but also learning the history behind what you’re seeing
Have some fun, typically tourist things
Do something active, Poznan is a active place where everyone seems to have at least one sport
Enjoy some good food and drink, live in the moment, relax and enjoy the people you’re with

That’s Poznan to me. What would be your Poznan top 10?

Expat Bloggers Part 3

August 21, 2014 by polishhousewife 3 Comments

Here are the remaining expat bloggers from our Expat Blogger – Europe group on Facebook. I’ve broken the list into three parts because I didn’t want to you miss any of them. The group is filled with so many bright, talented people who are eager to bring you along on their journey. I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know this special group of expat bloggers.

Did you miss the earlier posts on this group? Here’s the first, and part 2.

What are your favorite Facebook groups? I belong to about a dozen different groups on Facebook. How about you?

Never a Dull Day in Poland — Kelley’s husband, like mine, is retired from the United States Air Force. His work has taken their family to Bydgoszcz, Poland. She very involved with her church and the local community.

Pakovska — Marta lives in the French Alps and blogs about gardening, vegetarian cooking, knitting, and travel.

Polanded — my own dear husband, sharing photos of his travels throughout Europe and Poland in particular.

Passports & Pamplemousse — Passports and Pamplemousse was born with wanderlust which has taken her to five continents and 40 countries. She has lived and worked in seven of those. She shares my love for food and trying new recipes.

The Road to Poland — American Olivia and her Polish husband have moved their family from the United States to Poland, so that their children will get to know both cultures. She writes very candidly about the joys and struggles of life in a foreign country.

Sukhi Sangha — Sukhi is Indo-Canadian and a student at the dental college in Poznan. Her blog is a fantastic, fun collection of videos that show Sukhi dancing everywhere she goes, and she travels to some great locations that make a perfect backdrop for her to break down in some Bhangra!

Travel Play Grow — Jennifer is an American living in Warsaw with her husband and their 4-year old daughter. She writes about exploring Warsaw and their travels.

The Twisted Red Lady Bug — Anda is from Romania and now lives in Krakow with her Polish husband. She is a huge fan of lady bugs, Star Wars, travel, and collection earrings among other things.

Port en Bessin, France

August 18, 2014 by polishhousewife Leave a Comment

A Normandy fishing village, Port en Bessin, was the nearest shopping area to our hotel at the Omaha Beach Golf Club during our recent road trip through France. This is where we found pastries to go with our morning coffee. Our meandering drive would take us past a busy fish processing center, where I now know, they sell 11,000 tons of fish annually for export. The road is small and winding, in many places only one lane, so drivers have to watch for a spot to pullover if someone is coming the other way.

We also made the trip to Port en Bessin one evening, for a seafood dinner and a stroll along the water. Two long arms of seawall protect the harbor. Check out how the view changes as the tide goes out. All those boats sitting in the sandy mud just looks so strange.

Due to the recent 70th anniversary of D-Day, all of the shop windows were decorated with Allied flags, lots of stars and stripes which is very unusual to see in Europe. I saw more of Uncle Sam on the streets of “Port,” as the locals call Port en Bessin, than when passing by an American Embassy.

While the tide was out, we could see where scallop shells had washed up and become tightly packed along the seawall in the most interesting pattern, as if they’d been placed individually! I’ve never seen so many shells on a beach before. I hiked down and picked up a bag full, so I’m sure future seafood courses at our house will be served in scallop shells.

thousands, dare I say, millions of scallop shells

All of the restaurant in the area have their outdoor seating surrounded with Plexiglas windbreaks. I guess there is always a sea breeze, and it can get kind of chilly.

Posts still to come from our summer road trip, Foodie shopping in France, and Brussels, Belgium. 🙂

More Expat Bloggers

August 3, 2014 by polishhousewife 3 Comments

Recently I told you about the Facebook group we’ve started for expat bloggers who are writing about Europe. I wanted to share more of my blogging friends with you today. Think of this list as your armchair travelogue to learn about the food, art, history, and daily life for the locals all over Europe. It ‘s a tour you can take without a passport, jet lag, or the need for comfortable shoes. While you’re at it, how about liking Polish Housewife’s facebook page? Thanks in advance!

The European Mama — Olga is a Polish woman, living in the Netherlands with her German husband and three trilingual children. (She recently joked that they can whine at her in three languages. 🙂 ) She has lived in Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands and speaks five languages.

Eva in the Kitchen — Eva is Dutch divides her time between her home country and France. She shares her favorite recipes and favorite restaurants from Paris and her travels.

Expat Since Birth — Ute is a very accomplished multilingual mom raising her children in the Netherlands with her Swiss-German husband.

Gluten Free and Me — Linda is Swedish by birth, British by association, and has been a desert dweller (UAE) by choice until a recent move to Poland. She and her Polish husband have two children, one of them celiac.

Joey in Poznan — Joey is a well traveled young man from Portland, Oregon. He teaches English in Poznan, where he lives with his Polish wife.

Kielbasa Stories — Chris is an American, teacher of English, living in Wroclaw, Poland. She and her Polish husband have two daughters. Her witty insight is enjoyed by Americans and Poles alike.

Kristas Random Thoughts — Krista is an American missionary and photographer who lives in Wroclaw with her husband and their children.

Moscow Munchkins — the American Munchkin family, which includes their two adopted children (from Russia and Poland), is in the process of relocating from Moscow to the USA.

My Traveling Joys — Joy is an American pastry chef, who has come to Warsaw by way of Turkey. We share an appreciation for baked goods and flowers.

The Nerdy Travelholic — born in Hong Kong, educated in England, worked in Poland. We met during Euro 2012 when we were both in the training for English speaking volunteers. This young woman has traveled more than most and wrote a college paper about her experience hitchhiking from Hong Kong to Scandinavia.

Newsletter