Polish Mountain Air

Ania is chasing piegons
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On the weekend Ania and I visited her cabin in Istbena. It is right near the Czech and Slovak border. She lives on a mountain side that has beautiful views of the Beskid Slaski Mountain range.

The first day we went to Cieszyn. It’s a small old town that is split in two by a river, one side is Poland the other side Czech Republic. The city has a nice town square and a old castle tower that you can over look the city and see the mountains. The story of Cieszyn is that 810 AD there were three brothers and they were on all different parts of Europe. They were trying to find each other and they ended up meeting in Cieszyn. They were so delighted to see each other they founded a town and named it I’m Happy (cieszym sie). For lunch we decided to walk over to the Czech Republic. Most places were closed by Saturday afternoon but we did some shopping and found a nice little restaurant. Ania’s said I have to have this fried cheese. It tasted like breaded fried cheese. .

I enjoyed a local cheese called oscypic which is a smoked sheep’s milk cheese and the grill it and they add jam to the top.

Top of the Castle view
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The next day we head to the Czech border again. This time we went with her parents for alcohol. There are lower taxes so many Poles just jump the border to buy beer and liquor. When we got to the border you can see just a few wooden shops that sell the alcohol. So most people just drive 20 yards over stop at the shops and head back. Their parents got some cognac and others. After we got back to the Polish side Ania convinced her parents to go to this nice restaurant on top of a mountain. It was a neat atmosphere because it was a large log building and the waiters dressed in traditional mountain people clothes and they had a band planning folk music. This was the first time Ania’s parents have been to a restaurant in as long as she could remember. She thinks at least 20 years. I enjoyed a local cheese called oscypic which is a smoked sheep’s milk cheese and the grill it and they add jam to the top. There is an interesting combination of smoky, salty and sweet. Then I had local trout with salads. Most salads are similar to cole slaw. A very good meal and for the prices in Poland a great deal. I can get a large beer, starter, and main course for about $11. I hope some things about Poland never change. I am off to Prague tomorrow. Check out all the pictures from the weekend. When Ania has the camera she is not afraid to use it. http://photos.yahoo.com/moose127