It's warm, sunny and the flowers are still blooming. The start of autumn is perfect. Hopefully the weather will be nice to us this autumn and it will stay warm for the rest of September and October at least but in Poland anything is possible.
For the past few months everyone is heading for the forest to pick mushrooms which they than either cook in a creamy sauce, they dry them for the winter to add to Christmas dishes or they marinate them. Their delicious in all three varieties.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Just another gorgeous day...
It's a gorgeous day outside, about 25 degrees and perfect for a long outdoor run. Unfortunately I have a bout of the flu and running is out of the question, instead I am stuck inside on the couch trying to get over the annoyance with a box of tissues by my side.
Summer officially ends here in Poland in about five days. Fingers crossed that this lovely sunshine will continue into autumn. The leaves are already starting to change colour and there's a range of reds, oranges, yellows, greens and browns of different shades. Let's hope it'll be a golden autumn.
Summer officially ends here in Poland in about five days. Fingers crossed that this lovely sunshine will continue into autumn. The leaves are already starting to change colour and there's a range of reds, oranges, yellows, greens and browns of different shades. Let's hope it'll be a golden autumn.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Fifty percent surcharge on coffee
Sometimes I wonder about the decisions I make. Like coming to the Marriott for a conference by Oxford Press for TEFL teachers, having forty minutes to spare and deciding to have a coffee at the lobby café where I can see delicious looking sandwiches and tasty coffees making my mouth water. 'La Pallesiere' in the lobby on the right as you enter, offers takeaway and eat in options. I order a café mocha, something different from my usual large black Americano. The price is 9.50zloty. Not a problem.
The lady behind the counter is middle aged. She's kind enough to smile which doesn't happen as often as I'd like or I'm used to. There's a sense of warmth glowing from her, which makes her a good candidate for working with people there.
'You know that if you have it on the spot there's a fifty per cent surcharge.' she informs me.
I try not to sound shocked and contain my laughter, telling her that it doesn't matter. I still want the coffee.
I sit down at the marble table and a few moments later the same lady brings over my Café Mocha in a medium sized cup. No revelation there. It's just cacao, coffee, milk and water.
This is Poland, I shouldn't be surprised. I am paying extra for the pleasure to sit in the Marriott lobby where business man chat, young pretty girls are interviewed for positions in the hotel, and parents try to contain their loud children. Nothing different from the regular Coffee Heaven or Starbucks down the road, so why the surcharge? Ah, yes I forgot. I'm at the Marriott sitting at a marble table and leather chair. The patrons flash their gold watches and expensive tailored business suits. Tapping on lap tops on speaking on their phones about another boring meeting or conference, making excuses to their wives or husbands as to why they are going to be late home again.
So why did I agree to pay 15zloty for a Café Mocha when I could have brought half a kilo of coffee for that same price and had it for a month or two at home? Well, it's all about the experience. Travelling is about experiencing the destination you are at. I've never been to a hotel where they surcharged for eating or drinking on the spot. It's a first. Is this normal? If someone can let me know I will be grateful. If it wasn't for the conference I would have not been there.
I still have time to enjoy my coffee and observe the vanity of individuals, young and old, who come here. I was supposed to go without coffee today and for the rest of the week but how could I resist. I may not have a reason to come here again. Or maybe? But I like the Marriott. I love hotel lobby's and restaurants just as much as airports. People watching is fun, and I notice I'm not the only one doing it. I am here to observe, write and enjoy the Cafe Mocha.
Time to finish up and had to the third floor for the conference, after all that is what I came here for.
The lady behind the counter is middle aged. She's kind enough to smile which doesn't happen as often as I'd like or I'm used to. There's a sense of warmth glowing from her, which makes her a good candidate for working with people there.
'You know that if you have it on the spot there's a fifty per cent surcharge.' she informs me.
I try not to sound shocked and contain my laughter, telling her that it doesn't matter. I still want the coffee.
I sit down at the marble table and a few moments later the same lady brings over my Café Mocha in a medium sized cup. No revelation there. It's just cacao, coffee, milk and water.
This is Poland, I shouldn't be surprised. I am paying extra for the pleasure to sit in the Marriott lobby where business man chat, young pretty girls are interviewed for positions in the hotel, and parents try to contain their loud children. Nothing different from the regular Coffee Heaven or Starbucks down the road, so why the surcharge? Ah, yes I forgot. I'm at the Marriott sitting at a marble table and leather chair. The patrons flash their gold watches and expensive tailored business suits. Tapping on lap tops on speaking on their phones about another boring meeting or conference, making excuses to their wives or husbands as to why they are going to be late home again.
So why did I agree to pay 15zloty for a Café Mocha when I could have brought half a kilo of coffee for that same price and had it for a month or two at home? Well, it's all about the experience. Travelling is about experiencing the destination you are at. I've never been to a hotel where they surcharged for eating or drinking on the spot. It's a first. Is this normal? If someone can let me know I will be grateful. If it wasn't for the conference I would have not been there.
I still have time to enjoy my coffee and observe the vanity of individuals, young and old, who come here. I was supposed to go without coffee today and for the rest of the week but how could I resist. I may not have a reason to come here again. Or maybe? But I like the Marriott. I love hotel lobby's and restaurants just as much as airports. People watching is fun, and I notice I'm not the only one doing it. I am here to observe, write and enjoy the Cafe Mocha.
Time to finish up and had to the third floor for the conference, after all that is what I came here for.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
70 Years Since the War Began
Today marks the 70th Anniversary of WWII. In Poland, and many other European countries this is a special event that needs to be remembered. Leaders from Russia, German and other European countries have arrived in Poland to remember the past. Who started the war? Who died in the war? Who survived the war?
On this day, seventy years ago one of the most brutal and deadly wars began. WWII took the concept of war to the next level. Once upon a time it was soldier against soldier, that has changed since WWII, now it's soldier against citizen, citizen against soldier. The battlefield is no longer limited to those in the army, navy or air force, it now fully includes the individual. Men, women and children are all victims, they've all become targets.
There has been a lot of blame thrown around about WWII, and while it was a tragic event that even words can not describe, blame is not going to change what happened. It's not going to bring back the brave and innocent people who were lost. It's not going to punish those responsible seventy years ago. Yes, we need to remember the past and the history, but not at the expense of teaching hate or announcing that revenge is OK. Neither hate nor revenge are OK.
For someone who was not there to experience WWII, it's difficult to find words to describe what people may have felt or how they should now react. My great grandfather, a policeman, died in Katyn. His son, my grandfather, along with his siblings and mother were packed up in the middle of the night by German soldiers and sent to the outskirts of Russia in areas now known as Kazakhstan. Whether they lived or died, no one cared. It was up to them. They were lucky. They survived, and I am lucky to have my wonderful grandfather in my life today.
We need to remember what happened to make certain that it doesn't happen again. War is an unnecessary evil. Power makes us want to do terrible acts to achieve higher status. Our power should not come at the cost of someone else's life. We should remember our heroes, our loved ones and the people who suffered. We should remember that war is not the way. We should understand that it's possible to live in peace and harmony. We are all the same regardless of our country of origin, our race, religion, or status. We all have the same basic needs, emotions and dreams.
War is the answer only to a person who is afraid, lacks confidence and needs to feel superior by tormenting, terrorizing and weakening others. Just like the school bully, except this time it's a grown up who should be wiser.
We all humans. We should all be able to live together, help each other, and fill our hearts and lives with love. History should not repeated itself. It should teach us to live together in peace.
On this day, seventy years ago one of the most brutal and deadly wars began. WWII took the concept of war to the next level. Once upon a time it was soldier against soldier, that has changed since WWII, now it's soldier against citizen, citizen against soldier. The battlefield is no longer limited to those in the army, navy or air force, it now fully includes the individual. Men, women and children are all victims, they've all become targets.
There has been a lot of blame thrown around about WWII, and while it was a tragic event that even words can not describe, blame is not going to change what happened. It's not going to bring back the brave and innocent people who were lost. It's not going to punish those responsible seventy years ago. Yes, we need to remember the past and the history, but not at the expense of teaching hate or announcing that revenge is OK. Neither hate nor revenge are OK.
For someone who was not there to experience WWII, it's difficult to find words to describe what people may have felt or how they should now react. My great grandfather, a policeman, died in Katyn. His son, my grandfather, along with his siblings and mother were packed up in the middle of the night by German soldiers and sent to the outskirts of Russia in areas now known as Kazakhstan. Whether they lived or died, no one cared. It was up to them. They were lucky. They survived, and I am lucky to have my wonderful grandfather in my life today.
We need to remember what happened to make certain that it doesn't happen again. War is an unnecessary evil. Power makes us want to do terrible acts to achieve higher status. Our power should not come at the cost of someone else's life. We should remember our heroes, our loved ones and the people who suffered. We should remember that war is not the way. We should understand that it's possible to live in peace and harmony. We are all the same regardless of our country of origin, our race, religion, or status. We all have the same basic needs, emotions and dreams.
War is the answer only to a person who is afraid, lacks confidence and needs to feel superior by tormenting, terrorizing and weakening others. Just like the school bully, except this time it's a grown up who should be wiser.
We all humans. We should all be able to live together, help each other, and fill our hearts and lives with love. History should not repeated itself. It should teach us to live together in peace.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)