It is impossible to remember all of the tasty beers I consumed in the three week journey around Poland. So here is a top 10 list of my favorite frosty adult beverages that I enjoyed while on my trip:
Zywiec – The king of Polish beers! Zywiec is to Poland as Guinness is to Ireland or Budweiser is to the USA. This pale lager was such a pleasure to drink while going out in Krakow, Raciborz and Zakopane. It sure was the perfect drink to help wash down some of the amazing Polish cuisine I devoured on my trek through this amazing European country. Zywiec was purchased by Heinken in the 1990s
Okocim - I have been drinking this for some time in the States, but still preferred it when Zywiec was not around…which in Poland is pretty rare. Okocim has been brewed in the same city since 1845 and was purchased by Carlsburg in 1996.
Tyskie - A big bottle of the tasty Tyskie beer was seen quite often in front of me when hanging out with friends in Raciborz. One of the more popular beers sold in Poland and I am not surprised since it is such a great tasting beer!
Zubr - You cant miss this beer in the pub or supermarkets of Poland, since it has a big old buffalo smack dab on the front of the bottle. This delicious adult beverage has been brewed for over 200 years on the edge of the Bialowieza Forest in Poland.
Warka - The smell of the beer is underwhelming, but the taste is surprisingly enjoyable. I loved me some Warka (pronounced “Varka” since Poland uses a V sound for the letter W).
Harnas - Yet another tasty golden lager that goes down easily and works well with some Polish grub.
Tatra - Although sold all over Poland, I found myself drinking this beer the most while hanging out in the mountain city of Zakopane, which happens to be in the shadows of the Tatra Mountains.
Ksiazece - Made by the people at the Tyskie brewery, this subtle and slightly bitter beer was a pleasure to drink on a hot Polish summer night.
Redd’s – Now I normally do not like flavored beers. But this company that specializes in producing cranberry, orange and apple flavored lagers, was pleasantly refreshing on a very humid day hanging outside in Raciborz’s town square.
EB - Produced by the Zywiec people and introduced in1997, this beer is popular among younger drinkers and available outside of Poland as well.
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One last note about Poland. If you are thinking of checking out this country, then you might want to do it sooner than later. The Polish zloty’s weak exchange rate with the U.S. dollar, Euro and many other currencies make this already enjoyable locale super affordable.
One U.S. dollar will give you about 3 or so zloty, one Euro will give you about 4 or so zloty, and one British pound will give you an astounding 5 or so zloty! But rumors are that Poland will change over to the Euro as soon as 2012. So book that trip to Krakow or Warsaw soon and enjoy a 4-star trip on a 2-star budget.
Raciborz, Poland...my home for the last three weeks.
This will be my last update from the amazing country of Poland. The last three weeks were way better than I could have ever expected. Although 75% of the trip saw cloudy skies, the visit to this Eastern European locale will be something that I soon will not forget.
On my next update I will go over some of my highlights of the trip, give you people thinking of planning a Polish getaway some English-Polish translations that will be useful on your journey, and maybe list all of the beers I tried while hopping around Poland.
Take care, thanks for all the e-mails and comments, and see you back in Brooklyn.
Just a few more days left here in Poland and I can say now without a doubt it has been the best trip I have ever taken. I have seen so much of this great country, ate so much of their food, drank so much of their beer (and vodka), and even had time to climb a mountain and wander far below in a salt mine. Speaking of which, here are some pictures from my recent visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mine (which is about 15-20 minutes by car from Krakow’s town square):
Far below Krakow is the popular Wieliczka Salt Mine. For 40 zloty (or about $12 U.S.) you will be guided through this amazing UNESCO site. The tour last about 2.5 hours and is very entertaining and educational.
The miners would have to turn these machines in order to lift the salt above ground. The tour guide had a few people test it out...still works.
There are many stops along the way in which the tour guide will tell you a story about the history of the mine. This particular picture is of one of the miners proposing to his girlfriend after coming across a ring he had found while working in the mine. Legend has it that some other disgruntled gentleman tossed the same ring into a well in the Czech Republic and it found its way to the mines of Krakow.
Horses were used in the mines as a way to transport heavy equipment and the salt around the mine. Most of them lived 5-7 years, had stables built for them and even had their own caretakers. Horses were first introduced to the mines in the mid 1600s.
A picture of the stable that workers used to take care of the horses. Here the horses caretaker feeds and grooms the horse. Do not feel bad for the horses, as the tour guide said the healty air of the mines made it very comfortable for them to breathe and move about.
Miners hard at work.
The salty walls of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Yes I put my finger on the wall and tasted it...such a tourist.
This amazing room can be rented out for weddings. For 2,000 zloty (or abour $600 U.S.) you can say "I Do" far below Poland. They even have a special elevator to bring down the bride and groom.
Chandeliers adorn the salty room.
The newest salt statue to be placed in the mine is of Pope John Paul II. In 1999 the Pope was to attend a special event in the mine, but due to a sickness had to cancel. Special tiles were placed in the mine around the statue to make it easier for the Pontiff to walk about. He would later attend a smaller event and get to see the sculpture made for him.
Statue dedicated to the hard work of the salt miners. Definitely check this attraction out when you are in the Krakow area.
Oh it rained…but that did not ruin my two days in Krakow. Easily one of the best cities I have visited on my travels. The energy, the people, the pigeons, and the food…oh yes, the food! Kebabs galore and they are well worth the 10 zloty! Here are pictures from my trip to the beautiful city of Krakow, Poland:
After a two hour drive from Raciborz, we arrived in rainy and cloudy Krakow.
The car is parked and it is time to check out one of Krakow's most popular attractions Wawal Castle. Luckily it was Monday and that meant no admission fee. Unfortunately that also meant some parts of the castle were closed. But we were still able to see most of this amazing attraction.
Statue outside of the entrance to Wawal Castle.
This guy is pretty popular around Poland.
The wet grounds of Wawal Castle. Still beautiful on a cloudy and damp day.
Inside the main square of Wawal Castle.
Reached the top of the bell tower.
Breathtaking view of Krakow from the bell tower in Wawal Castle.
Going up and down the bell tower is an adventure in itself. The steps are steep and the doorways are short and narrow. Definitely not built for someone of my height.
Wawal Castle closes early, so be sure to check it out first thing in the morning. I am now off to check into my apartment in the center of town.
Walk down any street in Krakow and you are guaranteed to stumble upon some amazing structures. This church is just one example of the city's beautiful architecture.
I rented a two bedroom apartment right across the way from Florian Gate. Named after St. Florian, it is one of the most well known Gothic Towers in all of Poland. It is also a focal point in the Old Town of Krakow.
View from the front door of my apartment. Florian Gate is literally steps away.
The apartment building where I will call home while staying in Krakow.
I highly recommend renting an apartment over checking into a hotel when visiting a city like Krakow. For $140 U.S. per night, I got a 2-bedroom apartment with a big kitchen, big bathroom, a balcony, and views of Florian Gate. This particular apartment can sleep up to 10 people. Definitely a cheaper alternative to the pricey 3- and 4-star hotels in Krakow.
One of the bedrooms in my rented apartment. This room had two beds and views of Florian Gate.
The kitchen in my rented apartment. Spotless and included a dish washer, big refigerator and freezer, dishes, cups, silverware, and all of the amenities one would expect in their own kitchen.
Enough of my apartment...time to check out what Krakow has to offer. In the distance is the amazing Rynek Glowny.
Rynek Glowny is the world's largest medieval town square. It dates back to the 13th century and is the busiest (and priciest) area in all of Krakow.
Work is being done on Rynek Glowny in preparation of a new museum that is opening sometime in 2010.
Any building undergoing a facelift is covered up with an exact replica of the structure via a giant awning. A great idea that keeps the city looking attractive while working is being done to its buildings. An idea other cities should think of adopting.
More shots from Krakow on this cloudy and rainy Monday afternoon.
The main train station in Krakow. Easy walking distance to all of the attractions and hotels in this popular Eastern European city.
Some of the many...many pigeons chilling on a statue in Krakow.
Another shot of Rynek Glowny. Loving this town square!Tons of shops inside of Rynek Glowny.The giant head in Rynek Glowny.Being a tourist in Krakow.This guy really likes pigeons. They are actually trained and he can make them all fly away into the sky and then come back to him. The giant head in Rynek Glowny.
The enormous shopping mall next to the train station in Krakow. It is just filled with overpriced shops and honestly was my least favorite attraction in the city.
When in Krakow, be sure to check out Smak Ukrainski. Some of the best Ukrainian beat soup I have ever tasted. The restaurant is located underground in a cave and has some amazing decor inside. Truly a memorable dining experience.
Entering the dining room of Smak Ukrainski. This cozy Ukrainian restaurant on Kanonicza Street in Krakow, just steps from Wawal Castle, is located in the cellar of a building.
We came...we ordered...we ate a lot of food. Great Ukrainian beer served here!
A rainy night in Rynek Glowny. Still having a great time in this city. Quite honestly the best European city I have visited so far.
Well if you follow me on Twitter or just read this site enough, then you know that I have a three week trip planned to the country of Poland. Some of the places I will be visiting include:
Krakow: I am really looking forward to checking out this amazing city.
Wieliczka Salt Mines: One of the world’s oldest operating salt mines.
Speedway: I will be attending one of Poland’s most popular sports that dates back to the 1930s.
Zakopane: While this is considered to be “the winter capital of Poland”, I have rented a house in this resort town and will be checking out the local vibe, food, and booze.
Tatra Mountains: This amazing mountain range borders the countries of Poland and Slovakia.
Auschwitz/Birkenau: I will be visiting Nazi Germany’s largest concentration camp, located 38 miles west of Krakow.
and much more.
Bowls of borscht will be devoured, gwumpkis will be inhaled, and of course vodka will be drank. So check out this site for updates throughout my stay.
My wife has asked me to curb my internet usage while on this trip, so I will not be updating the site as often as I do when I am at home. I will post pictures and give some feedback from time to time of my journey throughout this Eastern European country.
So the next update should be from the small city of Raciborz, which will be home base during my trip. I got a great 1 bedroom for only 237 zloty. That is a clean, WiFi ready, washing machine available, and centrally located pad steps from the town square for only $75 U.S. dollars!
