Moser glass factory

Before we left Karlovy Vary we took a tour of the Moser company glass factory. This was pretty cool. And legit. They were making glass when we came though and didn't seem to change their operation on our account. In one of the pictures you can see the beer that they are allowed to drink while they work. Our guide said it's a weak beer and a long-standing tradition, but still! Take that OSHA!

Karlovy Vary

On the way to the hospital at Landstuhl we stopped for two nights at
the spa town of Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic. This town, known
as Karlsbad (Charles' bath) in German, has been known for its spas and
hot springs for centuries.

It has several mineral springs all around town. You take a cup and
drink from these fountains and, viola!, you're cured of what ails you!
Gout? Diabetes? No problem! Amazing, right? I tried some. Jill
opted out. The jury's out.. It just tastes mineraly and kind of
salty. And it's pretty warm. That's about all I say definitively.
No comment on its efficacy. I don't think the FDA has approved it
yet..

What I, Jill, and JR will recommend, however, is the wafers made from
this mineral water. They're tasty!

There are lots of nice hotels and spas around town. One of the
hotels, the Grand Hotel Pupp, was featured in the James Bond movie
"Casino Royale".

Oh, and there are lots of Russians in Karlovy Vary. Maybe they like Bond films?

Pączki

Last Thursday was Tłusty Czwartek (Fat Thursday) in Poland. It's the day for eating pączki.  This has become a Fat Tuesday event (in the places where it's an event at all) in the US, but the idea is the same -- stand in line for a long time to eat a doughnut!

Traditionally it's a time to use up the lard, eggs and sugar in the house prior to Lent. A pączek, being basically a jelly doughnut, is a good way to do that. We met some friends at a cafe and had a couple. I'm also including a picture of the line for pączki at one of the most popular bakeries in Krakow, Michałajek. That's some pączki dedication there!

Viennese Ball

So, chalk this up in the category of things I never thought I'd do. Along with most of the foreign service officers from the consulate, Jill and I attended a formal ball last night hosted by the Austrian consul general in Krakow.

And.. we, the Americans, were dressed in period costumes. Naturally. We borrowed them from the Krakow Opera. Other guests were dressed "normally". A pity, as the Brits say..

There were waltz lessons and a Viennese chamber orchestra and the whole nine yards. Eat your heart out Downton Abbey fans.

Sleigh ride

January was a beautiful, snowy month in Krakow. It's now early February and all the snow has melted. However, we enjoyed the snow while it lasted. For example a few weeks ago JR and I joined some friends from the consulate for a sleigh ride and a traditional Polish dinner at Ojcow National Park, about 30 min north of Krakow. And, yes, we did sing "Jingle Bells."

Two-year-old fashion

Green Thomas PJs + Oscar the Grouch socks + red fire truck slippers = Awesome

Krakow during the holidays

Here are a couple Christmas traditions in Krakow: the three kings and "szopki krakowskie". Three Kings Day was January 6th, so we went to see the procession of the three kings that culminated on the square. It was cold and the kings from Asia and Europe were behind schedule, but before we bowed out we did get to see the king from Africa make his way to the square to honor our Lord. (He's the guy in black-face dressed in blue -- that's how you know he's from Africa.)

We also got a chance this week to check out the "szopki", which are on display this month at the city museum on the square. "Szopki" are homemade nativity scenes. This is a big tradition in Krakow. Every year there's a competition and people enter their elaborate and colorful "krakowskie szopki" in the judging contest. In addition to the tradition biblical figures, there are often Krakowian elements to the models, like the Lajkonik, the Mariacki church, and the Wawel dragon, which JR enjoyed finding.