Vienna trip

We took a short trip to Vienna after Christmas and before New Year's. We were hoping to see some of the Christmas Markets still open, like they are in Krakow, but no luck. We did have nice weather for sightseeing. The Schönbrunner Palace and the Rathaus were especially impressive. I think we'll come back in the summer!

Christmas 2011

We had a fun Christmas morning with JR. He took his time with the presents. He was very excited about his new play tent with tunnel. And he probably would've been perfectly happy to play all day with the new toys he found in his stocking. But we eventually moved on to the presents under the tree. JR really enjoyed unwrapping them -- his, Mama's and mine. Fun times and I'm sure it only gets better next year!

JR, Jill and I wish you a Merry Christmas!

JR sends Xmas wishes (sort of)

Still working on his lines. Special thanks to Aunt Sue for the wardrobe our star wore in this film. Jill especially loves the hat. She couldn't wait until Christmas to give it to JR.

Zakopane

We took a two night trip to Zakopane this weekend. Jill won a weeklong stay in a vacation apartment in a lottery at her women's association, but since I couldn't take a week off school, we just went for the weekend. And it's probably fine just the same. Zakopane is kind of a tourist trap. For Polish tourists, but still..

For example, see how JR is looking at this bear suspiciously? Well he knew something we didn't, apparently. After getting a picture or two with this bear, we go, "Dziekuje!", and he goes (in Polish) "that'll be 10 zloty". I tried to tell him I just had 7, and he goes, "I can make change." Awesome. Nothing like being shaken down by a giant smiling bear. I felt like Clark Griswald for some reason.

Anyway, overall the weekend was fine. It wasn't crowded since they're between seasons. Maybe we'll go back and do some hiking next year when it's warmer, but I'll definitely be on the lookout for those shifty bears!

Dinner (and drinks) with Polish friends

Bimber -- strong stuff!

One of my classmates invited me and Jill to his apartment for dinner tonight, which was super cool of him. He and his girlfriend were great hosts. She cooked żurek and pierogi and we enjoyed many Polish beverages -- from kompot (light fruit drink), to bimber (moonshine!), to grzaniec (mulled wine), and of course vodka. Lesson learned: when a Pole invites you over and tells you to take a cab to get there, watch out!

Talking to Leaves

Playing in the leaves

It was a beautiful fall day today -- 60 something degrees and sunny. I stopped by after class and met Jill and JR at the park. Won't be too many more days like this before winter sets in. JR didn't seem to want to do anything besides play in the leaves. He especially likes to hear them crunch. Here he's practicing making a "leaf angel".