Ringin' In the New Year

Less than a week ago, Eastern Boy and I boarded a Ryanair flight to Poland to spend some time at his parents’ home in Lubrza and spend the New Year with many of his childhood friends. We landed in Poznan around 11:30 a.m. and took a train to Lubrza. The train was packed but we were able to get two seats next to each other to enjoy the ride. Eastern Boy was exhausted from working 10 straight shifts, including the night we left. He had changed his schedule so that he could get off work at 12 a.m., run home and finish packing, and meet me to catch our first bus around 2:30 a.m. to Victoria coach station where we jumped onto a hot, sticky, over-crowded airport shuttle at 3:30 a.m. to Stansted airport. We arrived at the airport around 5 a.m. and waited in a long line for check in and security. Finally on the plane at 6:45 a.m. we passed out. So, after boarding the train in Poland Kris was out cold again. Even though I have been to Poland a couple of times already, I was much too excited to sleep. As London has discovered the hard way, the climate in Europe is very much changing, and in Poland it is no different. Snow is not uncommon for that area but this year the country has received a significant increase in snow accumulation. The roads were completely covered and drivers were driving on at least two to three feet of packed snow while walkers pushed their way through more than five feet in places. It was like a very cold winter wonderland. Even the tree branches showed no signs of their natural color. It was gorgeous! Eastern Boy’s parents are always welcoming and greeted us with warm food and Christmas gifts. We both received fabulous new thick fleece jackets to wear as an extra layer under our winter coats and of course, chocolates! We spent the two days exploring his little village and many of his favorite places. Then we headed back to Poznan to ring in the New Year at a Black and White party with some more of his friends. I had quite a scare after I returned to London and discovered I had misplaced my passport somewhere between the airport and home. Panic set in as I realized the gravity of the situation. A new passport is $135 and a new visa is £200, plus the wait time in applying and receiving. I franticly began calling the airport and bus companies to see if any passports had been found. The lady at the airport shuttle company took my name and number and said she would call me if it turned up. Around midnight that same night I received a call from an unknown number, against my urge to ignore the call I answered. My passport had been found on the shuttle bus and would be waiting for me to pick up the next day at Victoria Coach Station! A perfect example of the power of prayer! January has many exciting times ahead! While classes don’t start until February I have three more assignments due in the next few weeks to finish complete the semester. Motivation is lacking at the moment and to satisfy my need for procrastination I jumped on a tour bus to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath. I am consistently amazed at the beauty of this country and the history that it holds. A couple of random facts that were learned during my adventure which I found of great interest: thatched roofs were made weatherproof by dipping the materials into wax so that rain wouldn’t destroy the straw. The roofs would hang rather low so it was common for cats and even dogs to be seen walking on the top of houses. However, when it rained the roofs would become slick, causing the animals to slip right off, creating the term “it’s raining cats and dogs.” Another old saying refers to the law allowing a husband to beat his wife. However, the stick could only be as thick as the husband’s thumb, creating the saying, the “rule of thumb.” Later this month I have planned a day trip to Paris and a weekend trip to Morocco (both trips require a passport)! I know a little excitement is exactly what I need in order to be prepared for settling down and starting classes the beginning of February.

#Travel #Poland #NewYearsEve