Tree update

One final note about my Christmas tree . . .

After asking several Poles what to do with my tree, and receiving answers like, "chop it up and use it for firewood", "I don't know", and "I plant mine" (it was live), I finally took one friend's advice to sneak it into the garbage area in the courtyard in my building. He told me to make sure no one saw me do it. Easier said then done when the object you are carrying is an 11 foot Christmas tree.

So with the help of another friend, I took the tree to the garbage area under the cover of darkness. Luckily we didn't encounter anyone as we maneuvered the tree down 66 steps, but my luck ran out when I tried to put it in the garbage shed. The tree was far too big to go in and blocked the door when we tried to lean it against the nearby wall. In the next location we tried, it blocked the neighbour's clothesline.

Finally, somewhat desperately, we just dumped it in a pile of snow against one wall and took off.

I then spent the next 40 minutes sweeping up all the fallen needles, so the trail couldn't be tracked to my door. I did consider creating a trail to another neighbour's door, but figured since everyone else keeps their tree up until the end of January, it was going to be pretty easy to realize the Canadian was the culprit.

Happily, I noticed that the tree was finally gone this weekend. I'm not sure if the garbage men took it, or someone else chopped it up for wood, but it's no longer in the courtyard.

Click, click, click

Life's been keeping me busy lately. January is performance review time at work and I've spent many hours the past few weeks writing and delivering assessments to my team. Plus, I seem to have had more social engagements this month then I have had in the past 3 months combined. I've also been getting out and enjoying the snow (skiing!) while it lasts.

But I realized the other day that this blog isn't the only thing I've been neglecting. Poor Flan's claws are so long that she can no longer sneak up on anyone, which is imperative for most cats (when I say most cats, I do not include Small. It is hard to imagine 10 kg Small sneaking anywhere). Instead the click, click, click of her claws on the hardwood and marble floor announces Flan's presence far in advance.

I'm happy to report she's back to her stealthy self today. Small, consider yourself warned.

Choinka

Although the Poles keep their Christmas trees (choinka) up until the end of January, I'm going to start the process of dismantling mine today. The branches started to droop a few days ago, so much so that the lower ones are now resting on the floor. The tree is looking a bit sad.

However, it was a glorious tree in it's earlier days. At over 10 feet tall it just fit into the corner of my apartment. I've never had a tree this big, and am probably unlikely to have one this tall again. You can get an idea of the height of it from this pic, with my dad on the stairs in the background for perspective.



Decorating such a tall tree was a bit of challenge. I stood on chairs, a ladder, and the windowsill, before Dad suggested moving the tree over to the stairs to decorate the top. Then I ended up buying an angel for the tree the day after I finished decorating the rest of it, so we had to use Dad's trick again to get her on top.

I went on a bit of an ornament buying binge in December (but what else does one go to Christmas markets for?) Here are a few of my favourites:



I bought this fairy in the Christmas market in Dusseldorf. Somehow I thought she was unique, so I was a bit irritated when I saw her featured on a website for a home decor shop here in Krakow. Oh well, I still love her.

My mom bought these two, as well as a few hot pink sparkly ones, at the local food (and everything else) market. I thought she was crazy at first, but the striped ones looked fantastic on the tree, and even the hot pink sparkly ones grew on me.










These straw ornaments seem to be quite typically Polish, as we saw them on trees all over Krakow.
















Even after Christmas, I couldn't stop buying ornaments. I found these two last Sunday in a small town about 20 km from Krakow. They were in a flower store, which was the only store in town open that day.











These two are pottery, and are made in the southwestern corner of Poland. This pottery is extremely popular in Krakow, and I hope to purchase some dishes in one of the patterns to bring home with me.











Here's one final look at the dressed tree:



Now I just have to figure out how to get it down the three flights of stairs.

Gingerbread

Gingerbread is a big deal in our household. As children, we always made gingerbread men both to eat and to hang on the tree. As we got a little older, gingerbread cake became our traditional dessert for the big turkey meals of Christmas and Thanksgiving.

At least one of my writers made a ginger cake for Christmas, so I knew it existed in Poland. I wasn't quite prepared for my mother's gingerbread quest though. It started when she saw gingerbread cookies being used as decorations in the hotel we stayed in in Krynica, and continued through lunch in Nowy Sacz, where gingerbread was decorating a wreath hanging from the ceiling.

Somehow we ended up with two different types of gingerbread cookies, and three gingerbread cakes. But even with all of that gingerbread in the house, I couldn't resist purchasing this gingerbread fish (yes, fish) when I saw it.



Mom declared it her favourite of all the gingerbread items, particularly after she whipped up some cream to go with it.

I have to agree - I've just polished off the tail.

Christmas in Krakow

Christmas in Krakow was everything I had hoped it would be. My parents and I started our celebrations with a lovely walk through the very empty old town. I've never seen the Rynek so quiet.



After wandering around snapping pictures of the many Christmas decorations, we ended up at a local hotel, eating a traditional Polish Wigilia dinner. And yes, it was 12 courses (10 full courses, with beverages and bread taking it up the required 12 dishes). Here's dish number 5.



Luckily for me, 4 or 5 of the courses were fish, which I don't eat, so I had room for the dessert course, which was actually three dishes: gingerbread, compote, and some kind of fruit cake.



I should mention that both of my parents made it through all 12 courses. I really don't know how they did it, as I was full just from my paltry 6 or 7.

After dinner, we walked (waddled really), over to the yard of the Franscican church for what turned out to be my favourite moment of the evening. We stood amongst the crowd watching the live nativity play, complete with donkeys, goats, lamas, and sheep. Several times during the play, the audience spontaneously joined in the hymn and carol singing, filling the night air with ancient songs.

Families were wandering around the site, warming their hands at bonfires, while children joyously tried to pet the donkeys and lamas, who were really more interested in munching hay.

Around 11 pm we went into the Franciscan church to view the nativity scene inside. Enchanted by that display I decided we should visit another one in a church a few minutes away, before heading to midnight mass. As we walked through the Rynek this time it was alive with people on their way to mass or just enjoying the atmosphere with friends.

After visiting the 2nd nativity scene, we made our way back to a third church for the mass, but unfortunately the church was full. No worries I assured my parents since there are dozens of churches in the old town. However we left it a little too late, because even though we tried 4 more churches as my father quipped "there was no room at the church."

No matter, the whole evening was lovely, and more than just a little bit magical.