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Zakopane

Now there will be two Zakopane posts -- I've been having trouble with both the blog itself and the internet connection. But it was such a lovely weekend I think it deserves two posts!!

Zakopane has been known for decades as a resort town, and it lives up to its reputation. The town is filled with hotels and pensions; the streets are lined with folks holding signs: pokój z łazienką -- room with bath; the sidewalks were covered in ice and snow, with mounds of snow on either side. And there was a number of beautiful Polish-style wooden houses -- decorated with wood carvings, and often with sweet-looking porches -- even sleeping porches. Beautiful in winter, and I bet the breathing would be great in summer as well.




The downtown pedestrian mall was a bit touristy for my taste, but most importantly Zakopane is surrounded by mountains, and in February those mountains are covered in snow.

We took advantage of it -- sledding, downhill skiing, cross country skiing along the mountain ridge (where Steve took the above picture), even a Polish "Kulig," or horsedrawn sleigh ride at night, with torches, across the snowy farm fields.

 Zakopane takes its vacationing seriously, and so did we.


 We were able to end the trip with a visit to the Aquapark, a three-story glassed in building with views of the mountains, many pools, slides, etc., including a geothermal pool outside that you could slide into, AND some of the most amazing water jets for pounding out those kinks in our shoulders and backs... We were having so much fun we didn't even venture into the saunas. I guess you always have to save something for a return visit!

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