Busy, Busy Week

Dang, it sure was a busy week!! There is plenty to do here in Wrocław when you put your mind to it!

On Monday Craig and I went to see the European tour production of "Stomp" at Teatr Polski. Immediately I found out I wouldn't have had to buy the high-end ticket since there wasn't a bad seat in the house. One cultural curiousity...as each performer came out for the first time there was a rousing round of applause. Thankfully, there were only ten performers or we would have missed the whole performance!! We really enjoyed the performance and were amazed at how music could be made from garbage cans and rubber tubes!!

Tuesday a group of 35 woman went to tour the Colgate-Palmolive plant in Swindica. It is the largest toothpaste producer/distributor in Europe and is a brand new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. As per usual, my natural sense of curiousity got me in trouble after peeking inside a cardboard box. I didn't touch anything...just peeked! I didn't get booted off the tour, thankfully!!! After the tour ended we were treated to lunch. Nobody enters the cafeteria without washing their hands. The only way into the cafeteria is through a hallway of nothing but sinks! The Polish people eat their main meal at lunch so the food offerings were pretty heavy for my taste. I settled on cole slaw and a plate of penne pasta with olive oil. The server - who spoke no English - asked me if I wanted anything else and when I said, "no" he loaded up the plate with pasta (he must have thought I was hungry)! The total cost? 1,60 zlotys - about 70 cents!! Ok...here is the kicker. It wasn't penne pasta - it was yellow string beans!!! For those of you who are aware of my food "allergies" and resulting incapacitating pain that was not the best food choice for me!!

The kind folks at Colgate sent us off with a HUGE bag of goodies including tooth paste, cleaning products, shower gels, toothbrushes...WOW...we won't have to buy any products for the duration of our stay here!

Wednesday I spent time learning the art of Polish egg craving! This is an art that has been passed down for over at thousand years and I'm certainly not sure how their hands and wrists can do it because mine ACHED!!!!! The tool of the art is a simple exacto knife. Basically it is a potato peeler motion in a VERY detailed, minute motion. The eggs are traditionally dyed using garden materials. Did you know you can dye an egg red by boiling it with onion skin??? Pretty cool stuff!!

Here is the scoop on Easter in Poland. We were told to stock up on groceries Thursday. Most of the smaller stores will be closed and the larger stores - though open on a limited basis- frown on people shopping when Jesus was suffering on the cross. On Saturday we were told to sit out side any church in town because there will be a parade of people bringing their elaborate baskets to be blessed. The baskets contain ingredients used for the Easter meal and I'm told are beautiful. One tradition I absolutely do not understand is on Easter Monday. The tradition is called, Smingus Dyngus, results in woman getting a bit wet if they venture out of the house before mid-day. Hoses, water balloons, you name it are aimed on unsuspecting woman and girls. Evidently it originated as some type of courting ritual but it seems a bit odd to me!! Looks like Craig will be doing the early day dog walking!!

We're thinking about going to Prague next weekend. I'm a bit concerned things might be closed due to the Easter holiday so I may need to do some research first. Of course I will keep you posted!