Friday, March 03, 2006

Shopping trip....

TO POLAND!




In actuality, it was my second trip to Poland. The main items of interest are pottery and some crystal. On my first trip, I bought home a "service for 4" of some pottery that I fell in love with. This is a very unique pattern (only saw it in 2 stores, and only 1 store sold ALL the pieces) and it's not the traditional Polish pottery patterns that you see. (try doing a search on eBay or Google and see what I mean about traditional patterns). This pattern was not BUSY or heavy. Some of these patterns can make make you nauseous with all the "motion" they seem to have!

I had only purchased a set of 4 because I wasn't sure if Scott would like them. When we married, we never registered for anything, therefore, we had no formal dinnerware. I had some Pfaltzgraff, but only 1/2 a service, and due to the history behind it, I wanted to get rid of it. So I brought home this beautiful pattern, hoping that Scott would like it as well. And to my relief, he did!

So, was hoping to make a 2nd trip to Poland to finish off my set and acquire some service pieces to go along. It was a blessing that the CAC (Community Activity Center) had one scheduled for the end of February, so that I could go before Scott left for school for a month.

The trip in itself was okay. It was definitely not as fun as the first trip, due to the bus driver's "ulterior motives"...that is the only thing I can see that would have him ruin our trip as he did. We were told to use the bus bathroom "only in extreme emergency" (meaning he didn't want to have to clean it afterwards). He only allowed us 1 hour in the BEST shopping place (there are about a dozen pottery shops in a quarter mile radius!), and then dumped us in downtown Boleslawiec for 2 hours. It wouldn't have been so bad, except there are exactly THREE shops we could go to...one pottery shop and two crystal shops. We spent the better part of an hour and a half standing outside freezing (the driver claimed he couldn't park downtown...but another tour bus made a liar out of him!).

In the end, though, I got all the stuff I wanted/needed/desired. I not only got the additional service for 4, I got a cool platter, creamer, sugar, salt & pepper...all the neat stuff. I got an amazing deal on some crystal wine glasses - two sets of 6 (red and white wine glasses) for $29 American money! I got to eat some more genuine Pierogi from the Restaurajca across from some shops and I have this amazing cupboard filled with Polish pottery....check it out.



And yes, there IS a bowl there that doesn't match the rest...I won it at the Spouses Club monthly bingo back in October. It has some green it in, so I decided to keep it!


Sandra and I freezing in Boleslawiec

10 comments:

Carl V. Anderson said...

The dishes, etc look lovely. Sorry the shopping experience was fruitful but unfulfilling due to circumstances beyond your control. The Pierogi sounds absolutely wonderful...mmmmm.....

Here from Michele. Have a wonderful weekend!

Sandy said...

The photos make give such an image. I feel like I'm in the aisle with you.

Michele sent me.

Jugglernaut said...

Hi, Michele sent me. LOVE all that beautiful blue!

Anonymous said...

I am green with envy. What I wou;dn't give for a big old nasty turkey sized platter....

Someday, Suzanne, someday....

So glad that you had fun!

Anonymous said...

Hi Linda, Michele sent me

OldLady Of The Hills said...

It's amazing that you could get so much lovely stuff for $29. Here, your lucky if you can get one item that's really really nice for that same money...
I'd love a Pierogi right now! YUM!!

Here from Michele this early A.M.

barbie2be said...

i like the bowl that doesn't match. :)

thanks for dropping by my blog.

Joe said...

I would love to go to Poland.

Great pics too!

Here via Michele.

Anonymous said...

Linda 29.00! Oh my gosh! Ok, now I haven't made a Poland trip and Chad's already told me he doesn't care as long as I like it...so you're going to have to give me tips on exactly where I should go and if you know how to go there that would be awesome too! I may still wait until Chad gets back, just so he can be home with the boys and I don't have to try to figure that all out. You know I LOVE the pattern you have, do they have more of that?

I did get a blue piece at the Bazaar that wasn't too busy and really like it, but I prefer Green and love your pattern!

BTW did you complain to CAC about the bus driver? Did Sandra find what she was wanting?

Unknown said...

While I myself would NEVER set foot in Poland (I'm Jewish and I don't go where I'm hated, thank you very much) I do love Polish pottery and have quite a few pieces. I think it's beautiful as complementary serving dishes to my regular meat dishes.

Here via Michele