Friday, July 5, Entoute to Warsaw (Varshava)

 We reversed our precision dump of yesterday and brought our luggage a few blocks away after a large buffet breakfast which included green salad and vinegrette dressing. We drove to an outdoor living historical museum called a Skansen. A lively woman led us through woods and to homes wth thatching,  growing crops being grown, bee hives, chickens, a goat, a horse- drawn carriage, fields of rye, willow trees, fruit trees, vegetable gardens, flower gardens - all for the goal of being self-sustaining. It wa a warm day with a lovely breeze, and it was perfect that we had lunch outside too. Local staff served us bread with seasoned lard and a pickle on top, tomato soup, garden salad, and roasted kielbasa. It was a great meal in a perfect setting.

  Before boarding the bus to travel on we had a group photo and group name game. To celebrate its completion we were given a shot of Goldwasser, vodka with pieces of real gold, and Na zdrowiel,pronounced nah zdroh-vyeh. You can also say it when one sneezes.

  The drive to Warsaw was slow and crowded due to road work. Agneshka talked to us about education in Poland, I did some reading in RSE's book and wrote a list of some topics I hope that Agneshka will cover abd gave it to her. She read it and said they will be covered in a couple days. 

  Our hotel, Chopin B &B is a former residence refurbished with furniture from the 50's, the rooms have names rather than numbers, in one room the door to the bathroom is through the wardrobe, bees and flowers are grown on the rooftop,  and nightly concerts of Chopin's music are presented in the hotel salon. Open double windows will bring uncool breezes as well as  nighttime street noise.

 Supper together at a local restaurant with pickles and healthy bread and real mushroom soup and a mix if pierogi was filling and super delicious.  The concert of Chopin violin and piano music was a gift, songs without words of thus composer's very expressive music. The B&B served us wine and cake in the salon. 

  We then accompanied Agneshka to the roof of the building to see the bee hives; we also flowers and salad greens growing, watered by drip irrigation from two barrels which catch the rain. Agneshka pointed out a cultural building built and "given" to the Polish people. From time to time it is lighted with the colors of the Ukrainian flag and Polish flag. 

  Interesting note: Agneshka has pointed out often ugly tall apartment buildings built by the Soviets which she calls  "commie cons". She noted also that her parents' generation had to learn Russian in school and doesn't speak English well, if at all. Her generation did not have to learn Russian and is more likely to speak English well. 

  Other observations will be added; the remaining days will be full and heavy.

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