Pretty Crazy...

There is major construction going on through the city of Warsaw as they are expanding the metro line.  The current subway has one line that goes north and south covering a distance of about 17 kilometers.  The new line that is being developed will go east and west and will cross underneath the Vistula River.  This is quite a feat and is a very labor intesive project that will take a few years to complete 

One of the stops that they are expanding for the new line is a few short blocks from our house.  Imagine our surprise this week when we heard that the entire metro line had been shut down for hours at this particular stop. 

Why you ask?  Well, during their excavation the metro workers found an unexploded World War II bomb buried underground.  Pretty crazy!  Kinda cool...also a bit scary! 



The metro station near our house where the bomb was found. 
Can you pronounce the name of the station?





Two Breakfasts?

We've come across a wonderful blog that shares great information about Poland.  This past entry was one I wanted to share.  It discusses the schedule and way that the Poles eat, including their two breakfasts.  This is one of those things that I should have written about sooner as it is an interesting cultural twist.  Enjoy, and thanks Polish Language Blog for perfectly describing it.

When you’re abroad, never assume that your habits are the same as those of your business partner or client. In Poland, as in many other countries, even mealtimes are different.

Breakfast, Second Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Supper  - that’s usually the order.

Many British business people are caught out by the Polish second breakfast tradition. They decline the first because it’s too early and are ‘faint with lack of nourishment’ by the second. It’s just the Polish way of doing things. After a light breakfast, called śniadanie, before leaving home for work in the early morning, Poles eat a second breakfast any time between 10 am and 1 pm, which replaces the British lunch, and then work straight through until they finish work.

In fact, most people stay at the office during the British lunch hour and are not in the habit of going out to buy something to eat; they bring whatever they fancy eating for ‘second breakfast’ from home. The lunch culture is spreading more widely now, because there are more representatives of foreign businesses, particularly in large cities, where business culture is changing and more people work with foreigners.

Lunch, in fact called “obiad”, is usually eaten at home with family any time between 4 pm and 5.30 pm, and the hours depend on how quickly one gets back home. Some non-Polish business people admit to being caught out by this. The answer, when you know it, is simple. Have a good breakfast and take a piece of fruit or a snack to keep you going. Poles have another meal after their lunch “obiad” meal, called “kolacja”, which means supper. It is a light meal, usually a small sandwich or snack with tea any time in the evening.

So, in fact, if you are invited to a restaurant for a meal it could be either “obiad”, a midday meal ( a substitute for a late lunch) or “kolacja”, supper in the evening , both of which will be very elaborate and rich, as Poles are known for their hospitality not only at their homes but also when inviting guests to restaurants.