Friday, March 8, 2013

When in Poland....

When in Poland...you must become an expert on the local delicacy, Polish vodka so we spent our past Saturday doing just that!  Through the International Women's Group we took part in a super fun vodka tour!  We traveled to three different places to sample and learn all about the different type of Polish vodka.  The first stop was at a former vodka factory that is now a bar.  It is a beautiful building that survived the war in Warsaw.  Our next two stops were at fun bars.  Needless to say a good time was had by everybody! We don't have any pictures of people since the quality of the photos has an inverse relationship to the amount of vodka drank!

Only in Poland is there a religious shrine outside a former vodka factory!

The old vodka factory - it is located in a part of Warsaw that was not as destroyed during the war.  So many of the buildings are still original.

They are converting parts of the old factory into condos and lofts


One of our favorites - made with Bison grass that is said to be hallucinogenic

Nothing more Polish than drinking vodka with pickles and herring

Another stop on our tour - this bar only serves shots of various types of vodka!

Walnut flavored vodka





Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Celebrating friends!

We feel so fortunate to have made great friends in our time in Warsaw.  So, I was excited and happy to host a baby shower for our friend Stephanie and her baby girl-to-be!  We had a fun girly brunch and a great time celebrating.  And, the theme was based on the Dr. Seuss book "Oh the Places You'll go"....a fitting theme for a group of expatriate women.  Steph, we can't wait to meet your precious baby girl!
Celebrating Baby Girl Powers to be!

Yummy brunch

Gifts galore!


Decorate your own onesies!

We had to incorporate the Polish flag!

Momma-to-be!

The mom-to-be and the hostesses!

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Tom's Bulgarian adventure!

Last weekend Tom traveled to Sofia, Bulgaria on business.  Due to some flight scheduling Tom wound up having an extra day to explore Bulgaria.  Tom and I have been to Sofia in the past, so Tom wanted to do something different besides seeing the city.  Fortunately, he was with a Bulgarian colleague who's grandmother still lives in a small mountain town on the Greece and Bulgarian border.  So, the guys went off on a road trip to Grandmother's house!  Angel's grandma lives in an 18th century village in the mountains.  As the population has moved away there are only 80 people left living in the village.  Tom loved visiting and grandma even sent him home with two liters of her homemade liquor!  

Mc Donald's in Sofia

A rally protesting the Bulgarian government


On the way to Angel's Grandma in Pirin



Angel's Grandma's village from the 18th century

Grandma!

Grandma's friend in the village

Tom loves Grandmas!