Poland

Czesc from Poland!

Welcome to Poland sign

After a smooth, two-hour drive from Poland, we effortlessly crossed the border into the Czech Republic. Once again, there was no one in sight at the border crossing. As we drove through the picturesque Czech countryside, it wasn’t long before we caught our first glimpse of the iconic Prague Castle in the distance. The city immediately felt like something out of a fairy tale. Upon crossing the Vltava River into Prague, we were welcomed by stunning buildings and bridges, each one showcasing intricate details that left us in awe. We also passed the famous Prague Astronomical Clock—an incredible piece of engineering that never fails to fascinate me. How did people from centuries ago manage to design and create such a complex, beautiful work of art and science? I could have spent hours just admiring it.

No visit is complete without trying the local cuisine, and Prague did not disappoint! Once we arrived, we decided to explore the city, not with a fixed destination, but with the goal of finding a place that offered both fantastic food and beautiful views. The cobblestone streets in the city center exude old-world charm but can make navigating a bit tricky. The city was buzzing with activity, and we soon realized there was some kind of protest or demonstration taking place. Parking was scarce, but after a little searching, we found a spot and set off on foot.

It wasn’t long before we stumbled upon a cozy pizza place with outdoor seating. Situated on a lively corner, it had a direct view of the breathtaking Saint Nicholas Church. We didn’t know it at the time, but we had just discovered the best pizza we’ve ever had. The pizza, called “Patata Bramborova,” featured thinly sliced potatoes, spicy salami, creamy mozzarella, bleu cheese, and a creme fraiche base. As someone who usually gravitates toward a classic marinara-based pizza, I was initially skeptical about the white sauce, but this pizza completely changed my perspective. Every ingredient was perfectly balanced, and the crispy, thin potatoes were a delight. I’m still dreaming about it!

The Motherland

We initially decided to drive out of our way into Poland so I could say I’ve been to my “mother land”. My grandpa was a transplant from Poland. My grandma would make him some traditional Polish dishes, like duck blood soup. Yuck. But mostly there were Polish sweets around the house. Paczki (basically powdered jelly donuts) and polish Chrusciki (a thin fried dough covered in powdered sugar) were regularly available in the Marks’ household. The Polish apparently love their powdered sugar! The town I grew up in was made up of mostly Polish people. As I got older I realized everyone must be related somehow. Good thing I didn’t date anyone there.

Gas Station Eats in Poland

Sausage inside a grilled flat bread

We drove about 45 min into Poland and stopped at a gas station to fill up, and ended up finding some really good food! We had been planning on finding an actual restaurant to eat some authentic Polish food, but when we stopped here and got out, the smell in the air was too good to pass us. In the back of the gas station was.. well, a little gas station restaurant. They had a good selection. Sandwiches made to order or pre-made, salads, different pasta dishes, pierogies, and these hot dogs, that instead of being served in a traditional bun, it was like it was sealed in a flatbread. They looked and smelled amazing! And they completely reinvented the hotdog for me. It was so much easier and cleaner to eat this way! 

After our meal in the beautiful countryside of Poland, we were ready to get on with our road trip. I wish we had more time here (I’m sensing a pattern here. I wonder how many more times I will say that?!). The few little towns we passed were so picturesque with big, old looking churches right in the middle. So dreamy. Also, I have noticed that the squirrels here look different. I assumed a squirrel is a squirrel. If you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all kind of deal. NOPE. The squirrels we saw were beautiful. Majestic little creatures. I will now be on the lookout for them everywhere we go!

We have one more country on our list before we have to head back into Germany, so let’s get on the road!