In Norblin our old haunt

In Norblin, just outside the centre, was once a little silver manufacturing location. We visited it a couple of years ago, before it was cleared out and a lot of the equipment was taken off to museums (I took more photos on that day than are on the post, but they were in the old days on film!). Now it houses a Biobazar, something very new to Poland and Warsaw (I say new, it is a year old but not really 'local' for us).

Admittedly it is a little small and not quite organised the way I would have expected but it really is a great start and a great usage for a historical building. It has most everything you need, an espresso bar, coffee, Portuguese food, goats cheese/milk/yoghurt, wines, smoked goods, and of course vegetables and fruit. You will also notice that there is still some old school equipment about setting some ambiance, I am not sure how it fits with fresh produce though.

After this we strolled through parts of the old ghetto near Hala Mirowska all the way to Plac Bankowy. From here we strolled down to Plac Teatralny where we decided it was about time to refuel.

There we stopped at Restart on the corner of Senatorska and Bielanska. I have walked past this many times on an early morning but alas, it only ever opens at 11. Luckily this day it was open.

They had a fine selection of mixed drinks and some nice little cakes, I decided to go with a brownie and the usual double espresso. Marty with a strawberry lemonade, somehow she also managed to pluck out half the brownie from under my nose. So, it must have been good. We sat outside on the little wooden terrace and watched the world trundle on by.

The bar is actually made up of old books, pretty cool, no?

one of the numerous Euro2010 adverts around the city, this one targeting a new keeper for the English team.

Or just a local supporter

Then to the Norman Foster building on Pilsudskiego

Next we chanced upon some sort of drill sergeant of a fashionista grilling some young stick like things in the art of walking down a really long walk way to bad music but in the right amount of time.

There was also a small display of artistic jewellery, this clock makers piece caught my eye.

I just liked the way her skirt flowed.

 And that, my readers, was a day in the sun in downtown Wawa.

Where the Wild Things Are

Around the fields there are lots of wildflowers all different colours and shapes. There are some very pretty things. You can find these anywhere around Poland, even in the middle of Warsaw, just on the weekend I picked Marty a big posy of wild flowers from a wasteland no more than 500m from our location or residence. They are more colourful, indigenous and free so in many ways better than the store bought, greenhouse grown options found in every kwiaciarnia in town.Of course, these flowers bring many fabulous insects and birds around attracted by the pollen, and maybe just the beauty.... I can always dream.

Some form of Coleoptera, I have never been great at entomology so we'll leave it at that.

They do have hairy legs though.

And really nice iridescence

Wild strawberries (poziomki), delicious but lots of work to collect them!

The flowers of the wild strawberry

Hold on, hopefully summer goes forever this time!

Always nice hanging outside.

My real love in Poland

Is this my real love? I think I can't tell my wife, but I think I am in love.

I am often asked by people "Of all the places you have lived what are the reasons you live in Poland?", there are of course many answers to this. However, one of the greatest things about Poland is the seasonal fruit and vegetables.

Being from Australia we do have season, but being so physically big we have the chance to produce almost everything the year round. The difference is that here you can get all these things year round, but with huge air miles attached to them and therefore no flavour. Hence, why I get so excited about certain times of the year because of the foods that the season brings.

Now is THE most magical time when all of my favourites co-exist! Raspberries, Strawberries, Cherries, Gooseberries, Dillberries, and the list goes on. Here is a mini tribute to what I am stuffing into my fat mouth nowadays. These were all bought from out local open air market the prices were roughly as follows:
Cherries:            8PLN/kg
Strawberries:      7PLN/kg
Dillberries:          20PLN/kg      
Gooseberries:     16PLN/kg
Raspberries:        16PLN/kg            
N.B. current exchange rates are 1AUD =PLN3.39, 1GBP=5.25, 1USD=3.37, 1NZD=2.66, 1EUR=4.24

The jagoda is often translated by Poles incorrectly as blueberry (which is actually Borówka) but is actually the Dillberry

Raspberry, delicate, sweet and fresh are unbeatable (with the exception of my favourite Blackberries)

Strawberries, always great, especially in jam.

We decided recently that cherries are to Poles what grapes are to Australians you get the bursting with freshness and flavour so that they actually make a popping sound in your mouth when fresh.

Agrest is the often maligned gooseberry

They go from green to purple and are really high in pectin, great for jams.

So slice 'em up

And whack 'em together with some greek joghurt and you are eating healthily and happily.

What is it?

We haven't had one for a while, so what is this?

Rainy Days

We've had a few rainy days of late, it has been a little sad for the Euro games but still the atmosphere for them seems to be kicking along. But rain provides other opportunities. It allows you to take some photos that maybe you wouldn't be able to see at other times of the year.

There must be some Irish in our neighbourhood.

It is funny as sometimes rain is a nice thing, it can be soothing and somehow warming. A lot like handmade presents and brown paper packages tied up with string.....sounds like a song.

home made stamps for a present.

Another post all tied up.