Summer is not the only time that encourages people to take some time off work and relax, or attend an intensive course of the Polish language. As we all know, any time of the year is good enough to learn a language, regardless of the season.
When winter comes, it’s time for białe szaleństwo (witness madness), which means ferie or urlop na nartach (skiing holidays), and if you don’t know what the difference between ferie and urlop is, please check out the previous blog entry.
You might go skiing in the Alps, or in one of the skiing resorts of Poland.
SKI MECCA
Zakopane, a town located 85 km south of Cracow, has long been and will probably long remain the ski Mecca for both Polish and foreign skiers. It has been called the winter capital of Poland for a long time. Once you’re there, you’ll understand what it owes its name to. Besides being one of the largest winter sports resort in the country, it’s also beautifully located, thanks to which you can admire the mightiness of the mountains.
In Zakopane there are routes for advanced skiers and for those, who have just started their skiing adventure. If you haven’t tried skiing before, you can get ski lessons given by experienced instructors.
Even if you don’t ski, you should definitely take the cable car to the top of Kasprowy Wierch (1987m above sea level) to enjoy the panoramic view of the Tatra Mountains.
You will experience amazing emotions while watching the Ski Jumping World Cup. At the end of January Zakopane hosts fans of ski jumping. They go there to cheer the skiers on in the competition that is held on Wielka Krokiew, which is the largest ski jump in Poland.
GRZANIEC IN KRUPÓWKI
When you feel tired from sports emotions, skiing, snow and cold, we recommend going for a walk along Krupówki, the most representative street of Zakopane. While there you must try grzaniec (mulled wine, hot wine with spices and honey), or góralska herbata z prądem (literally: highland tea with electricity, which is tea with alcohol). Try the traditional dishes of Podhale cuisine, which are known and liked by people from all over Poland. Finally, go to the Tatra Museum to get to know the art and culture of the inhabitants of Podhale, which has long fascinated not only the Poles, but also foreigners who come here.
While in Zakopane you are bound to hear the dialect used by the native inhabitants of the region. Besides the dialect, they also speak Polish very well, so you’ll be able to practise your Polish and the declension: jestem w Zakopanem, przyjechaliśmy do Zakopanego, or Zakopanemu trudno się oprzeć, jest takie piękne - Zakopane is so beautiful that you can’t resist it (more on Polish grammar you can learn in courses of Polish for foreigners).
