Polish Pottery 2016

Driving over to Bolesławiec, Poland to shop for Polish Pottery is like a "thing" here. I think the women of all the US Army bases in Europe single-handedly keep pottery in business - it was funny how many people we ran into whom we knew! I've been going once a year all three years we've been here: 2014, 2015, and now 2016! Have to go back once more in 2017 :)

Some girly friends and one baby came over at 4:30pm on Friday, we packed up, and headed out! We arrived at the Elim Mission Center just after 10pm and quickly went to sleep, anxious to get some beauty sleep before a big day!

 I love the morning views out the lace-clad windows.

In my first post I said this was an abandoned insane asylum, correction, it's actually an old abandoned hospital. I don't know which is creepier!

We were out the door ready to rock and roll at 8am. First stop: Ceramika.

It wasn't opened for another 15 minutes so we walked around and took pictures. I love how many colors there are in this one corner.

Dreamy!

  All the colors!

 Photo cred: Whit Wild.

Pottery as far as the eye can see!

 A ginormous cup and saucer used as a planter - so cute. Photo cred: Morgan.

Baby Eliza, adorable as ever. Photo cred: Maranna.

Photo cred: Stephanie.

The heart patterns!!! LOVE!

 If I could take home one (or 12) of each of these, I totally would.

The new desirable pattern is red white and blue. I wonder who they're catering to... :)

 For lunch the plan was to go to the Blue Beetroot (as always!) but it was closed for a party. Luckily Maranna knew of another place which turned out to be even better, note to self!

Beet soup. So good.

 The gals!

 Lunch is served.

 I got traditional meat pierogis. What are pierogis? Also known as varenyky, pierogis are filled dumplings of East European origin. They are made by wrapping pockets of unleavened dough around a savory or sweet filling and cooking them in boiling water. I could have eaten 10.

 Loot for my mom, a sucker for all things patriotic.

 Replacement plates for my friend Jami who taught me all there is to know and passed down this traditional excursion.

Always fun times with the ladies! Already looking forward to one last trip - hopefully with Chris and the kids so we can officially get a magnet for our travel board. And apparently, and I have NO IDEA how I've missed this all three times I've been to Bolesławiec, the town center is super duper cute!!! Exhibits A & B from the interwebs (I even did a Google street map view just to be sure this is true and actually exists!):

Now I really can't wait to go back!