Poland 2020: Winter weekend trip

Poland... a bit boring, huh? I was also thinking, but I wouldn't be allowed to go with my parents and younger brother.

The original plan to leave early in the morning turned out to be 9:30 as always, but we headed northeast. Prepared with clothes and shoes for the hike, we soon found ourselves in the mountains near Bielsko-Biala. As we climbed up the "steep" slopes of the mountain (of course with dozens of stops for snacks and tea which I hate), we came across caves. The entrance was not forbidden, on the contrary, there was a map and a ladder, so why not explore it?

My enthusiasm was extinguished at the sight of my mother. It's wet, cold, I have no headlamp, no rope, and last but not least no sense. I'm a good daughter, aren't I? So, because I knew we would be going back the same way, I said I would reconsider (I didn't have to).

It was still pretty cold on these hills at the time. At the top of Malinowska Rock we had another snack, which this time was quite a treat, dad sketching a rock, mom running barefoot in the snow, younger brother shuffling around, just me and my dog appearing to be sort of ordinary hikers. I've long since gotten used to what an unconventional yet perfect family I'm part of.

The way back is in good spirits. My brother rides a shovel, we convinced my mom that the hill she wants to go to is not the one we came from and the stops are dwindling. We stand again at the fork to the cave. I throw Mom the most pleading look I can muster (I'm an adult, right? I don't really need to ask.) Inside me, a longing for adventure is stirring...for the unknown, and the somewhat dangerous. Although I try to understand my mother's fears, after a fresh breakup with a person not inclined to spontaneous exploration, curiosity wins out. I hear the last sentence of exhortation that I should only go to the first floor and not even think of going further. I don't think much of it now, I'll see what it looks like, I say to myself.

I carefully climb down the frozen and slippery ladder into the gap that seemed wider. Looking around at the bottom (and shooting an Instagram story), I assessed that I really couldn't go any further on my own. For now, my soul is satisfied (she pushed through) and I promised her that next time I would come fully kitted out and explore the whole thing!

The rest of the route I get a lecture about not knowing when I've had enough, that it's nice to have goals like finishing school and not just swimming with sharks, and that my ex was actually good for something...at least I'd survive. I have to partially agree (not out loud :D ). I'm now full of ideas on how to diversify my life with unusual experiences, go away for as long as possible, and most importantly, don't get tied down-not to anything or anyone right now (I'm in relationship two weeks later and it's a nationwide quarantine).

We'll drive to our accommodation peacefully. The first one was cancelled due to coronavirus from Italian workers who came to the area and the surrounding area was quarantined for 8 km, plus the owner's family had the flu and they didn't want to risk it. What a surprise when two dogs and a horse come to greet us. After a while, the landlord appears and shows us a room with a table tennis table, a private gym and a beautiful bathroom with a bathtub in the middle of the room. Everything had an antique but well-kept feel to it. The owner proudly shows us the bookcase, which is made from a 17th century door, but the bust of a daughter my little brother's age makes a strange impression on me.

In the morning we saw the whole garden with ponds and animals. At one of them we found a statue of our daughter sitting on a stone. If he hadn't told us yesterday that she was now the same age as me, I would have thought she had died, but maybe that's normal too. After all, what is considered normal is very relative. We said goodbye and went to the nearby Wieliczka salt mine. From the English-speaking guide speaking into not-always-functioning devices with headphones I caught about half of the explanation, but still a bit more than my parents or my brother, to whom I translate something here and there. I definitely don't recommend this walk to claustrophobics or people who don't want to walk up floors and floors of stairs. But for others, it's definitely a wonderful sight to see how something like this can be 140 meters underground. Some places took my breath away.

The last stop for our weekend trip is Krakow. We stroll around the walls of the historic center, grab a coffee and dessert, and head to Wawel Castle for the evening. This trip we have a dog with us, and although he is the nicest and most obedient dog in the world, here I get my first taste of what it's like to have a naughty dog, or at least that's what it looked like. For some reason unknown to me, our Fatima hates flying balloons and when they appear she runs and barks like a shot until they disappear from the horizon. Well...so not only was there a balloon, but since it was on a rope and they were pulling people up and down like a prospect, I guess it won't just disappear. So eventually Daddy had to bring it in from the other side, where he eventually found out that dogs weren't allowed anyway.

The sun began to set and my brother and I went to see the dragon breathing fire. My little brother turns 10 that day. On the other hand, my older brother will soon fly to Krakow airport, where we will pick him up and go home. I won't be able to get back to Brno today so I can go to gymnastics tomorrow morning, but I'll manage for once. I fall into bed after a long time and fall asleep in a second.