It was always my favorite time at my parents orchards – they looked beautiful with all the fruit trees blooming with white and pink flowers!

In Polish “maić“ means “to decorate”. Nature looks amazing with new leafs, flowers and tons of beautiful colors!

Here are some popular Polish sayings about May:

Boże daj, Boże daj, aby wiecznie trwał nam maj - God please make May last forever

Gdy kukułka kuka w maju, spodziewaj się urodzaju - When the cuckoo sings in May, expect to harvest

Dużo chrabąszczy w maju, proso będzie niby w gaju - Lots of beetles in May, means that millet will be like in the grove

Grzmot w maju nie szkodzi, sad dobrze obrodzi – Thunder in May does not matter, orchard will have a lot of fruit

Deszcz majowy, to łzy młodej wdowy – Rainy May means tears of a young widow

Kto się w maju rodzi, temu się dobrze powodzi - Who is born in May, has a good wealthy life

Ślub majowy, grób gotowy – May wedding, grave ready (A lot of people in Poland think that May wedding brings misfortunes, although I totally do not agree!I got married in May and we are really happy:))

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If the thought of a long and tiring ride through the motorways of Western Europe is what is putting you off touring Poland, how about flying to Poland, and then hiring a bike when you arrive? Cameron Motorcycle Tours in Bielsko-Biała is run by two enthusiastic bikers who will rent out anything from an Aprilia Pegaso 650, ideal for a beginner or intermediate rider, to a Harley Davidson 883 Sportster. They will even hire out the protective Gortex or leathers, though as it tends to be motorbike enthusiasts who are attracted to touring Poland by bike, most arrive with their own protective clothing.

While exploring Poland by motorbike is just as straightforward as it would be in any other part of Europe, there are some distinct advantages of doing it as part of a group tour. If a tour is led by experienced riders who know the roads well, they should be able to make the riders in the group aware of some of the best roads to ride on as well, and give tips on dealing with some of the more challenging roads. Best of all, they should know all the best places to stop – whether it be a quick lunch en route, or a more leisurely feast at the end of the day. Ah yes, the end of the day, when riders are feeling weary – that’s when the support van that comes in handy.

Another advantage of going on a guided tour as part of a group is the friends that you make – fellow biking enthusiasts. You might not be able to persuade your friends from home to come and join you on a two-week tour, however you might not feel like going it alone. On tours, you’ll meet fellow enthusiasts, and hopefully bond with them during evening meals and nights out, when you’re not in the saddle.

Please let us know if you attended a tour like that in Poland and what you thought about it!

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)

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Running is great. Not only is it an effective way of keeping fit (skuteczny sposób na utrzymanie zdrowia), staying in shape (trzymanie formy) and coping with stress (radzenia sobie ze stresem), it is just so accessible. Unless you take your running seriously, and are striving towards beating your personal best, there is really no need to shell out on specialist running gear; an old t-shirt and a pair of shorts will do the job. The only investment that you need to make is a decent pair of running shoes (and a properly-fitting sports bra for the ladies), and you’re ready to go…

Running is so easy to fit into a busy schedule, whether you choose to set yourself up for the day with an early morning run at sunrise, or prefer to wind down after a hectic day with a gentle jog in the evening, if you are determined to feel the benefits of regular running, you’ll be able to squeeze it into your day one way or another. And if you find yourself away from home on a business trip, don’t worry – simply pack your running shoes, and go exploring. Hotel staff should be able to point you in the direction of safe and scenic routes to explore.

Poland has no shortage of beautiful places to go running – from costal paths along the Baltic coast in the North, to challenging off-road tracks in the mountainous regions of the South, as well as scenic trails along the side of lakes and through forests. Even if you find yourself in a city, you shouldn’t have to look too hard to find an interesting urban route or park where you can enjoy a gentle jog – or something more strenuous – at the same time as exploring new surroundings.

Every year, thousands upon thousands of runners who apply for a place in the world-famous London, Boston and New York marathons fail to secure a place, however if you are determined to take part in a marathon, and test yourself on 26.2 mile (42 km) route, why not sign up for a marathon in Poland? Most major Polish cities host a marathon, or at least a half marathon, and unlike some of the more over-subscribed races in the world, you should be able to secure a place quite easily.

The running calendar in Poland is really quite rich. You could run a marathon almost every weekend if you wanted to – you could even run three in one week if you wanted to. Many marathons in Poland are organised and financed by regional governments, rather than solely by sponsors, as in many other countries. This keeps the cost of participating low, and makes taking part accessible to everyone.

Wherever you decide you run, and whatever time you complete the course, as soon as you’ve collected your medal and posed for photographs at the finish line, you can relax for a couple of days – enjoying massages to help your muscles to recover, and of course rewarding yourself with plenty of tasty Polish cuisine. After all, you’ve earned it!

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)

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For visitors not familiar with Polish history, Gdańsk offers other surprises, including its architecture, which is an accurate reflection of its cultural and historical complexities. After all, pre-war Gdańsk – which was known as Danzig at that time – was under Prussian and then Hanseatic rule for centuries, and its architecture beautifully shows this: a visit to this northern city is not unlike a visit to Amsterdam and its buildings are surprisingly elegant. Though badly damaged in WWII – entire sections of the city were completely destroyed – the city was rebuilt to faithfully show how it looked originally. To step into Gdańsk’s Main Town (Główne Miasto) is to truly step back in time about 400 years, straight into a Hansa merchants’ settlement.

The obvious starting point is the Główne Miasto (Main Town), the largest historic part of the city. A walk down the main thoroughfare, ul. Długa, to Długi Targ, the open square on the street’s most eastern corner, is quite natural – a stroll in this direction is very flowing, as it starts at a massive gate called the Brama Wyżanna (Upland Gate) and leads smoothly away. It’s worth noting that the gate was the starting point of the Royal Route, used by Polish monarchs on their visits. To retrace their route, go through the ornate Brama Złota (Golden Gate) which is next to the Dwór św. Jerzego (St. George’s Court), itself handsomely decorated with Gothic touches and a statue of St. George and the dragon. From this point, ul. Długa goes directly to the town hall, with shops, cafes and restaurants scattered on either side of the street, along with gorgeous touches on the buildings, such as original engravings, colourful doors and massive windows. Upon reaching the Town Hall, look up – the roof, the hall has a massive golden statue of King Sigismund August, and the height of the hall, combined with this statue, ensure that the building is a striking aspect of the city’s landscape.

From the Town Hall, continue down ul. Długa to the Brama Zielona (Green Gate), which marks the exit from the Main Town and leads out to Gdańsk’s stunning waterfront area. Boats still travel up and down, and a short walk away from the city will offer tantalising glimpses of the famous shipyards and open water. There are plenty of boat trips along the Motława Canal, particularly pleasant during the summer months.

When the mood to shop strikes, turn left out of the Green Gate, pass the former granary district of ul. Chlebnicka (Bread Street) and Brama Chlebnicka (Bread Gate), and then turn left onto ul. Mariacka. This picturesque little street has cool cafes, chic bars and luxury shops galore; the buildings are all dragon-faced gutter spouts and bohemian charm. But look closer: inside those terracced houses are high-end jewellery and clothing shops, all begging to break your resolve and your holiday shopping budget (You can actually haggle the price of the jewelry – we did it and it works!) And once you have shopped to your heart’s content, sit down at one of the amazingly atmospheric bistros to enjoy a glass of wine, before heading up to the Kościół Mariacki (St. Mary’s Church). This is the largest old brick church in the world, and if you climb its 405 steps to its tiny viewing platform, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking – or, depending on your fitness level, perhaps a breathless – view of this beautiful, waterfront city.

My husband and I stayed at Hotel Królewski. We had a great view of the Medieval waterfront. Hotel was really nice and reasonably priced for such a great location. In the mornings a breakfast buffet is available. Later the hotel’s restaurant serves international dishes. The staff is available 24/7 and can help guests organize sightseeing tours and taxi transportation.

Hotel is located on a little island. The island itself has several points of interest, such as the Maritime Museum, the Baltic Philharmonic and the Gdańsk Marina. All are within 500 ft.

Długi Targ is half a mile from Królewski, which is the heart of the historic quarter. Gdańsk Główny Train Station is 1.5 miles. Everything was within walking distance and we were really happy with our stay.

We took couple days to explore Sopot and Gdynia as well. You can get there pretty fast from the train station, with local trains leaving every few minutes.

Definitely visit Gdańsk  if you have a chance! If any of you have different suggestions in regards to stay in Gdańsk  and places to see there – please let us know in comments below.

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)

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