The drive was very beautiful. The countryside has lots of little villages. Our trip to Zakopane was initially planned to be two days of skiing, but its been so warm there is no snow. Our host at the inn says there is typically about 2 meters of snow at this time of year. 

It was a bit of a walk from the bus station to our Inn, but it is so warm and beautiful out. It seems like all of Poland is here. There are many, many families and groups of people walking around. Zakopane reminds us a bit of Telluride or Ouray or Carmel - a posh little mountain town. 

Apparently Christmas Eve is the most important night in Polish holiday celebrations. Everyone meets with their family and has big, traditional meals together. As we were entering town every restaurant and shop seemed to be closing up so their staff could go to their holiday celebrations. Our host at the inn was very, very concerned that there would be nowhere for us to eat tonight as all the restaurants will be either closed or booked. They called a nearby restaurant and asked if they could squeeze us in. So we are going to a traditional, 20-course Polish Christmas dinner. It begins at 5 and is expected to last until 11!

We took a nice long walk around town to get hungry for our big feast. The city is so quaint and beautiful. The air smells like firewood and there is lots of moss and little babbling brooks running through town.

Our host here is very sweet. She just knocked on our door with a big plate of food from her family's Christmas dinner downstairs - all sorts of homemade things like bread and fish and pierogis. Even thought we're eating in less than an hour she just assumed we must be hungry. Polish people are so nice!

We hope everyone has a great Christmas!

xoxo