Domestic Activities

On Sunday I headed off to that pinnacle of consumerism ….. Tesco. (You thought I was going to write Wal-Mart.) Tesco, a British competitor of Wal-mart, has a superstore in Krakow. Upon arriving one takes a slanted movable walkway up to the first (what we call the second) level. Next, one pays 1 zloty (PLN) for the use of a shopping cart. (Buggy to you Southerners.) Actually, it is a deposit towards returning the cart. All of the carts are lined up and each cart is chained to the next but not to all. You place your 1 zloty coin into a box on the handle and the chain releases freeing your cart to roam up and down the aisles collecting all of those things one cannot live without. Just like back home. The only other things that make Tesco in Poland different than shopping in the States is that none of the packaging is in English and one does not hear moms and dads yelling at their children in the aisles. Well, they could have been chastising their kids, but I do not understand enough Polish to know if they were.

Since I could not read the overhead signs I proceeded to roll up and down the aisles looking for the 15 items on my list. What to my amazement did I see but an employee, clipboard in hand, roller blading past me. Now, that’s another great idea that needs exporting to the U.S. (Note to self ….a potential column is great ideas to export.) While corralling my cart around the store (you see, it had not one but 2 bad wheels) I passed domestics, car tires, electronics, the deli counter, breads, then finished up near the beer / wine / spirits shop by the side door. (Yet another great idea.) I found most of the items on the list (just like at home) and headed towards the check-out area where I had my choice of several unoccupied check out lanes. (Unlike at home.) After paying by credit card I returned my cart, received my deposit and left for the taxi stand.

All in all a good afternoon of …… what am I saying? It was drudgery in the fun city of Krakow. I just wanted to let you know that there is a little bit of domestication in this assignment.

My Apartment

(The living room.)

One of the benefits of this assignment is that IP is paying for an apartment for me. So a few weeks back I went apartment hunting and the best part was that I was not spending my money.

I had three requirements in mind: a short walk to the market square and office, two bedrooms and a quiet neighborhood. Then Toni threw in one more: overlooking the Planty. You see, she had enjoyed the Planty when she was here in November and wanted to be able to see it when she returned each quarter. But first, what is the Planty?

The Planty (park in Polish) is a ring of grass, trees, benches and paved paths that was built on top of the original moat that surrounded the fortress walls. After years of neglect, the moat became a swamp and the town fathers decided to fill it in and create some much-needed parkland. In its place they created a very picturesque and peaceful circle around the old town that is used by people day and night.

So Toni, having enjoyed her strolls on it, wanted me to have a view of it from my apartment. So requirement #5 was added and it resulted in a great apartment that overlooks the Planty. And as an added bonus, I have a balcony that looks right down onto it.

The apartment building is new construction sandwiched between two very old buildings. It has 7 floors and I am on the top with my apartment having two levels. The first level has the kitchen, half bath and a LR that has a blond-colored wood floor. An open wooden staircase leads to the second level where the two bedrooms and bathroom are. The bathroom even has a shower stall, with 6 shower heads, almost as large as the one at my house. The master BR has a wall of windows, and get this, a half ceiling of windows.

Not a bunch of skylights but a series of panels of glass, as you can see above. And the view is great.

Included in the rent is a DVD player, 27 inch TV with satellite and the best part, weekly housekeeping. Plus it has a doorperson / guard 24 / 7.

All in all a great apartment although it does need a few wall hangings and some homey touches. (I did drive to Ikea to buy some things for it but that’s a story for a different time.) I feel quite fortunate to have found an almost perfect apartment. Here is my address in case you are in the neighborhood:

Brian D. Issing
ul. Sw. Tomasza 34 / 25
31-027 Kraków, Poland

This is what it means:

ul. Sw. Tomasza 34 / 25 (35 St. Thomas Street - Apartment #25)
31-027 Krakow, Poland (Postal Code, City, Country)

New additions to My Apartment:

(Stand by the door from an artist in Krakow.)

(Living room chair from an artist in Krakow.)

(Candlestick holder hand-forged in Praha, Czech Republic.)

(Looking towards the kitchen and front door.)

(Ceramic fish from an artist in Krakow. Glass vase w/ pussy willows - a gift from my training colleagues.)