The latest lady to feature in my Dlaczego Kochamy Polskę (Why Do We Love Poland?) series is Lois, who quite simply has a fabulous blog on food and life as a Polish Housewife. As someone who loves Polish food but is not much of a cook, I love checking out her recipes, ideas and food adventures, which you can find on her blog. Similarly to me, Lois also writes some parts of the blog in Polish and has a clear undivided love for the country.
Dlaczego Kochamy Polskę: Lois from The Polish Housewife
Where in Poland are you from? (or Where in Poland do you live?)
My husband worked in Poznań for five years, and I lived in Poznań most of that time. We’ve been back in the United States since 2015, although I continue to write about Polish recipes. We’re looking forward to visiting Poland again in October 2018.
When did you first travel abroad?
Living close to the US-Mexico border, as a child, my family camped on the beach in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico long before it became a spring break destination. That would have been my first border crossing. I lived in England in the 1970s and in Spain in the 1980s.
Dlaczego Kochamy Polskę: Lois from The Polish Housewife
What is your favourite city in Poland and why?
It may be because it’s most familiar to me, but I have to say Poznań. I was immediately taken with the architecture, the colorful and charming Stary Rynek (Old Market Square). We felt that Poznań had so much to offer, all kinds of concerts, sporting events, museums, international restaurants, and more shopping malls than any city needs (lol). We took up bicycling while we lived there and loved the fact that we could safely ride from one side of town to another using a combination of bike paths, parks, and paths through the forest. I think of it as little Kraków.
What is your favourite town in Poland and why?
I have visited more cities than towns but I’ll say Bolesławiec and not just because of the pottery. Ed made friends with a family from Bolesławiec while playing golf. We had a wonderful barbecue at their home, and tour of the town.
Or Swarzędz where my friend, Elzbieta lives. We have biked the streets of the town and paddled our way around Swarzędz Lake.
For me, the memories and emotions have to do with the people we met more than the location.
Dlaczego Kochamy Polskę: Lois from The Polish Housewife
What is your favourite village in Poland and why?
Let me say, Swiebodzin, for its impressive statue of Jesus’s and Kalinowe Pola golf course.
What is your favourite province in Poland and why?
If I pick a province other than Wielkopolskie, I would say Zachodniopomorskie, home to the Amber Baltic Golf Course and Międzyzdroje with its beautiful beach and amazingly long pier.
Dlaczego Kochamy Polskę: Lois from The Polish Housewife
Why do you like living in Poland?
Like every American I knew in Poland, I loved the pace of life. I felt that in Poland people take time to enjoy nature, time with their friends rather than seeing how much work they can cram into each day. But that is relative, I heard someone from Brazil say that Poles were just go, go, go, all the time. 😉
I also enjoyed the variety of plants and change of seasons. Something we don’t have in the desert in Arizona. It was fun to see different (new to me) animals such as storks, magpies, hares, wild boar, and hedgehogs.
What is your favourite Polish drink and why?
I have taken up the Polish pastime of making tinctures, so I will say wisniak. Cherries steeped in vodka and sugar for months. I love to share it with friends after dinner.
Dlaczego Kochamy Polskę: Lois from The Polish Housewife
What is your favourite Polish food and why?
As someone who writes a food blog that it predominantly Polish, I have so many favorites! I’ll say. . . Placki Ziemniaczane i Gulasz. It’s full of flavor and contrasting textures, true comfort food.
What is your favourite random fact about Poland?
That Polish Kings were elected and most often not Polish.
If you didn’t live in Poland, where would you live?
Ties to our families keep us in the US. But I have also enjoyed visiting friends who live in a small village in France. I envy their day to day life.
Dlaczego Kochamy Polskę: Lois from The Polish Housewife
Thank you and Dziękuję bardzo, Lois. You can find all of Lois’s stories and photos here:
https://facebook.com/PolishHousewife
https://instagram/PolishHousewife
https://pinterest.com/PolishHousewife
Thanks once again to Lois the Polish Housewife for being the latest in my series of Those Who Love Poland! If you love Poland and run a blog or are a travel writer, please get in touch, you can be featured, either e-mail jonny (at) northernirishmaninpoland (dot) com or head to my contacts or work page and get connected! You can also subscribe to Northern Irishman in Poland by filling in the form below! Safe travels!
