POLAND (Part II) - Mountains and Castles

While in Poland visiting our friend Dorota, we were able to make a couple of side trips into the mountains in the south on the Czech border. Some friends of Dorota, Ela and her relatives took us for a tram ride and hike.

We also wandered through a spa resort community in the mountains.

We wandered through the resort, and also went for a walk through the woods to a waterfall.

On another day we were able to spend a couple of days with Dorota's bother Bogden, and his friend Lucy. The trip included lunch at a fish pond. Fresh fish straight out of the pond!

Stopped on the way, at a "wooden" church. The entire church and everything in it is made of wood.

We spent a day wandering through a castle.

The castle is surrounded by elaborate gardens.

Quite the dining hall, wouldn't you say?

Some former tenants of the castle...

Now that's what I call a real castle!

Stayed overnight in Poland's version of "Park City"

Another day we went hiking through the mountains to a lake. Their "trails" are much more developed and formal than what we are used to seeing in the U.S. and usually involve a restaurant along the trail.

Lovely, peaceful mountain scenery.

Rounded out the trip with a visit to a local mountain spa resort built during the German years.

Then we're off to another castle (ruins this time).

Ah, the trophy room!

Don't lose your head!  ...and then there's the village stocks, for public shaming...

We have coat racks, they had armor racks...

Of course, no mountain/castle tour would be complete without this little park full of miniatures of all the local castles and historical buildings. Didn't know there were so many in Poland.

These guys put the rest of Europe to shame...