Polish Pottery Adventure

I call it an adventure, because that is what it was.  A freaking adventure.  I had no idea what I was in for.

And I look forward to doing it again.

I tried to prepare myself.  I browsed patterns online by googling "Boleslaweic Polish Pottery" but what was online was such a small percentage of what was in the stores.  And I couldn't even decide what I liked best from what I found online.  So I went into the whole experience somewhat ignorantly.

But I have learned now.  

-to take pictures of what you buy, because you will not remember what you have purchased in the first store by the time you get to the fifth store.

-to bring blankets.  The bus can get cold.  

-to bring better ear phones.  Some people don't sleep on the bus.

-to bring a list of what you are looking for, who you are purchasing for (if anyone), and what you want to buy for them in addition to yourself.

-to be more diligent when checking prices.  even within the same store, prices can vary wildly based on paint usage and pottery quality.  

I will be ready for next time.

It's all just so disorienting and overwhelming at first.  You get on a bus on post at midnight.  You pick people up in Graf at 12:30 am.  Then you head to Poland.  There is a stop at a truck stop at 3:30 am in Dresden.  You arrive at the first two shops at 5:30 am.  They are opened early especially for this tour.  (I believe the third and fourth ones are opened early as well because it was still before 8 and 9 am when shopping there.)

So you step off the bus in the cold, dark morning and start picking up things you like, and seeing how much you want to buy before the gal next to you decides she likes that same pattern.

I was very concerned about patterns at first.  Then I decided that it all pretty much matches, even when it's not the same pattern.  They use the same or similar colors and the painting is all hand done.  It just all looks cute.

Each store has a "thing."  This store is very reasonably priced but that store probably has the best quality stuff.  This store has patterns you won't find anywhere else.  That store also sells baskets.  This store has unique items (whether it be children's tea sets, paper towel holders, onion carriers, cheese dishes, etc.), that store has discounted Christmas themed items.  You select what you want, carefully listening to the women who have been on this trip before (my friend Laura being one of them as this was her FOURTH time), and pay attention to what lies in the "next store" and compare it to what you are looking for versus what is directly in front of you.  Then you check out (after waiting in line) and they wrap up the pottery and, if you buy enough (which I almost always did), they box up your things, tape up the box, and hand you a permanent marker.  You then write your name on the box and where your stop is - Vilseck or Graf.  The boxes will be sorted later when you arrive home and they ride home on the bottom of the bus.  (Hence why you forget what you purchase.  Especially for purchases made prior to 7 am.)

It.  Was crazy.

We hit up 9 stores before 11:30 am when we stopped for lunch.  We hit 5 stores thereafter.  We got back to post at 8:30 and after we unloaded the bottom of the bus, I was leaving post by 9 pm.  I had basically pulled an all-nighter.

For pottery.

For really pretty (and functional!) pottery.  :)

This bridge is something the people of Boleslaweic are proud of.  Kind of an symbol of modern times in a not so modern country.  Yes, you can tell the difference between Poland and Germany.  Germany looks much more affluent, although Poland is beautiful too.

This is where we had lunch.  Apparently it was a vacation home of Hitler in  Poland, although this is NOT it's original location.  It was moved from it's original location and it now here, as a restaurant and hotel.  It also opened early for us.  (It was supposed to open at 1, and we arrived at 11:30.)

More restaurant.

The place was taken apart, moved and reassembled.  Here is a section where you can still see the "L" of Heil and  Hitler's name.

Here some of the inside decor.

Here is an attempt to capture many hot air balloons that we saw on our way back.  Of course, this is taken from the bus.  Oh, and it's a sucky picture.  :)

And *here* is some of the things I purchased.  I did purchase some gifts, so of course, I'm not picturing those items.  Now that I have everything unpacked, I am making a list of items I would still like!

Pretty serving bowl

Ladle

wide butter dish.  love this pattern.  

funky serving plate.  I just loved it and when I got home I was mildly astonished that I paid as much as I did for it.  Like I said, at first, I wasn't checking prices too thoroughly.

Utensil holder!  Love this.  Have been needing a larger one for a while and this is bee-yoo-tiful.

HAD to have a sugar/creamer set.  They are pricey for what you get though.  And the spoon was sold separately.

My onion holder.  I throw my garlic in there too.

my large rectangle baker!  I was about to pay ~$70 for one at the shop.  It was pretty, but then I found this one that I liked equally as well for ~$30.

Tea bag holder.  They had a lot of cute "little" items.

Did I mention they have baskets?  I was shocked to learn this.  They also had stools, but I did not see the need for one.  This basket is really sturdy and ran about $10!

Pottery in action.

My loaf baker.  I think this would make meatloaf or banana bread taste even better.

Small baking dish.  This is one of those items I unpacked and had completely forgotten I had purchased!  It's SO pretty though!  It's no wonder I picked it up.

On my wish list for next time:
Gravy (or sauce) boat with dish
paper towel holder (more rare than I thought)
muffin pan
possibly a tea pot/warmer set.  If just for looks.  They are friggin cute.
(My friend Laura loves the tea pots and the sugar bowls.  I think she has three tea pots!  And she kept looking for more!  I called her a tea pothead.)
mugs?
maybe another bowl or two?  I like bowls.
Perhaps another basket. Baskets are always useful.

not sure if we'll get a full plate set.  I did pick up some cereal/ice cream bowls in the same pattern as the butter dish, as well as a clearance pattern that coordinated.  the plates would be pretty, but not all that much fancier than our everyday Pfaltzgraff set we have now and like very much.  I like the idea of just getting accent pieces.  Plus, then John won't get mad at me if he knows this is the majority of the pottery we will buy.  I did spend a bit.  But it's an investment and it's good stuff.

The more I look at it on my counter and in my cupboards, the more I love love love it.

So yeah...I may have to go back and do it again.