Poland Travel Diary… What We Saw, Ate, and Felt Along the Way

This is Part 2 of our Poland trip.

If you missed the beginning, you can read why this trip meant so much to us here → (Part 1)

And I’ll have a full travel guide coming next… this is just the story.

Why This Trip Was Different

When we planned this trip, it started with a promise.

A promise we made with Krzys and his parents in the summer of 2024.

We didn’t know then that by the time we got on that plane… he wouldn’t be with us.

But somehow… he was in every part of this trip.

Looking up in the Polish forest — nature’s quiet reminder to breathe.

Ostrołęka… Where It All Slowed Down

We started in Ostrołęka, staying with Krzys’ parents.

And when I say they welcomed us… I mean they welcomed us like family.

The table was always full.Fresh food. Homemade meals. Coffee always ready.

It was simple… and it was perfect.

This table was always full: breads, fruits, pastries, and the kind of hospitality Poland is known for.

We visited their schools (both educators, which I loved).

I noticed something right away… chalkboards.

Even with whiteboards available, most teachers still preferred them.It felt old school… in the best way.

The elementary school where Krzys’ dad is Director — and the same school Krzys once attended as a child.

The Bees + The Bikes

His dad is a beekeeper.

He took Tony and the girls straight to the hives…I stayed back and took pictures. That was enough for me.

Learning the art of Polish honey-making with Krzys’ dad.

And the bikes…

Everyone bikes in Poland.

To the store. Around town. Just part of life.

We rode to Biedronka for groceries and laughed the whole way back trying to carry everything.

Simple moments… but the kind you remember.

Just another ride to the grocery store — daily life in Ostrołęka.

A Few Stops Along the Way

On the drive to Warsaw, we pulled over to pick wild blueberries.

Tiny. Sweet. Everywhere.

One of those random stops that ends up being your favorite memory.

A spontaneous stop for Poland’s famous forest blueberries.

We also stopped at a salt wall in Rzekuń… meant for breathing in mineral-rich air.

Most of us stood there taking deep breaths.

Emree? She found a cat and ignored the entire thing.

Of course she did.

Breathing wellness the Polish way: salt walls like this are found throughout the country.

Salt air for the lungs… or cat therapy for the soul. Emree chose the latter.

Warsaw… History + Quick Bites

In Warsaw, Krzys’ brother showed us around.

We walked everywhere.

• Old Town

• Łazienki Park

• The Vodka Museum

  
  

And in between… we grabbed food as we went.

A hot dog from ŻabkaPierogi at local spotsAnd yes… McDonald’s Coke with no ice (still not over that)

Warsaw is one of those places you feel.

Knowing it was rebuilt after World War II… you see it differently.

Monument of resilience in Warsaw — a city rebuilt from the ashes of World War II.

Kraków… My Favorite Stop

Kraków was my favorite.

We stayed in a small apartment just minutes from Old Town… nothing fancy, but perfect.

And the city…

So much to see, but somehow it still felt easy.

Only in Poland: matching my Kentucky shirt with a KFC stop!

We:

• Walked through Wawel Castle

• Stood in Rynek Główny and listened for the trumpet

• Watched the horse-drawn carriages

• Explored the Jewish Quarter

  
  

We also visited the Wieliczka Salt Mine… and it honestly didn’t feel real. Entire rooms carved out of salt.

And yes… we found a KFC while I was wearing a Kentucky shirt.

We had to.

Auschwitz… No Words

We took the train to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial.

There’s no way to sum that up.

It’s heavy.

It’s quiet.

And it stays with you.

Some places you don’t visit for photos… you go to remember.

Walking the path where so many lives were lost — sobering, heartbreaking, and necessary.

The Part That Meant the Most

We visited Krzys’ memorial.

In Poland, cemeteries are different.

They’re filled with flowers and lanterns… glowing with light.

We stood there together.

We cried.

We remembered.

We cried some more.

And then we talked about how he would want us to live.

Travel. Eat. Laugh.

That part mattered the most.

In Poland, cemeteries glow with lanterns of love and remembrance. Visiting Krzys’ resting place was one of the most meaningful parts of our journey.

Final Thoughts

Poland surprised me.

Yes… the cities are beautiful.

Yes… the food is good.

But what stayed with me was the people… the simplicity… the way life feels there.

If it hadn’t been for Krzys, I may have never gone.

And now… I can’t imagine not having that experience.