Date: June 2005
Submitted by Ed
Trip Tip: Making a little effort can bring a pleasant interlude on a trip and show that things are similar everywhere.
My wife and I were driving on local Rte 4 from Tarnow to Krakow where we had reservations for three nights stay. It was approx. 1330 and we were a little hungry and decided to stop to eat.
We saw a small restaurant on the opposite side of the road with several trucks stopped in parking area and along the roadside. I said to my wife that it must be like in the US, where truckers stop the food must be good.She agreed, so I did a U-turn and pulled into the lot, parked the car and we walked in.
The place was a combination of 7-11 variety store and local diner. The food was all listed in Polish, which I can read reasonably. Wondering about one or two items on the menu, I asked the man behind the counter if he "rezume (understood) English".
He laughed and said, "English, you want to know if I speak English? Of course I do. What would you like?"
So after a good laugh I told him and he called the order to his mother who worked the kitchen. Paid for the food and he said he would call me when it was ready.
After five minutes I heard "Hey, English, come get your food". We had another good laugh and proceded to enjoy a meal for me of Galumpki's and potato pancakes and my wife had a mushroom soup and some kielbasa and a small salad. My wife also enjoyed a cup of tea while I had a bottle of Polish beer.
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