Medieval Festival

Friday was comprised of class then studying.  We have a chemistry 'test' on Monday, which doesn't really count but it will still be good to know the information as it will be helpful during the year.  I have taken organic chemistry before so it's easier for me than others I am sure.  Following ~4 hours of studying my friend and I met up with the second years I met prior to arriving here.  They have only been here for 2 days so it was nice meeting up with them.  We went to this bar called Tapas down in the Stary Rynek.  It was their Norwegian friend's birthday and they rented out the bar.  Of course there was quite a bit of vodka available so needlesstosay people were having a good time.

The view from my friend's balcony with the sun out!

Today my friend and I walked to the Rynek to get some food.  It's only about a 20 minute walk from his place to the town square.  Today it was about 73 degrees F!  I had to take off my sweatshirt for the first time since being here.  When we pass by this fountain, almost every time, we say how Poland is so awesome and we can't believe that we actually live here.  Behind us is this Opera house and down the street is our majestic biophysics building and another few minutes down the road is the enchanting Stary Rynek.  On the other side of the fountain is the square where the Polish people rebelled for the first time against communism.

We hear some great violin music before we get to the Rynek and we were wondering of its origin.  Surprisingly the entire square was one huge medieval festival.  They had a stage with a band playing, merchants around the perimeter, and food and drink.  It was quite a site to see.  The merchants' items ranged from swords to pottery.  My friend and I grabbed some beer from a very small brewery that brought a few kegs and walked around.  Two beers were 12zl so about $2 apiece. 

My friend got 3 Pink Floyd vinyls: The Wall, Dark Side of the moon, and I am not sure of the third.  He only paid about 60zl for it so $20!  What a deal!  I purchased a knife.  I have never had a real knife and I found one that was a special Cold Steel fire fighters edition worth about $100 in the states.  I got it for 30zl or $10.  They had huge swords and real armor for sale, sadly I did not have enough zls for a new outfit.  

The middle armor was worn by the Polish way back when.  They were the most extreme and fear fighters in Polish history.  When on horseback the feathered wings would catch the wind and clap like real wings.  The noise they created was synonymous with their brutality and when the invaders from the north would hear it they would stop in their tracks and retreat. 

We left the Rynek after getting some pancake type bread filled with mexican type food and another with strawberries and bananas.  We went back to his apartment to study for a few more hours.  We ended up coming back to the Rynek for a late dinner, around 11pm.  We went to this place called Seaux and I ordered some beef fajitas.  Very delicious, unfortunately benign on the spices.  The place had very ambiance and we were even able to catch a Spanish Premier League match.  

In town is a Marriott Hotel that plays college football games so I am hoping they play NFL games.  We might explore that tomorrow after we study.  Bed time.