Vodka and Pickles

Żubrówka or Bison Grass vodka. Krakow, Poland. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

‘Firewater’ was what my family called my Russian grandfather’s homemade vodka. It burnt as it slid down the throat, which is why the best way to drink the stuff was to throw back the whole shot glass rather than sip it. Vodka on it’s own is one thing, but vodka and pickles on the side … Read more

Zakopane Folkloric Souvenirs

Zakopane Folkloric Souvenirs. Zakopane Folkloric Keepsakes and Souvenirs, Poland. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

There are two markets in Zakopane, a small market of wooden shops in the main pedestrianised street in the heart of the old centre, and another larger market that sprawls along the route to the funicular that goes up to Gubałówka hill. Here are my tips to shopping for Zakopane folkloric souvenirs Most of the … Read more

The Tatra Museum, Zakopane – a Living Local Culture on Display

The Tatra Museum, Zakopane, Poland. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

What’s so refreshing about a visit to The Tatra Museum in Zakopane, in the southern Tatra Mountains in Poland, is that the artefacts on display don’t belong to some long-past culture or dying traditions. Rather, the exhibits in this splendid building explain a rich local culture that is very much alive on the streets outside. An … Read more

Folk Music in Zakopane, Where Music Fills the Streets

Folk music being played in bars on the main street of the old town of Zakopane in winter, Poland. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Snowboarding may have been a big attraction for returning to the mountain town of Zakopane in Poland for Terence, but for both of us, the exuberant live folk music, highlander culture, and hearty food were also major draws. Every night and any night of the week in Zakopane, you can stroll down the main cobblestone street and … Read more