| "I'm too young to be collecting dishes!" Yes, these | | | | original to the store you purchased it from. The |
| famous last words came out of my mouth | | | | Golden Rule of Polish Pottery Shopping in Poland is: |
| shortly after moving to Germany. I'd see the | | | | if you find a piece/pattern you like, purchase it |
| stuff everywhere - decorating the walls at a | | | | there! You probably won't be able to find the |
| friend's house, overflowing with food at a potluck | | | | exact same piece anywhere else so if you can |
| gathering, being sold by at a booth outside the | | | | stand the idea of potentially losing a couple dollars |
| post store. And don't forget each and every | | | | vs. getting that special piece, do it! |
| shopping bazaar - the table surrounded by a | | | | At about 5 pm, it's time to head back. The bus is |
| frenzy of ladies was sure to have a well-stocked | | | | crammed, the luggage spaces underneath the bus |
| selection from Poland or Italy. | | | | are as full as they can be, and every bump in the |
| I resisted its tempting allure for the first couple of | | | | road you hit produces a worried 'gasp' from the |
| years and believe it or not, my husband caved | | | | exhausted shoppers. The Stuttgart USO |
| first. I was engrossed in a pile of carved wooden | | | | automatically gives everyone two seats and by |
| boxes as my husband explored the pottery table | | | | this time, you are saying a silent prayer for that |
| nearby. Then, he uttered those nine little words | | | | ingenious perk. You get back to post around the |
| that he's probably regretted ever since, "what do | | | | wee hours of 3 am and barely have the energy |
| you think about buying some Polish Pottery?" It | | | | to conjure up that little white lie to your spouse |
| was all over. We went home with five different | | | | on how much you *actually* spent. Your body is |
| pieces that afternoon but it was just the | | | | screaming with a mixture of exhaustion and |
| beginning - countless patterns, every color | | | | cramps from the bus but it was worth it! |
| imaginable, and plenty of shapes and sizes - it | | | | Especially when you move back to the states - |
| turned out that not only was I not too young, I | | | | watch QVC and you'll see what I mean. The |
| needed it all. | | | | other day, those silly, smiling ladies were selling |
| I took my first Polish Pottery shopping trip a few | | | | one dessert plate for $42! |
| months later with the USO - you know, the one | | | | On a final note, I recommend going with a group |
| that you spend an insane 30 hours in a state of | | | | to Poland as opposed to just you and the family. |
| pottery-induced, | | | | Bus trips, although tight and you have to concede |
| it-doesn't-matter-how-much-I-spend euphoria. | | | | to the groups schedule, it's better than getting |
| Everyone loads on a big touring bus at 9 pm on a | | | | your car stolen (which happens quite a bit - and |
| Friday night and at around 4:30 am, the shopping | | | | how easy do you think it will be to track it in a |
| madness begins. Shop owners know when the | | | | former Eastern Block country??). I've heard so |
| busses arrive and put themselves out of bed | | | | many of these car jacking stories - one woman |
| early to make that extra money. Each shop is a | | | | brought her husband along to watch the car ... he |
| race - not only against your new friends on your | | | | did - watched it get driven right out of the |
| bus but against that next tour bus you HAVE to | | | | parking lot. I had a friend tell me that she'll only |
| stay in front of. Dinner plates, dessert plates, | | | | drive her car to Poland if her husband goes AND |
| coffee cups and saucers, serving dishes, baking | | | | he drives the car in circles in the parking lot while |
| dishes, tea sets, salt and pepper shakers - | | | | she shops. I've also seen small groups, whether |
| anything you need for the kitchen or dining room. | | | | friends or organized by a resourceful military |
| Recently, I've seen pottery items that you can | | | | spouse, hire a chartered bus and driver. Each |
| use outside the kitchen such as wall decorations, | | | | pitches in for a portion of the bill. Not only are |
| planters, and some rude ones I won't mention ... | | | | they leaving the driving to someone else, they |
| Some people have their one, beloved pattern | | | | are buying themselves peace of mind. Better safe |
| while others, such as myself, mix and match for | | | | than sorry! |
| an eclectic look (they are also easier to replace if, | | | | Ready to go? |
| heaven forbid, something breaks). Stop only for a | | | | USO dot com - Those affiliated with the military |
| short lunch of goulash to keep your energy level | | | | have this resource. Check your local USO's page |
| up and keep going. | | | | for a schedule of tours. |
| The trip is also a learning experience, not just a | | | | Enjoy Tours dot com - this company does plenty |
| chance to lose control. When looking at the | | | | of trips to great destinations, but they don't have |
| pottery, try and purchase only 'category 1' items. | | | | that '2-seats-per-person' policy that the USO does. |
| The category indicates level of flaws so the | | | | Four shops in the area of Boleslawiec, Poland and |
| higher the better. Category 1 pottery is oven | | | | American-friendly: |
| safe for up to 425 degrees F and dishwasher | | | | * Pol Card |
| safe (although I don't trust it ... I don't even trust | | | | Karty Platnicze w Polsce |
| my husband to hand wash it ... if you saw my | | | | Pawie Oczko sklep Firmony |
| collection of crystal glasses, you'd understand). | | | | Ul. Masarska 1, 59-700 |
| Category 2 is oven safe for up to 325 degrees F | | | | Boleslawiec |
| and 'probably' dishwasher safe. Category 3 and | | | | * Ceramika Art Wiklina |
| higher should only be used for serving. Also, if you | | | | "Cerwik" K. Roznicki, A. |
| find the label 'unikat' on the bottom, the pattern is | | | | |