So, how’s your summer vacation coming along? Are you having fun? Visiting interesting places and meeting interesting people?

And if you don’t have any wakacje this year, how are you spending your time?

Wakacje is a sacred tradition in Poland. The break might not be as long or as intense as in some other European countries, but still, it’s a serious business.

And from what I’m seeing, most Poles choose to spend their free time and hard earned money abroad. Tunezja (Tunisia), Egipt (Egypt), Turcja (Turkey) or Hiszpania (Spain) and Grecja (Greece). Last minute package trips rule! They’re cheap, so cheap in fact that even a poorly paid pani nauczycielka (Ms. Teacher) can afford a week in the sun in a semi-exotic land.

Why do Poles flock abroad instead of discovering their own country? Many reasons, but again, it all boils down to money. It’s simply cheaper to go on a last minute package trip where everything is included in the price than to try and figure out how to travel to some of the more beautiful corners of our own lovely country. Not to mention the weather – it tends to be better in those “exotic” lands.

Somebody has told me recently that for a family of four going to Tunisia makes more sense budget-wise than traveling around Poland. And oh yeah, they also mentioned the weather.

So here comes a question for my Polish readers (yes, I know you’re out there): tell us how you are spending this summer vacation. Are you staying in Poland or going abroad? And what influenced your choice?