where in the world is Lexi?

So after reading everyone's posts, I've decided to participate in Where in the World Wednesday, hosted by Miss Classy in Philadelphia. I've been thinking about it for a while, but always forgot until it seemed like it was too late, but here I am!

This is me in Zakopane, Poland, which is a resort town on the Polish-Slovak border. When I lived in Krakow, we went there several times, as it was only about two hours away and such a neat place. I really adore it. It lies at the foot of the Tatra Mountains and is a ski resort town. They've hosted several ski championships in past years too!

There are two streets that intersect and all along those streets are amazing restaurants and booths selling all sorts of wonderfulness. People sell handmade wooden toys, knit sweaters, blankets made of sheepskin and wool, mittens and hats, slippers and everything else you can think of.

Including puppies!!!


These puppies are called owczarek podhalanski, or Tatra Mountain sheepdogs. They are the most adorable and wonderful dogs you've ever seen, and as you can see, I totally fell in love with this little guy! Also, they are huge. In that photo, the puppy I am holding was about six weeks old! They grow up to be larger than St. Bernards! I want one in the worst way. In a perfect world, I'd have an owczarek and a corgi :)

I remember the first time I saw them- there was a group of teenage boys selling these puppies. They had a few of them in boxes and you could hold them. In my not so great Polish, I asked the cost. I almost died when the boy told me that he was only $75! If I were to find one here, they'd probably be a few thousand dollars, as they are a very rare breed in North America. Of course, if I were Polish, and not a "rich American," I could bargain, but as soon as they hear my accent, it's all over! On another occasion, a Polish friend's sister bargained one of the boys down to around $25! (of course, these puppies are technically too young to leave their mother, and don't have the proper papers to come into the U.S., but that's a whole other story!)

So one of the days, one of these Polish puppies will be mine :) Yes, Steve is aware of my obsession with them!

Did you ever fall in love with anything crazy while abroad?