so said the waiter last evening. Goose menus all over the town.

Goose and croissants (rogaliki) for St. Martin – where did these traditions come from?

November 11, yesterday, was the National Independence Day, but also, I just learned the memory of St. Martin. This day, especially in Wielkopolska, is associated with a very interesting tradition of preparing geese and baking Martinique croissants. It was customary for Saint Martin to take fat geese to the court, to the monastery and to the church, because in the late autumn the geese are the fattest and most plump. Poland is an important producer of geese. On St. Martin’s Day it is also customary to bake croissants of various sizes, stuffed with poppy seeds, marzipan, hazelnuts or jam.

Last evening at the Grand Hotel for dinner there was a special goose menu. Mike indulged in some. Sorry I didn’t take more pictures. I kinda stuck to fish. It’s goose time in Poland. Now we know. : )

Breakfast this morning with Mike. I made eggs and added some tasty treats from the bakery.

I leave Sopot tomorrow and fly to Prague. Through Warsaw. The last leg of my trip. Ship sails on Wednesday, so I have a couple of days to tour Prague. I miss Mike already! I probably would have come back to Sopot for another week, but Mike is traveling to Warsaw and won’t be there.

I’ll check back in with you all on Monday.

PS I have been meaning to post this picture of the apartment’s oven. More pictures/icons I had to figure out. Thank god for google.