Try saying that when you’re in a hurry!

The Ryszard Majchrowski bakery has been in operation since 1945, and is one of the last remaining traditional bakeries with wood fired ovens in Northern Poland.

This morning, the locals (and two Australians) were willing to stand in a queue for more than an hour, waiting for their chance to buy some of Ryszard’s famous bread.

The excitement mounted as each customer emerged, bearing huge bags of loaves and rolls. Knowing nods rippled down the ever increasing line and our English interpreter – also patient in anticipation, told us, ‘this is the best bread you will ever taste.’ And still we waited, along with the local policewoman who joined us – time to spare? Keeping a watchful eye on the interloping Aussies, perhaps?

When our turn came we were served by an extremely busy shop assistant, (the only shop assistant and we suspect, original owner of said bakery). Using my best Polish I ordered Chleb Ziemniaczany and several Chleb Pszenny rolls. Excitement was high among our waiting friends.

Of course, bread such as this required a quick visit to Kat at the local Spar, to pick up jam and soft cheese. She could barely contain her excitement when she saw us at the checkout … but she did.

You are wondering, as we were, about the quality of this mystical loaf?  It did bring back memories of the joy of cutting into a tank loaf or double high-top as a child. Only the bread today was particularly disappointing, and now we have heaps of it…..sigh. But still, there were small mercies: we did get out of the Spar gate without Kat’s assistance.

Yes, Mr Vidler – if only we remembered the Vegemite, it might have improved the taste of our daily bread – and help us eat our way though some of our recently purchased stockpile.

Such is travel. You can’t win ’em all Farquhar! And now – onto our next Polish adventure …