Traveling somewhere besides where you live to celebrate a birthday is something that most people have heard of, or probably have done themselves. This usually entails making arrangements a couple of days to a couple of months in advance ( Think reservations, friends coming with you, time off from work, etc). I didn’t do any of this.

The way I saw it was: my birthday just happens to be while I’m traveling. Maybe I will do something to celebrate my birthday, maybe I won’t, because I am having a blast every day. This wasn’t my 21st birthday. This wasn’t my first time celebrating away from Arizona. This wasn’t my first time celebrating away from the USA.  No need to go all out for some huge extravaganza. I was turning 30 after all (Sigh).

Wellll. Thanks to the kindness of a friend here in Krakow, it turned into one of my most memorable birthdays. My friend, neighbor, and amazing dancer (actually one of the world’s best ) Rozalia had invited me out to hang out with some of her friends at a local pub. I will never turn down an opportunity to meet new people and go new places, so I said yes.

We began our night by going to Komisariat Klub. A fun-filled Kazimierz bar, with a theme from the 70s & 80s. Picture disco lights, a small television screen housed in a large wooden frame (if you were born in the 80s or before, you know what I mean), and plenty of decor that tries to look “futuristic” in a not so subtle way. The place was packed, but thanks to Rozalia’s friends, there was a table waiting for us when we arrived.

As with any new group of people, you never know how you will be received. Within minutes there was a whole round of Polish vodka on the table, and we drank to my birthday; that not only set the tone for the night, but also let me know that I was more than welcome. We spent hours drinking, laughing, and having good conversation.

Then the birthday cake came out, complete with candles and everything. Really? How cool is this.  It gets better though.

We then leave Komisariat to go to a “real” Polish dancing club. This wasn’t some pretentious place where people only go to “be seen”, wait for some D-List celebrity to come in, or have to have some outside source come pop things off. No. This place has a spirit all its own. Standing room only, and the whole place is a dance floor.

I am no great dancer. In fact, I usually try to avoid the dance floor at all costs due in large part because of my lack of rhythm and two left feet. Last night different. The alcohol helped with getting on the dance floor, but the main thanks is due to the two lovely women of our group. They are such skilled dancers that they could make a guy like me feel like Fred Astaire for a night.

I ended getting to bed around 06:00. A long night with new friends. Poland is an amazing place, with great people. Thank you for making this a birthday I won’t soon forget!

You Are Awesome!

-Mike

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Please leave them down below.