Krakow | Going home on a terrible exchange rate

I travel to Europe at least twice a year. I'm surprised I haven't blogged about it here yet. I still have my parents there - living in Krakow, Poland, my hometown. Well, I'm planning this year's summer trip and it hurts!!! Dollar is so week comparing to Euro, but also to polish Zloty. It feels like it lost half the value. Let me recall couple of examples from my past trips to Poland. Real life examples, not the exchange rates that everyone can look up.

Those exchange rates between Dollar and Zloty that factor in the cost of living and the economic situation here and there - the real life exchange rates. First, fuel prices made the cross-atlantic flights go up from what I remember to be about $700 in the summer season to up to $1200 for a direct flight between NYC and Krakow.

Second, I have a shopping list that I'm going to have to start writing on the toilet paper.  All my friends want me to bring something for them.  The weak dollar and strong polish zloty made combined with the price of certain goods (like clothes, sports shoes) naturally being lower in the USA than in EU due to their quotas and protectionism - all of these factors make shopping in the US very affordable and in high demand.