Life / Smoking ban - will this be coming to Poland like other EU countries? [183]

A non-smoking campaign has already declared some 300 eating and drinking spots as non-smoking areas: nwe.pl/National.php?article_id=434

I have to say their choice of sponsor does seem strangely unsurprising.

Travel / Purchasing train tickets via the internet [5]

They could vary - EuroCity should have a nice 1st class, but then again its 2nd class is usually OK too. I haven't heard of PDS trains, and it could make a big difference (for instance, TLK (i.e. Cheap Rail Lines - no, I'm serious) can be pretty shabby.

Travel / Purchasing train tickets via the internet [5]

I've used it and it works great, but you have to remember to carry official picture ID with you when you travel. If you don't, it's just a piece of paper to them.

As far as 1st and 2nd class go, they vary wildly from train to train. Going 1st class doesn't guarantee you a luxurious experience, but you are likely to travel with less of a crowd.

Food / Is there McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut etc in Poland? Food survey. [222]


Being so far from the sea, that's understandable, I guess... Lamb is a problem nearly everywhere in Poland.

Food / Żubrówka + apple juice anyone? [41]

... or "Szarlotka" - depends where you are.

Food / Is there McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut etc in Poland? Food survey. [222]


If you have access to that, you're one lucky man. For me, the place might as well be Ft. Knox - I know it's there, but it does me no good.

Food / Is there McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut etc in Poland? Food survey. [222]

I understand your pain. I wish there was somewhere to get decent Mexican food myself. But are you serious about shipping refried beans from the States? Are you looking for a special variety or something, or are they just plain kidney beans? And Habanero sauce is available in specialty shops in Warsaw, so my guess Poznan shouldn't be too far behind. Warsaw Tortilla Factory has apparently started making corn tortillas, though I've only seen them made into tortilla chips so far.

Life / Why is Polka music played in Poland so much different than in the USA? [36]

Who am I to argue with a fan and an expert? But I would stand by what I said in the sense that this is what most people mean when they use the name.

Life / Why is Polka music played in Poland so much different than in the USA? [36]

"Muzyka folk" is basically Anglo-Irish-American folk, possibly with some "world music" thrown in. "Muzyka ludowa" is Polish folk music. The former is far more popular in Poland, though Polish music has its fans, too.

Life / Are there Bank Cheques and checkbooks in Poland? Do people use cheques? [8]

Well, some Polish banks will give you checks, but they're more like certified checks for a certain amount, which you can deposit in an account - you won't be able to pay with them in a store.

Credit card maximums depend on the customer - it all depends on the kind of money you make.
Sofas can be had for anywhere from 1000 to 20,000 zlotys, or probably even more. The lower end of things should be manageable on any credit card.

Similarly to furniture TVs probably cost much the same as anywhere else - it's your choice how much you pay. Besides, if you don't have the limit, you probably can't afford it anyway. ;-)

Life / Why is Polka music played in Poland so much different than in the USA? [36]

The thing is, polka music is originally NOT Polish, but Czech. The name has nothing to do with Poland, but with the tempo - "polka" as in "half" for its 2/4 time signature. Polka music was at one time very popular in Poland, and in many other Central European countries as well, but that does not make it Polish. And as far as young people's preferences, they've simply moved on.

News / Brits battle to save historic railway in Poland [9]

The railway can be used for a variety of purposes (people actually used it for local travel before it shut down), but I think tourism would be the most obvious. Unfortunately most Polish bureaucrats don't see industrial heritage as having any real historical value, and even if they do, they prefer shopping malls.

Travel / Warsaw Metro & Public Transport & WiFI in Warsaw [10]

If the city authorities could see straight, they would adapt the existing local train network instead of building another underground line parallel to it. But that would limit all kinds of pork-barrel contracts and goodies for backers, and no politician is going to go for that.

News / Earth Hour - possible in Poland? [62]

Turn all the lights on public buildings off at 10 a.m.? I'm sure they can swing it.

Food / No Curry in Tri-city area...damnit. [8]

I remember eating at Taj Mahal a few years ago - the food and service were fantastic. Now I wonder if the management's changed since then, and if the food is as good as I remember it.

Life / Warsaw - most boring capital in Europe, after Brussels - comments? [78]

You're right, I think I should have put more of an emphasis on knowing the right people.

News / The polish Zloty getting stronger versus British pound? [15]


Currency values are largely determined on the free market, and it would take either a) a tremendous amount of cash, b) a monstrous conspiracy or c) both of these to move the prices as much as they have over the past few years. Fact is the pound may be suffering from the UK's engagement in the USA's war against the infidels, ehm... I mean terrorists. Its economy is also more reliant on the American, and there's no end of the sub-prime crisis in sight.

On the other hand the zloty benefits from a) Poland's overall sound economy, b) its accession to the EU, which to investors has made it seem much safer than previously, c) relatively high interest rates compared to most other stable economies (meaning more profits for bond investors) and d) continuing foreign direct investment in the country, which has to be converted to zlotys, driving up demand for the currency.

I'd say that all points to continued growth. Of course anything can happen in the real world.

Life / Warsaw - most boring capital in Europe, after Brussels - comments? [78]

Warsaw is not for seekers of the obvious, but it does have some decent places. Actually Praga seems to be the place to be if you're into arty/cultural happenings, but you really have to know where to look/know the right people.

As far as Krakow goes, I lived there for the better part of a year in the mid-90s, and I can't think of a thing that could make me move back. I was dying to bust out by the end and haven't gone back for more than a few days since. I hear that it's changed for the better, though. Ventilation in the pubs, and all that. :-)

News / Polish leader promises compensation for confiscated propery in Poland [17]

I'm surprised anyone would question the need to compensate former owners of stolen property. If someone stole your wallet an he was caught by the cops, would you tell him to keep the wallet because you have a new one now? Same deal here.

News / Polish leader promises compensation for confiscated propery in Poland [17]


This has nothing to do with Washington, other than the fact that Polish Jews also lost a lot of property to the communists, and many of them/their descendants now live in the U.S.

History / WWII planes in Poland [38]

Very few are left. The Germans did a pretty thorough job of destroying the Polish Air Force in 1939, so only a few examples of pre-war planes were preserved. Under communism you couldn't own a private plane, so few people restored them. AFAIK the oldest you can hope to get in flying condition is 1960s vintage.

News / John Cleese in polish advertise [30]

Very, very funny. The ad rocks.

UK, Ireland / The Daily Mail's Swans Are Back [29]

Hey, isn't swan Poland's national dish? :-]

Food / Is there McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut etc in Poland? Food survey. [222]


Have you tried Warsaw Tortilla Factory? It's "nouvelle Tex-Mex", but neither I nor anyone I've talked to has ever complained about it.

Life / Styles in Poland: What do people wear? [65]

Well, I was one of the sarcastic ones. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings - it just didn't seem like that serious a subject. I guess I never thought anyone would really worry about their clothes that much.

For what it's worth, you should be fine wearing what you normally wear.

Life / Styles in Poland: What do people wear? [65]

You forgot the obligatory pointy hats. But don't worry, they issue them to everyone at the border.

News / Alchemy Polish vodka commercial - "Polaks innovations" [48]


"Quite a few"? You must be really searching them out. In 12 years in Poland I have only seen kilts on people advertising a language school - hardly an insult.

And as far as hypocrisy goes, I don't think Poles are any more hypocritical than anyone else. I do agree, however, that as a nation we could learn to be more sensitive towards other ethnic groups. Of course it's pretty hard to convince people of the advantages of tolerance in as ethnically monolithic society as Poland, but it's probably going to happen sooner or later with more people travelling abroad and more coming in from other countries for various reasons.

I still say all that doesn't mean that Poles should not speak up when someone portrays them as a band of idiots on national TV.

News / Alchemy Polish vodka commercial - "Polaks innovations" [48]


I would say the stick is no bigger than that up other ethnic groups' behinds. People tell all kinds of jokes in private, but not many would feel it wise to make a commercial playing on Jewish or black stereotypes - they'd get eaten alive. When Poles speak up against these kinds of things, all of a sudden they have no sense of humor. Right.