Life / CAN ANYONE TELL ME WERE I CAN BUY A 2M SATELITTE DISH IN POLAND [12]


Hi! Try the link below for a 1.8 metre dish. they also have a few others, but it's worth checking every day on this site, since the items change.

allegro.pl/item570578172_antena_satelitarna_180_cm_firmy_laminas.html

Life / Polish Jazz / Jazz nad Odra festival in Poland [28]

Tygmont is indeed great. Some people like Akwarium under Złoty Taras or Metro in the Hotel Metropol, but live music in those places is a bit sporadic. There's Jazz Bar (about 30 metres from the South-east exit of Metro Stokłosy, but it's hard to tell when they are planning a live session. When they do, it's good.

Life / Homosexuals in Poland / Hands off (PETITION) [797]


And some people wonder why we feel the need to march through the streets asserting our rights and celebrating our lifestyles....

UK, Ireland / Looking for a Polish psychologist in England. [11]

You might find one advertising on the Polish-language version of Gumtree or on one of the expat Polish websites. But If you're looking for it on the NHS, the Community Health Trust that your GP makes the referral to might be able to track one down. In Manchester there are certainly Polish-speaking Social Workers (and have been for years due to the elderly Polish population) and they might be able to sort something out.

News / EU Parlimentary Elections June '09 - Any non-Poles registered to vote? [8]

Just take your Polish ID Card and register. I've voted in local elections for the past 4 years and will vote in national elections as soon as the European rules for that are harmonised, which is apparently in the pipeline. Since we pay tax here we should vote - just ignore the disapproving glares from the Mohair Beret brigade.

News / THOUSANDS OF YOUNG ISRAELIS FLOODING POLAND [93]

For reference:


and other references at the same site.

Source: [jewishgen.org/Cemetery/e-europe/pol-x-z.html]

Life / Would you intervene in a mugging on a street in Poland? [16]

Be very careful about intervening in a fight in the street. Call the police before you lift a finger.

The Polish 'legal system' is perverse. My friend broke up a fight between some lout and a little guy he was attacking, and is now waiting to go to court charged with serious assault. The attacker, a 27 year old 6'7" farmer with a drink problerm claimed that his victim, a middle aged 5'4" doctor and the 'have-a-go' hero (who is British, and a professional person with a very high income) brutally attacked him. and of course wants compensation money.

The law here doesn't seem to take the circumstances of a 'crime' into account, prosecutors have to pass cases where the 'victim' has had medical photos done, and the 'victim' is pressing charges, on to the courts for a trial, and my friend's lawyers say anything could happen, depending on the caprice of the judge.

So when Poles start bashing each other, either call the police and don't lift a finger, or just leave them to it. You could be opening up a can of worms.

News / Nobility / Aristocracy in Poland ? [92]


No, he's just resigned.

Life / Would you intervene in a mugging on a street in Poland? [16]


No, not at all, but the guy who made the complaint to the police judges it as a chance to get plenty of money in compensation from a civil suit, and paid quickly, not in umpteen installments. That was the reason he made the complaint against the guy who intervened.

The accuseds' professions and salaries are printed on the Akta Oskarzenia, one a basic level doctor, from the former USSR, and the other a 'western businessman' earning more than six times as much. The lout who made the complaint wants money badly and this is a wonderful chance for him to get it.

In this case, the person who intervened didn't lift a finger, but the question is, how can he prove this? There is a witness, but not apparently neutral. And under Polish law, an allegation and a medical report consistent with the allegation are very hard to disprove.

BTW, the camera thing is a good idea. I stopped a burglary in the same way and my friend in UK took photos of some people lurking by the back door of a bank (next to his house) just before opening time. The police got there just in time, but the photos were used to catch the members of the group who got away.

As for differences between UK and Poland for crime - I was burgled 5 times in UK, but no street crime. I have never been burgled here, but had an (attempted) mugging here, in broad daylight and a stolen wallet, a stolen coat and two mobiles stolen. One good thing is that the local media in Warsaw publish 'crime maps', showing a red dot for each incident of street crime.

Out of interest, pickpocketing seems to be on the rise here - people only report it to the police if there are documents lost, but more and more people tell me it's happened to them recently.

Life / Would you intervene in a mugging on a street in Poland? [16]

A few year ago, when I'd just arrived here and spoke no Polish, there was a fire in the building opposite our office. I rushed to the Polish staff and asked them to ring the fire brigade. The answer from each of them was the same. "It's not our problem".

Life / Queering Krakow's Culture - Same-sex pairs of iconic Greek sculptures [16]


So stay at home and don't go to the festival. Nobody's forcing you to go. Though rednecks are welcome too.


Why not become progressive and enlightened, instead of just imitating?

And what's the connection between a Kraków arts festival and your quote about Dutch paedophiles? Not that a country with so many RC priests has anything to learn about that subject!

Life / Queering Krakow's Culture - Same-sex pairs of iconic Greek sculptures [16]


It's an art exhibition. Ars gratia artis. No longer connected to the Human Rights event. There are thousands of exhibitions, wernisaży, wystawy in Poland every year. Why is this one so interesting to you?

And check my original post to decide if I'm calling you names or making a general point. I'd also refer you to your original inflammatory post.


Do people often force you to attend events? Good God, where do you live? North Korea?

Life / Women in Poland dyeing hair red [30]

About five yhears ago, multicoloured highlights were big here. So many women in Warsaw were doing it that it got a bit silly and went out of fashion fast. You can still see it though, in places like Targówek or Stegny.

Life / IKEA in Warsaw [30]


Exactly. Did you know that they're changing the travelcards to one with a photo in. On the one hand it saves having to write the serial number of some photo id on, but on the other hand, they need a PESEL. Discriminatory to foreign residents without a PESEL? Maybe. Irritating? Yes.

By the way, for the original poster, of the two big IKEAs (I think the third one's closed, unless they relocated it somewhere) the one at Targówek (Marki) is less crowded than the one at Janki, and the journey's a little easier.

Life / Bookshops that will exchange English books- Warsaw [13]

Magdalena is right - it's a good shop. There's also the Sue Ryder shop on Bagatela - that's where diplomats take their old books. A charity shop rather than an exchange, but the books only cost 9zl so not a big problem. Sometimes they've a big selection, sometimes hardly any - it depends who's brought/bought books.

Yo can also join the British Council Library - they've a small selection (better in Poznań) and some public libraries have a foreign language section, but you need to have a zameldowanie.

News / Euro Elections 4th June - Who will you vote for ? [110]

Centrolewica should do well here in Warsaw - and they've got some good candidates. They get my vote

Life / IKEA in Warsaw [30]


Existing ones can be recharged until 2010

@ NewExpat, which office did you buy it at? People are saying that some ZTM offices require a PESEL and some don't. It seems to be up to whoever is behind the counter. I'd like to know because I really need to get one.

As for IKEA, Poland is one of their largest markets - from a handful of stores 10 years ago, they've really grown. A lot of their production is outsourced here too.

Life / FEMENINE HYGENE PRODUCTS AND STUFF in POLAND....help needed.... [11]

Tena lady (one n) is sold in most chemists. They are actually made in Poland, near Wrocław. Remember they come in various sizes and types, so be sure to buy the right kind.

Life / IKEA in Warsaw [30]

@ Harry and @ Newexpat, thanks for the info!

UK, Ireland / Polish language lessons wanted - Bradford area [5]

Bradford College runs Polish courses at three levels, at their main campus (I think that's the Horton Road one, behind the Alhambra)

Here are details - bradfordcollege.ac.uk/courses/course_view?id=pt351 - Bradford College - Polish - year 1

Life / FEMENINE HYGENE PRODUCTS AND STUFF in POLAND....help needed.... [11]


Even called Tena man

@ Wildrover, if you need to, you could always call the manufacturer (called SCA, head office in Warsaw on ul. Pulawska) and they should be able to direct you to your nearest stockist.

News / EU elections in Poland: excuses for not voting please [43]


I voted in central Warsaw too, and wavered for a week about whether I'd vote for the guy you mentioned (the choice of my heart) who is indeed a nice bloke, SLD (a tribal vote) or Trzaszkowski (the choice of my head). In the end Trzaszkowski won. And just about scraped in...

News / EU elections in Poland: excuses for not voting please [43]


What planet are you from? He's a really nice guy

History / How Poland Created the 'Jewish/Khazar Problem' [11]

Amen. These people are paranoid.

Probably believe in aliens too.

News / Poland Remembers start of WW2 [200]


That isn't true. The Poles were invited to take part!

Those loyal to the government-in-exile refused to take part because the Warsaw government had been invited, and the Warsaw government pulled out at the last minute on the orders of Moscow.

Life / What to bring, ship, pack for our move to Warsaw [67]


I would agree with that, but remember that the voltage here is 240 not 110, so use an adaptor (from any Radio Shack or similar). If not your equipment will fry.

Delphiandomine's post is correct - anything you need can easily be found. There are a few big shopping Malls in Warsaw and plenty of big supermarkets. The Best Mall in Sadyba is especially good, and since a lot of the US and Canada embassy personnel live quite near, you'll find most things you want are there.

There are also a few grungy coffee shops here. Plenty of good bars here, but the restaurants (at least from a British point of view) are often disappointing. A few good ones though.

One thing you'll like is a shop called 'Kuchnie Świata' (Cuisines of the world) in a few of the Malls (best one, I think, in Złoty Taras). They have a US/Canada section (and some Mexican food), with quite a few products you'll know.

Oh, and The American Bookstore's branch on Koszykowa (just west of pl. Konstitucji) hace a bargain section with selected books at 10zl.

News / Poland Remembers start of WW2 [200]

I think there were a lot of things too sad and tragic to remember. In Warsaw, it's perhaps better not to know about some of the things that happened - on a cold grey Monday morning, walking down your street, it's horrible to reflect on how people in this apartment building or that hospital suffered.

News / Poland Remembers start of WW2 [200]

I think you'll find the disagreement between the London Polish gov't and the Warsaw one has quite a lot to do with it.

Out of interest, were British troops and airmen invited to the formal Victory celebrations in Poland? Admittedly the parades here in Warsaw were on a different scale here for very obvious reasons, but it would be interesting to know a bit more about them. I know the British War Memorials here didn't start to appear until after the PRL ended.

UK, Ireland / Poland Flying the Flag at Gay Pride in Manchester [75]


Why not? Equality doesn't mean the same as uniformity.

And as for gay Poles, there are plenty - about 10 bars in Warsaw, a few in Katowice, Tri-City, Poznań, Krakow, Szczeciń and Wrocław, the odd one or two in smaller places, lots of gay bathhouses, bookshops, cafes, in warsaw a Taxi Service.

Compared to provincial Britain, there's a very thriving scene here. More and more prominent people in public life and the arts are openly gay, though some (Jarosław K, Tadeusz K, Zbigniew Z, Rubik, Żebrowski etc) stay in the closet so as not to offend their more red-necked fans. There's even a closed internet chatroom for priests who want to get to know other priests better.

Really, providing you aren't in a village or backwoods town, there's not much of a problem here.