The strangest things in Poland

z_darius 14 | 3,964

13 Apr 2008 / #301

In the UK, u can't get real bread anywhere? Ever heard of a Polish deli mate?

That's gotta be the funniest post of the year so far :))

osiol 55 | 3,921

13 Apr 2008 / #302

Sat-nav systems in cars that get people lost within a stone's throw of the country's biggest airport.

Or can that happen in any country?

waveydave 4 | 39

13 Apr 2008 / #303

Oslol,

I've got a Tomtom with eastern europe and its been brilliant. Its gone wrong about twice so far but thats probably because the roads have recently changed but I just keep going straight ahead until it plans a new route - no problem at all.

It went wrong when I first got off the ferry at Dunquerke and I thought at that point it was going to be rubbish, but it was fine and it got me through Germany and all the way to Southern Poland perfectly.

--

And Bartolome, Dobzre, Posh, tak, tak!

Bartolome 2 | 1,085

13 Apr 2008 / #304

Eeerm... Spice Girls ? Edit: Some strange and funny thing here (The upper sign says: 'Deep puddle', the bottom sign 'Recommended diversion for cars after rainfall')

incubus 1 | 146

14 Apr 2008 / #305

But other than that, walking around in the street is no pleasant stroll. I'm black so people just grill the life out of me no matter what, and if I hold my polish girlfriend's hand they even point sometimes or shake their heads (older people mostly.). In New York people would stare at me, but then if I would stare back they would look away, not to be rude. But here, even when I stare back they continue to stare, they just don't stop. Also, people are rude because they don't say thank you or excuse me (they do but rarely compared to New York and other parts of Europe.) I've been pushed around a lot, I've stood in line at the grocery store and have had people trying to skip ahead of me.

my partner is also black and he was feeling uncomfortable when people were staring at him (us actually) all the time. i got sick of it and when we went to visit krakow i started making faces at people who were staring at us and guess what, they immediately looked away. lol

BubbaWoo 33 | 3,506

14 Apr 2008 / #306

I've stood in line at the grocery store and have had people trying to skip ahead of me.

yeah - really rude. i found the best thing to do is slap them upside the head and then stare at them

incubus 1 | 146

14 Apr 2008 / #307

there are also people who try to skip the queue and as soon as they see a pregnant woman, get ahead of her. i mean: wtf? it`s especially older women who think: `when i was pregnant no one let me go first or let me sit down blah blah` and now they want revenge.

szarlotka 8 | 2,206

14 Apr 2008 / #308

I have been in some precarious situations in my life but none more so than queuing with the old dears of Warsaw. Bubba's right - just shout and give 'em a slapping.

Monty Python's Hells grannies sketch was based upon a trip to PL by John Cleese

Majcia - | 2

14 Apr 2008 / #309

sort of driving licence for the bicycle;) lol,i think it doesnt exist now but when i was a little girl i had to pass the exam:)

incubus 1 | 146

14 Apr 2008 / #310

hehe i got mine when i was 10 years old. gosh, was i proud of myself! :)

Matyjasz 2 | 1,544

15 Apr 2008 / #311

yeah - really rude. i found the best thing to do is slap them upside the head and then stare at them

Hahaha... that's quite extreme but I guess since it works... I still can't imagine you slapping an old granny on the head... hehehe :)

BubbaWoo 33 | 3,506

15 Apr 2008 / #312

in the case of grannies you can laugh as you stare at them, especially if they fall over

Matyjasz 2 | 1,544

15 Apr 2008 / #313

But surely you don't ekhmmm... "help" them to fall over, right? ;)

Paul Stobbart - | 7

19 Apr 2008 / #314

i find it strange that they stand right behind you at the kiosks, so when you turn around you actually find them under your feet... then they expect you to say sorry, even though its their fault.

they annoy me... i was pushing my bike on the path, and this old granny cycled up to me and started giving me hell for not using the cycle path... i would have understood her point if SHE were to use the cycle path herself.

ok, sorry.... this is the strangest thing thread, not the anti-granny thread :)

Seanus 15 | 19,672

19 Apr 2008 / #315

Thx Dariusz matey. I just wanted to state the obvious with a bit of good ol British sarcasm thrown in 4 good measure.

Paul Stobbart, that was just too funny. I know what u mean, they stand right behind u. I used to just walk out of the lifts even quicker when they stood there as the doors opened. Barged them off their feet. Weighing more than Mirko Crocop helps, tho I'm not fat. 103kgs, hey yes!!

Mali - | 300

19 Apr 2008 / #316

anti-granny

granny hater :)

i find it strange that they stand right behind you at the kiosks, so when you turn around you actually find them under your feet... then they expect you to say sorry, even though its their fault.

So true. Breathing room can sometimes be a foreign idea in Poland.

The staring thing is also very true and very annoying. It makes a person feel like an alien...

Zgubiony 15 | 1,553

19 Apr 2008 / #317

In Poznan there are a few streets that have free parking (sometimes also at the train station), but if you try to park there you're face to face with a strange looking man asking for zloty to park. My gf insists on paying them because she says they can do sth to your car if you don't.

Next time when I park there alone I won't give them anything. If they touch the car, they have trouble :)

I've only seen this in Poznan. Has anyone else run in to this situation?

Lukasz 49 | 1,746

19 Apr 2008 / #318

In Poznan there are a few streets that have free parking (sometimes also at the train station), but if you try to park there you're face to face with a strange looking man asking for zloty to park.

Do you speak Polish fluently ? :)

I've only seen this in Poznan. Has anyone else run in to this situation?

I drive my car everyday and any stranger asks me to pay for parking. Sometimes there are private pakinkings and you need to pay for it, generaly in the centre you pay for parking but not for the strangers ... you pay in machine ...

Zgubiony 15 | 1,553

19 Apr 2008 / #319

Do you speak Polish fluently ? :)

No, but I'm usually a passenger accompanied by 2 locals, but women. I think they do it because they believe these guys will do sth.

It's not every day, but I'm usually there while something is going on and parking is hard to get. I like to use the new underground parking now.

tornado2007 11 | 2,270

19 Apr 2008 / #320

The strangest thing about Poland

Lukasz

PolskaDoll 28 | 2,098

19 Apr 2008 / #321

Has anyone else run in to this situation?

I've heard of this but it wasn't Poznan. Seems like if the payment wasn't made then when you return there is something wrong with your car, flat tyres or a scratch or broken windscreen wipers or something small that lets you know, you should have paid the fee.

Personally, I wouldn't pay it.

mamaye 2 | 38

19 Apr 2008 / #322

is it on Plac Wolności?where in front of bank entrances there are these strange guys walking along the street ready to catch you...wrrrrrr ;)

in this situation the underground parking is the only one solution. maybe these guys do their job to encourage people to park underground?...sth like city council "tajniaki"?...;))

Lukasz 49 | 1,746

19 Apr 2008 / #323

No, but I'm usually a passenger accompanied by 2 locals, but women. I think they do it because they believe these guys will do sth. It's not every day, but I'm usually there while something is going on and parking is hard to get. I like to use the new underground parking now.

Honestly I think it is unusual, maybe it happens to you. I don't have problems I have Polish numberplates. In the past I used to park my car on French numberplates and it wasn't a problem as well. Maybe you have different expirience ...

don't pay :) and don't worry ;) that is all

is it on Plac Wolności?where in front of bank entrances

there are so many cameras there ... ;) I wouldn't be worried about my car there ...

mamaye 2 | 38

19 Apr 2008 / #324

but seriously, of course, this situation should not happen, there are park tickets machines everywhere...i'd ask for what actually you pay, since you park within "strefa parkowania" and pay a ticket!

Matyjasz 2 | 1,544

20 Apr 2008 / #325

Is it on Ratajczaka Street? :)

Zgubiony 15 | 1,553

20 Apr 2008 / #326

Not 100% of the name, but I know it's right off Św. Marcin. I come into the city from Grundwaldzka and it's on the right hand side maybe 2 blocks after a Bank Pocztowy and across from the University.

southern 74 | 7,074

20 Apr 2008 / #327

Very strange were the shorts polish girls used to wear.

Zgubiony 15 | 1,553

20 Apr 2008 / #328

Honestly I think it is unusual, maybe it happens to you.

Not only to the car I'm in, but others as well. I see this happening. The only thing is that I can't challenge them because I don't know enough conversational cursing :)

These are obviously people stuck in the past. They use intimidation to get 2 zł out of you so you can feel safe about leaving your car.

I think that either you never try to park here or you just don't choose to see it.

Matyjasz 2 | 1,544

20 Apr 2008 / #329

That's the place. Those guys are almost always there. :)

Zgubiony 15 | 1,553

20 Apr 2008 / #330

That's what I figured. They seemed like they had a system :) Do you think it's because I'm with women? I'm not sure everyone would pay them off.