Is Poland mostly plains?

I like polish landscape because you can see far deep into valleys,there is no obstacle to the view.

that's how all mountains work mang. :D

Mountains and hills obstruct the view.In Poland the horizon is huge,there are no physical limits.

Yes, I am! My village is only 40 kilometers north-west of Wola Cieklinska.

I'm surprised to hear that the foothills extend that far north. I thought they ended pretty much at the northern end of the Magurski National Park, near Pielgrzymka. I was there for the first time this past July and loved the area - you're fortunate to live there.

You would love it in Saskatchewan. You kick a dog and you can see it running away for 3 days.

POLSKA ; pst 12"x30", bmk
When someone says "Polska", we should think of a mysterious faraway land of broad fertile fields watered by great rivers and dotted with colorful poppies. What is the word "Polska"? Simply, it is the Polish way of saying "Poland". Some might venture to say that the essence, the very soul of Polska, is the land. As far back as the 10th century, when Polish history was first recorded, this land was called "Polonia" by the early chroniclers, and the first organized tribes called themselves the Polani. Why? Because they wished to name themselves after that which meant the most to them; that sacred possession they called "pole", which when translated means field or plain. Yes, the Poles and their land are one.

Polska-a great land with great people. (on poster only)

How true.
I am miserable because I don`t have any land and achieving unity with it is out of my reach. :):):)

The Carpathian Foothills go another 30 kilometers north from where I am, near the small town of Zakliczyn. The foothills actually extend to the edge of Tarnów, where they end. It really is wonderful here, and peaceful. I don't miss life in the big city at all. This is what I have been searching for while I was working in the banking sector, for a long time. At first, I wanted to buy a farm house in either France or Italy, but Poland turned out to be a much better choice. The villages in Poland are gorgeous.

#define "fluent"

Are you not a native, then? Do you have either Polish or Rusyn ancestry?

I'm American born, of both Polish and Ukrainian descent. My mother was born in Poland, and my father's parents were from the "Kresy" region, near Tarnopol.

Since my mother was a native Pole, and both of my father's parents had a Polish passport and citizenship, I was able to obtain Poiish citizenship, passport, and a Dowód Osobisty.

In what village?
Interesting story. Where are you from in the USA? How long have you lived in Poland? What motivated you to move there?

She was born near the village of 'Zalipie' (the Painted Village), just north-west of Dabrowa Tarnowska, not far from the Wisla river.


I'm from New York City. I've been in Poland for over 6 years now. I came here to fulfill a life long dream of owning a slice of Europe and living here. Another reason was to take a temporary leave of absence from the stress and noise of the big city, and the declining quality of life in the USA.

In the USA, I own property inherited from my grandfather who had a large farm upstate New York. LIving on a farm in Europe seems so much more interesting. It's that feeling of being back in the old world, where our parents and grandparents came fronm which makes it nice. There is so much history and culture here. I often imagine how it was here long ago, when the Tartars invaded the very spot I now live in. This entire area is dotted with World War I monuments. History is a hobby of mine.

Nice dream. Glad to hear it came true and is living up to expectations. Good for you. There's a part of me that's quite envious, to be honest.

How far upstate? I live in Putnam County now, but was raised just north of Albany in Cohoes, NY.


I know - I felt it on my visit this summer. I'm not sure if I'll ever feel at home anywhere else.
Do you have any family there? Are you on your own? How did you make the transition? Will you ever return to the USA to live?

You are very close to where my grandfather had his farm and where my family's property is located! It is located in Greene County, near Windham, NY. Small world....amazing.


Yes, I have plenty of family here in Poland and also in Ukraine. Here in this village, I am by myself. The transition took time because I had to learn the Polish language a little better. Also, I spent the first 3 years constructing my new home and renovating the barn. Overall, things went well. I hope to commute between the USA and Poland once I fully complete my work in Poland. This year, I made trails in the forest surrounding my house. A great deal of wood and weeds had to be cleared out. I'm thinking of buying a 4 wheel ATV to ride around in the trails. My forest has some nice gulleys, hills and flat areas. Great for some challenging riding, or to sip on a beer and take a stroll!

That's a little closer to where I grew up than to where I live, but it's a nice neck of the woods, right on the northern edge of the Catskills. I'd like to do some hiking and/or camping in that area - do you have any recommendations? Do you find your current locale somewhat similar in topography and climate?


Sounds quite good for mushoom hunting - do you enjoy this hobby? Did your parents or grandparents?
Do you have any contacts in the Boryslav vicinity in Ukraine? That's the last known whereabouts of my father's Aunts' families (both named Dziama) who were relocated in the 1940s.


What do they go for in Poland? How widely available are they?

In the Catskill Park area, there are so many in that area, but here is a good one:

Sleepy Hollow
5636 Rte 28 (PO Box 210)
Phoenicia, NY 12464


Yes, the topography is quite similar, although, the climate is a bit cooler in the Catskill mountains due to the higher elevation there. The Tarnów region in Poland is considered the warmest in the entire country.


Mushroom hunting is outstanding here! The entire population of this village enjoys the hobby, as do most Poles. I also like it! My father and older brother know mushrooms better than I do and it is their specialty hobby.

I have no contacts in the Boryslav region of Ukraine, but I do have many in Lviv, Berezany, and Tarnopol.


The prices aren't that bad and comparable to USA prices. ATV's are extremely popular here, especially in my area. It's perfect for riding ATV's , motorcycles, and mountain bikes here. The terrain is very diversified with hills, flat areas, ravines, roads, and dirt trails. It's the outdoor adventurer's paradise to say the least. :-)

Do you plan to buy something in Poland, or move here one day? When is your next visit to Poland going to be? If you do come here, please let me know.

Thanks - I'll check it out. I need to become familiar with the Catskills - they're so close to me but I never get over there for some reason.


That's interesting. Good for you. How much snow do you get in an average winter?


Ah, now you're just taunting me. You swine. It's not bad enough that I live 1000 miles away and will only get over there another once or twice in my lifetime, now I have to live knowing that there are 'shrooms beckoning to me from there as well.


My father learned from his father, but my knowledge far surpasses his, so I eat many species that he's never even bothered to pick. I love it. In fact, one of the potential ways I could convince my wife to let me go back is to organize a mushroom foray there, bringing people with me from my local clubs.


Rats. Anyway, please keep an ear out for members of the Dziama family and ask anyone you know in Ukraine to do the same. I'm looking for descendants from my father's aunts' families, who were deported to there from Wola Cieklinska.


That's doubtful, but you never know. You're living the dream, as far as I'm concerned, and it's great for me to learn how possible it really is. You indicate "agrotourism" in your profile - what's that all about? What are you working on there?

Topographic map

A very interesting story..
Did you live in the City of NY? If so, no wonder you left

How much different are the mushrooms in Poland, than those in the states?

What do you do to make a living? Or are you financially independent

Was your wife satisfied with this transition? Is she of Polish decent?

During my 6 plus years living here, the snow fall has been varied and inconsistent. I would say, there were 3 winters of deep snow (sometimes about 1 meter), and the other 3 winters had very little snow. The last two consecutive winters have been light.


Well, I run a very nice guest house here, extremely affordable. Free internet included and all the mushroom hunting you wish, on the premises. The theme is 'agrotourism / ecotourism', reflecting the beautiful natural surroundings and environment, and the fact that my house is so 'secluded'. It's located on top of a small mountain (a foothill), where the only thing you hear during the day are the birds, and in the evening, owls making their mating calls. So, you are welcome to visit.


I'll do that! Genealogy is one of my favorite hobbies and I've researched both sides of my family in both Poland and Ukraine. My home is an excellent stepping stone to the Eastern border of Poland and beyond.


As I mentioned previously, agro-tourism is a form of relaxation for those who appreciate nature and the village life. I'm almost done with my barn where I hope to have dancing, ping pong, billiards, a pub, and even use the large space for meetings or art events. It really is wonderful here. :-)


Yes, I lived in the heart of NYC. Great place to work and have a professional career, but terrible for quality of life. Chlorinated water, pollution, rats in the subways, roaches in most flats, terribly high property taxes and utilitiy bills.


Where my grandfather had his farm in the Catskill Mountains upstate NY, he owned about 30 hectares of mostly forest, which our family and relatives inherited. The mushroom hunting there is excellent, and many of the same mushrooms can be found here in south-eastern Poland (kania, kozaków, etc).


When I lived in NYC, i had an excellent career in the financial services industry on Wall Street. I was pretty frugal with my savings and then decided to ditch the 'suit' scene to come here to live in Poland. My savings and investments are sufficient enough to live here on.


I'm not married...yet! :-)

Do you have a website that I could visit? I PM'd and e-mailed you yesterday, but haven't received a response, so I don't know if you got them or not.


Thanks - I appreciate it. I have some pretty extensive files, so let me know if you'd like me to share them with you. Anything to facilitate and expand the search!


Is it still in the family? Do you have family that still 'shrooms in that neck of the woods? If not, would you be willing to share its location and directions? I'm always looking for new places to hunt. How do "kania, kozaków" translate to english?


I hope the current financial situation doesn't change that too drastically for you.

I just sent you an e-mail.

Try to visit Poland if you can. Perhaps we could even take a side trip into Ukraine. I'd like to visit some relatives there as well.

I didn't get it. Did you get mine? Did you geta PM from me? If so, respond to that with your e-mail address and I'll try it again.

I visited Poland this past July and loved it. I definitely hope to be there again, but it won't be for years, I'm afraid.

Impossible...it was a direct 'reply' to yours.


Yes and yes.

I finally got one from you and just responded to it.