News / Polish bishop caught with 2,5 promille [45]

But it is always them preaching about moralities :)

Life / All Saints' Day in Poland - Commemoration or Carnival? [44]

But you need a banquet to get you going. Even in secular Belgium people do not do not do that.

Life / Poles and the temperatures they heat their homes [36]

I am in somewhat the same situation as Harry. Our flat has these old cast-iron radiators without regulators, so we cannot control the heating.

Real Estate / Can EU citizens (UK) buy land in Poland ? [17]

There used to be a law forbidding EU citizens to buy a second property (If I remember well). I wonder if this is still in force.

Life / Poles and the temperatures they heat their homes [36]

Thing is that in many cities (also here in Warsaw) the central heating is regulated centrally from an "elektrociepłownia". So it is switched on / off for about everybody on the same time. We are sleeping with open windows throughout winter because it is simply to warm at home. Heating cost is calculated per m2 and invoiced in your monthly fixed costs.

News / PKP buys Alstrom Pendolino trains for € 665 million [60]

Merged: Pendolino trains vs investing in commuter trains

I have mixed feelings about this. I thing they should invest much more in upgrading commuter trains here. Upgrading commuter stations and railway stops. There after all are the everyday trains which bring everyday people to work, to school...

Sure they are not profitable, but they do not have to be. They never will be. They fulfill an essential social function.They allow the big city agglomerations to breathe.

By the way KM, WKD, and SKM are really doing an effort here in Warsaw in that direction. Pendolino trains are for rich tourists.
It would be much better to speed up the track upgrade throughout the country.
Maybe I am wrong in this. But in my view public transport has to be just that...public. And cost-covering as much as possible.

Jan Kowalski does not care about these fancy trains,,,mainly to be used by tourists and businessmen.
Jan Kowalski lives in Piaseczno and commutes every day into Warszawa Śrómieście. Just as thousands of everybody people commute to everyday life, study, work.

His wife is going to work in the city, his kids to school and afterwards to their crap rock bands and ballet school. (Mine for for sure)

He does not care *** for these fancy trains of which he reads in the papers. Sure he takes a TLK once per year with his family from Piaseczno to the seaside, and copes with the overflooding and the delays.

But what for him matters is that the SKM from Piaseczno - his everyday, modest but essential train - is punctual (never), comfortable (a sardine in tin has better conditions), frequent (not really), safe in the evening (not always).

And that Piaseczno train station would look as station....

And the commuter trains are the heart of this country - here in Warsaw SKM, WKD, KM. They make this city of Warsaw breath. (and also Poznań, Wroclaw etc)

For sure it is not sexy to invest in local rail transport - it does not make good photos :)
But it is the backbone of local society

Life / Poland: When usually is the best time to change from summer to winter tyres? [42]


Sure I am a product of civic society.
I have been a voluntary fire-fighter many years back home - saw so many accidents caused by guys who thought they knew better.
Thing is, if they crashed into a tree by themselves, one problem less. I just felt annoyed I had to get up at midnight and bike to the fire station to scrape them from the asphalt. If they took an innocent family with them, that is in my book plain murder.

My sister was in 1989 killed on her bike by somebody like that, by the way. Age 19 years.

Life / Poland: When usually is the best time to change from summer to winter tyres? [42]

Yes and taking innocent lives with you because of this mentality

Life / Poland: When usually is the best time to change from summer to winter tyres? [42]


To be honest that is a pretty egoistic reaction. It is not about legal requirements. It is about road safety. It is madness to drive with summer tyres in winter.

Life / Poland: When usually is the best time to change from summer to winter tyres? [42]


Of course in this case everything is at the discretion of PZU & Co...who we know are always on the customers' side :)

By the way I got already stopped during winter by the police for routine inspections, and never checked my tyres.

Anyway, I always change them, so for me it is not an issue.

Life / Poland: When usually is the best time to change from summer to winter tyres? [42]

I am also changing them half November. It is always an educated guess when it is the best moment...but half November is a safe bet.

Now something I am wondering about since I live in Poland. I know winter tyres are not compulsory here...but suppose you have an accident during wintertime, can the insurance company make you problems if you were driving around on summer tyres?

Food / What made in Poland produce would you recommend [110]

Fruit and veg...I agree... Very good. But it is normal that off-season they are imported, no?
We always try to buy seasonal, that ensures it is local.
But chocolate? There are only two countries in the world who produce chocolate....The Swiss and these mad Belgians :). Poland has way to go in that field :)

News / Papal Day in Poland JP2 [26]

I may have missed something but I cannot say it was a big item here in Poland. I recall an article in Rz and GW, but besides of that? In our office for sure nobody was talking about it. Main topic was the swimming pool across the river :)

Food / What made in Poland produce would you recommend [110]

Rolnik makes good stuff indeed.

News / Papal Day in Poland JP2 [26]


Which source?

News / Papal Day in Poland JP2 [26]

What about that source proving churches are used as brothels in Europe? Still waiting for that one.

Food / Where to buy corned beef in Warsaw? [21]

The red ant story I regard as funny and not real. Ants (whatever colour) attack any kind of meat given half the chance.
Pip, corned beef is a respected kind of meat in Belgium and many countries since ages. Frankly speaking I have never heard of the sliced - over the counter kind.

Food / Where to buy corned beef in Warsaw? [21]

Pip, where do you buy sliced corned beef?
And yes I meant the kind packed in a spam-like tin - produced in Brazil

Life / All Saints' Day in Poland - Commemoration or Carnival? [44]

Merged: 1st November vs. Halloween

As All Saints' Day is fast approaching, I was wondering how the PF regulars who live in Poland are experiencing these days. For me 1-2 November are always "magic" days. I know, I know, wrong expression...But there is something genuinely stirring in the way the Poles (and as I know the Czechs and Austrians do the same)are experiencing these days. The sight of the illuminated cemeteries at night is very moving.

We are not going to the in-laws this year, but we will be lying flowers and candles at the monument of the First Polish Armoured Division (General Maczek's boys) at Plac Inwalidów, and pray for them. It was their dust-ridden tanks which liberated my Flemish village in September 1944, and also my mother's hometown, Ghent.

That also counts for something I think, somehow.

As for Halloween, I see with distance & disgust how this Yankee contraception is taking over Poland as well. Sad...
No way we should bow to PIS martyrdom on such occasions, but Halloween is imported madness :)
Maybe I am just getting old :)

Love / Are Polish men old fashioned? [16]

My Polish father-in-law, well into his retirement age, for sure is doing his part in the household. And if I see my Polish friends, household tasks are pretty equally divided.

Life / E-books in Poland? [10]

To be honest, e-books are not my cup of tea. Empik, kindle...whatever... But I see them increasingly on Warsaw public transport. I prefer the real thing :) A paper book :)

But why he, an expert on everything concerning Poland, does not have an idea?

Life / Bishops defend Polish family [105]


Interesting anecdote is that in Belgium the church tower is property of the state (and this since the aftermath of the First World War), whereas the church belongs to the parish.

The Polish episcopate giving us lessons in moral behave....Funny....A substantial part of it actively supporting mr. maybach...

Travel / There is only one railway station in Warsaw Chopin airport? [12]

There is also PKP Okęcie, which shares its name with Okęcie airport, but is a local commuter station.

Food / Organic fruit and vegetable - delivery (Warsaw) [33]

We are getting regular supplies from my father-in-law. He lives in Ciechochinek (delightful place by the way), very healthy micro-climate. Best vegs in the world and I am not kidding.

Food / Organic fruit and vegetable - delivery (Warsaw) [33]

That is the one. Well it might seem a bit rustic but we always find stuff there. What agree with you that Hala Mirowska offers a good (and maybe safer) deal. Including the Mlekomat which is delightful :)

Have you every tried the farmers' market in £omianki - near MarcoPolo?

Food / Organic fruit and vegetable - delivery (Warsaw) [33]

Will tell you after next weekend Harry :). As I mentioned, for us convenience is winding down from a hard working week and going to the market. I understand Pip that she finds this service convenient. That is another matter.

Food / Organic fruit and vegetable - delivery (Warsaw) [33]

I could buy the same qty in Konstancin on any given Sat for less than half the price. Which is for us after a long working week also relax. To meander, to compare prices...to meet friends... After all these years you start to know the sellers... But hey, everybody has to decide this for him/herselves :)