Travel / Which city is better to visit: Warsaw or Krakow? [169]


I suspected too!

And personally I prefer Warsaw. It's a vibrant metropolis which Kraków isn't. Kraków reminds me a lot of York - beautiful in the centre but essentially a closed city and a sleepy one. Warsaw isn't so pretty but it's never boring and there's always something new to discover.

Food / Herb used in Polish rosol (chicken soup)? [88]

Hmm. This is from wikipedia:


also:


Mystery solved!

In English it is Lovage, used in the south of England to make a fruit cordial to add to gin.

Food / Herb used in Polish rosol (chicken soup)? [88]


Quite right.


Some people might add that to soups after cooking but it isn't a common (or good) ingredient of rosół.


More likely to be pietruszka as Seanus said.

The leaves of pietruszka are flat-leaved parsley, the root (which looks like a parsnip but has a different taste) is called Hamburg Parsley and is not commonly used in English speaking countries but is an everyday ingredient in central and eastern Europe.

History / The heroic jump of the 1st Polish Independent Paratrooper Brigade [81]


That's true.


You feel qualified to speak for all 40 million?

History / The heroic jump of the 1st Polish Independent Paratrooper Brigade [81]


So you're sitting wherever, writing the usual bile, nastiness and vulgarity while claiming to be "suffering" from something? While others, actually in Poland, old enough to have really suffered just get on with life.

Interesting that you use the word "we". Opens a whole Pandora's Box, that does...

History / The heroic jump of the 1st Polish Independent Paratrooper Brigade [81]


Forget the 'lol' stuff, take a grammar course and actually read the post before commenting, numbskull...

I was telling some of the twenty-somethings, far from Poland, to stop going on about Yalta and other perceived injustices as if it were a big part of their day to day lives, and pointing out, accurately, that people here in Poland have indeed forgotten about it in their day to day lives and just get on with things.


Check out hundreds of the posts on this forum.


Yes.

If I went far enough back, I could probably calculate how many of my ancestors were wiped out by, say, the Irish Potato Famine. It would be pointless to dwell on it every day though, as pointless as a 23 year old from Michigan dwelling on WWII.


Who mentioned "accredited" historians? For information, historians write books give lectures, hold seminars. They don't tend to write nasty posts on open internet fora. At least not if they want a reputation. And if you're young and far away, you have the luxury of living in the present.

History / The heroic jump of the 1st Polish Independent Paratrooper Brigade [81]


But hard evidence from those who were there would help. In the absence of that we can only speculate.


I see what you mean. My point though is that those who raise the same points evey day were not there. Most are under 30. Those who survived those times tend to have a pragmatic attitude.

Your comments about your father are something I understand the point of mentioning. I've heard many family stories about surviving the Liverpool Blitz in the cellar, and parts of dead bodies in the street and family members who went off to war and ended up buried in some Burmese jungle or in France. My father who was a kid in the cellar when the bombs were falling around them night after night never talks about it - and probably has unresolved issues. Some people find discussion cathartic - others do not.

Of the older people here that I know, most do not mention details, but some hint at dreadful things. A man I know in his late 80s gets upset sometimes about a particular event when he was in the AK - I don't know the details, but I do know that it still troubles him even though he doesn't want to disuss it. The man in question was certainly a high achiever in post-war Poland who helped to build the post-war state - someone who got on with things and looked to the future. He survived the worst the twentieth century could give, and never had either the luxury of abstraction or the luxury of living a generation or so later in a much more peaceful country.

And he doesn't, ever, talk about abstract geopolitical grievances and 'what ifs' like some of the twenty-something year old posters here, much less repeat them pointlessly from some Mid-West town, scoring political and nationalistic points out of other people's personal tragedies, while those here in Warsaw get on with life.

History / The heroic jump of the 1st Polish Independent Paratrooper Brigade [81]


No need to, nor are your points especially original. In a war, bad things happen and often those who are bravest die first. Nationality is secondary to that, and to imply that the Polish soldiers were treated differently because they were Polish ignores both the horrors of war and the experience of others who fought.

Self-serving? Hmm :-) It's an interesting phenomemon sometimes on this board to hear people in Canada the US the UK etc with very strong and often aggresively expressed views on Polish C20 history and its impact on today's Poland, while those of us who live our lives here, seeing war memorials, execution plaques and buildings riddled with bullet holes every day (not cheerful on a cold grey morning in the former ghetto), manage to get on with things and look to (and are building) Poland's future rather than dwelling on the evils of the past.


No irony. I pointed out that there are some people here who repeat the same things, as if they have a personal sense of grievance about things which occurred before any of them were born - indeed in some cases before their grandparents were born - without adding anything new or considering that people here in PL might have actually moved on. Don't you think that's true?

Anyway, at past 2 am, it's too late to talk about horrific wars which occurred (fortunately) before the memory of most people alive today, and which some on this forum would have liked to prolong.

History / The heroic jump of the 1st Polish Independent Paratrooper Brigade [81]


Read half a dozen of the posts I've already made in this thread. To respond would be repetition.

As I said right at the start, some people mention the same thing again and again like a historical revisionists Groundhog Day. My comment was that this was both annoying and unproductive. It would be hypocritical of me to fall into the same habit.

And it's 2 am; arguing about the minutiae of WWII is not something to do in the afternoon - not the middle of the night on Sunday.

Life / Do you think a smoking ban would be a good thing in Polish restaurants and Bars? [217]


Here in Poland it's more than 15%


Hardly.

History / The heroic jump of the 1st Polish Independent Paratrooper Brigade [81]

The post above justifies my original comment perfectly.

Not even worth picking it apart point by point.

Life / Where could I get MDMA. XTC in Poland? (drugs) [21]

Most people in Poland are less familiar with drugs than in English-speaking countries. It's hard to imagine Shameless etc on TV here. It's a good idea to be very careful about mentioning it in PL - somebody might look cool about it, but in reality they've never even smoked a joint and don't know (or feel) the difference between a line of Charlie and an armful of heroin.

Think of an English village or Oklahoma farming town 30 years ago, and that's what most people are like here about drugs. People who use are often terrified of being found out. But in big cities you can find most things. Just needs a bit of sharp thinking and discretion.

Life / Where could I get MDMA. XTC in Poland? (drugs) [21]

Every big town has a club where there are dealers. A lot of amphetamines here though, and some of the pills are mostly amphetamine.

Which is not a healthy substance.

Life / Where could I get MDMA. XTC in Poland? (drugs) [21]


There aren't many dealers that I've ever met that would be happy with that. And in any case what would you do if it tasted 50% of the way you'd like it to? Say, "oh well never mind, a drug free weekend - better hold out for the best"!

Tastes pretty vile anyway, if it's good MDMA.

Life / Where could I get MDMA. XTC in Poland? (drugs) [21]


Quite. In the UK, the quality has definitely changed over the past 20 years, but they still look the same.

Check post #2 for a note on quality.

Life / Where could I get MDMA. XTC in Poland? (drugs) [21]

It is illegal in Poland and the police are keener about drugs than most 'western' countries. Also younger people, of the 'clubbing' age group have a smaller disposable income. Penalties for dealing are severe. These factors mean that where it is available, it is overpriced and of low quality.

It's worth mentioning that Czech have legalised possession of limited amounts of cannabis, cocaine and LSD for personal use. This is quite a new development and will, no doubt, have an effect on supplies here. But not just yet. And I can't see the Polish governent doing this in the forseeable future. The police do spot checks on passengers on the Berlin train round the period of the Berlin Love Parade.

Having said that, drugs are easily available here and most dealers deliver.

USA, Canada / Polish cigarettes to the USA as a gift sent from Poland? [7]

There is a difference between Marlboro from Britain which traditionally use mostly American tobacco and Marlboro from Poland which use a different blend with more domestic tobacco.

It isn't so much that the tobacco grown in Poland has worse quality - after all, the tobacco farmers grow whatever type of crop the cigarette companies want them to. It's more to do with market research and level of excise duty.

Where the excise duty is high, the companies take advantage of that by cranking up their margin - the market is used to higher prices. The blend of tobacco is often better too. Where the excise duty is low, margins are generally lower too, and quality suffers.

Also, Cigarette companies do extensive market research. Cigarettes in a given country taste how they do because that is what the local consumers want.

There's an interesting fact about cigarette production. I didn't believe when the Marketing Dept of a well known and large tobacco company told me, so I tried it as an experiment. I asked people if they can tell the difference between brand X, a traditional Polish cigarette considered old-fashioned and brand Y, one of the world's best known brands. All were emphatic that they could. I gave them two cigarettes blindfold (one cut short - the Polish brand are extra short, the expensive one is king-size). None could tell the difference.

The reason is that both brands, the expensive international one and the old man's cheap one use exactly the same blend of tobacco, for reasons of economy of scale. They are identical, but brand perception is very very different and people swore blind that they tasted different.

Life / Polish Tattoo (considered the eagle) [29]

They'd probably have to do it in grey or just in outline, which might look ok.

Life / WHEN DO THE CLOCKS GO FORWARD IN POLAND? [19]

You'll need to move it 2.5 turns further

Life / WHEN DO THE CLOCKS GO FORWARD IN POLAND? [19]


Move it a bit!

History / The heroic jump of the 1st Polish Independent Paratrooper Brigade [81]


Indeed. However since there's no suggestion that any of them were independent paratroopers, I suggest you stop burbling on about it here and instead attempt to discuss it in one of the many other threads you have introduced it to.

History / The heroic jump of the 1st Polish Independent Paratrooper Brigade [81]


You certainly keep mentioning it.

Most people might think such things are best left to historians and researchers. Except that when they present conclusions (in the matter you keep mentioning) any armchair warrior who feels it doesn't fit into their weltanschaung disagrees with the jerk of a knee.

Life / Is Poland a safe country for people of color? [241]

That you think having a "big mouth" or "walking around with a beautiful slavic girl" is grounds for violence.

Though I suspect that only one of the above is likely to apply to you.

Life / Is Poland a safe country for people of color? [241]


Are you for real?

History / The heroic jump of the 1st Polish Independent Paratrooper Brigade [81]


The accepted definition of nationality suggests otherwise. But you know that already.


Read Adam Zamoyski's excellent book on the matter.


Read the post properly. Or maybe you're too young to remember the IMF loan, still outstanding.


Again Ad Hominem insults. I repeat, many post-war functionaries at wice-minister level or above had held office prior to 1939.


No. Check out the unemployment and inflation statistics for the 20 years that the second republic lasted. The figures are available on the internet.


Growing from zero, and definitely not with "only home grown funds". Unless you know otherwise.


Made up? It's my life, where I live. Hardly "made up"


More coarse language. You seem to like it.


Your point being?

History / The heroic jump of the 1st Polish Independent Paratrooper Brigade [81]

A strange post. You seem to be saying that Poland hasn't recovered, that the Parada Równości is organised under foreign supervision (which it most emphatically isn't - it is a Polish thing), that you consider yourself "elite", just a few posts after writing obscenities, and that the consequences of the WWII are still alive which would be a surprise for most people here.

In fact, most people here in 21st century Poland (and if you're abroad, I suggest you visit) just get on with life, and do so very nicely. Without ever dwelling on the bad things of history.

History / The heroic jump of the 1st Polish Independent Paratrooper Brigade [81]

Actually it would. Unless you're suggesting that taking US citizenship doesn't make someone American.

If you actually check the posts you'll find that many are American or Canadian.

Hmm. Poland was "behind" the western countries even before partition - post-war recovery, both during the PRL years, with the help of the IMF and since, with inward investment has been fine. Not sure what you mean by "German dumps" - the cities now in West Poland, even with war damage were in a better state than most of the small towns that were lost in the east.

Those who survived would disagree with you. And many of the higher-level functionaries in the post-war government here had held high office before the war.

There comes a certain point when fantasy becomes sheer nonsense. Check out the economic statistics about Poland before 1939 and Poland now. Or just have a look at some old maps.

Some idiot once even said to me that the area I live in is so scuzzy looking because all the beautiful buildings, palaces, theatres that were there had been destroyed. Except according to every map, there was just farmland here until the 1960s.

History / The heroic jump of the 1st Polish Independent Paratrooper Brigade [81]


Actually I might be a citizen later this year...


Showing your true colours.


Most of those who 'speak' are in fact Americans and Canadians. Not people in Poland.


Seems to have recovered quite nicely. Under foreign supervision, of course.


I don't live anywhere else...


Hmm. A bit too colloquial for someone in Poland.


You must be quite old then, if 70 years is a short time for you. Most people would consider it a long time.

Life / Is Poland a safe country for people of color? [241]


Ah the racist finally replies!

Firstly, you are not her boyfriend. And many, if not most, of your posts about women suggest you have trouble finding one - so you simply don't know about the circumstances of her stay, what sort of places in W-wie that she was taken to, etc.

Secondly, you are not Polish. Her boyfriend is. Somebody visiting their home country might go to different places to a tourist. We don't know, for example, much about the food she ate (and Polish 'restaurant' food as well as the 'service' that accompanies it is pretty awful at the best of times!)

But since a lot of the things you post here are about interracial relationships and how you resent them, your nasty comments to the OP evidently have an ulterior motive.

History / The heroic jump of the 1st Polish Independent Paratrooper Brigade [81]

Most people here in Poland just get on with life, focussing on today and tomorrow.

Not a day goes by, however, on this forum without someone banging on (often in a nasty way) about perceived geopolitical injustices, seventy, yes - seventy, years ago; long before most of the posters here were born.

Instead of getting a life.