News / Poland's political crisis deepens [228]

A bit of good news. The Forest Stewardship Council ( the international organisation responsible for export and sales of timber worldwide) is likely to ban prducts from Bialowieza due to illegal logging.

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News / Tragedy of Polish couple; Polish woman repeatedly raped in Italy, her partner almost killed [101]


So many risks for holidaymakers everywhere.

Polonia / Reckless Polish Man starts wildfire in Montenegro [48]

Remember the issue of forest fires is something very significant at this time of year in Poland.


It's not only a guide - and it certainly doesn't exist to promote any viewpoint.


In a forum about Brits in Australia, that would be highly appropriate.

News / Tragedy of Polish couple; Polish woman repeatedly raped in Italy, her partner almost killed [101]


Drunk driving?

Study / How good is Politechnika Warszawska? [33]


It's a highly respected place to study, and has good student life. Are you thinking of studying chemistry or electronics? If so, PM me with your details and I can put you in touch with people who have studied those subject there recently and speak English well. One teaches there now also.

News / Tragedy of Polish couple; Polish woman repeatedly raped in Italy, her partner almost killed [101]


Change is constant - there is never stasis. A few years ago, driving after alcohol was almost acceptable - in some cultures (not necesarily PL) is still is, provided the person gets away with it.

More than 30 years ago I was in a serious road accident where a convoy of cars was hit by a drunk driver (a salesman in a sports car, going home from a golf club) - it was unpleasant to say the least. One person died sometime after the crash. The driver was jailed.

In this case, it involves an articulated lorry on the motorway and 8 lives have been lost.

If you follow the Polish language media, either in Poland or (since this is the Polonia UK/Irl board) on the islands, you may note the vehemence of some of the comments there.

Polonia / Reckless Polish Man starts wildfire in Montenegro [48]


It will be interesting to see if there's a prosecution or possible civil liabilities.

In Poland, starting a forest fire is highly illegal - the dangers of forest fires are drummed into people at a young age, and there are frequent mentions of this on state TV during the summer.


I don't see that at all. Remember the topic of this forum.

UK, Ireland / Muslim man abuses and threatens Polish woman in the UK [49]


Exactly. There's no suggestion the angry driver had the slightest idea they were Polish.


If it fits the legal criteria of a hate crime, it will doubtless be treated as such. I suspect it doesn't.


Yes - clutching at straws, to say the least.

Polonia / Reckless Polish Man starts wildfire in Montenegro [48]

What's negative about highlighting an issue very much in the news in Montenegro, one with a connection to Poland? It's front page news on this news website:


slavorum.org/lost-polish-tourist-made-fire-to-signalize-his-location-on-hill-starts-huge-fire-in-montenegro/

Still very hard to know why he would do such a reckless thing, especially when the risk of forest fires is so high.

""I am informed that a Polish mountaineer who was lost in the hill, in order to signal where he is located, he has set fire to do so and it immediately spread to a large part of the hill due to wind and dry vegetation. The situation is extremely serious." ~ said Chedenovic"

Travel / Travel Within Poland - from Warsaw airport to Mragowo [49]


The railway station? Yes, the bus station is right outside it. Book in advance using en.e-podroznik.pl - this website lets you book on all the different services from different companies. For that route there are plenty of buses throughout the day. Prices and journey times are shown.

Make sure you do this in advance, to make sure you get a seat - it should be ok, however it's always good to be sure. The journey isn't too long and is extremely cheap, especially if that service isn't busy. Generally, the earlier you book, the cheaper it is - they have dynamic pricing.

Real Estate / Land sold in Poland... any problems getting money sent to U.K.? [35]


Do you remember what the hearing was about?

Law / Pepper Spray Legality in Poland [9]


Have you considered going again, with a Polish speaking (and very assertive) friend, or getting legal assistance.

You would certainly be entitled to criminal compensation, however you need to go to a doctor to get proof of injuries, and you must do this right away - it could be too late already. When did it happen?

Travel / Travel Within Poland - from Warsaw airport to Mragowo [49]


Sunday is possibly the worst day - thousands of people returning from Mazury to Warsaw.


Country roads, and a poor standard of driving.

Check out the accident statistics. And drive carefully.

Polonia / Reckless Polish Man starts wildfire in Montenegro [48]

It's news involving someone from Poland.

Quite unusual news too.

Polonia / Reckless Polish Man starts wildfire in Montenegro [48]


In Poland?

I found out some more - aparently he said he was walking in the hills, got lost and started the forest fire to signal his location.

UK, Ireland / 31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]


That's something that needs changing soon.

Polonia / Reckless Polish Man starts wildfire in Montenegro [48]


Very hard to see why someone would start a fire in a forest.

Language / Where did you start or the best techniques for learning Polish. [85]


Nowadays the prestige register is 'modified RP', basically BBC English. Polish has an equivalent too.

Polonia / Reckless Polish Man starts wildfire in Montenegro [48]


Why would someone do that?

It sounds an awful thing to do, given the risks.

Travel / Travel Within Poland - from Warsaw airport to Mragowo [49]


A bit of a long way round when coming from Frankfurt.


This is a good idea.

Travel / Travel Within Poland - from Warsaw airport to Mragowo [49]

momondo.co.uk/car-hire/

is also a good one. I always use them for flights, and they now do car hire comparisons. One reason I prefer them to skyscanner is that their website has a lot of features yet is very easy to use.

Of course a real bargain hunter would look at both ;-)

Travel / Travel Within Poland - from Warsaw airport to Mragowo [49]


Yes, there's an ATM at the airport - several in fact. Use that rather than the airport exchange offices which give a very bad rate.

A quick tip - debit/credit cards on the Mastercard network tend to give a better rate than ones on the visa network. You might also google your debit card to see if it's particulary praised or criticised for t&c when using abroad.

Another way (perhaps the best) is to bring Euros in cash and exchange them at any kantor (avoid 24 hour ones, hotel ones or ones in the most touristy of areas like Mragowo - just use a normal one, most towns have several) since these always give the best rates.

UK, Ireland / 31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]


This culture is changing, as all cultures do, however the change here sometimes feels slow.

UK, Ireland / 31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]


That's a fair assessment. A drunken lorry driver involved in a fatal accident has little or no legal defence.


I think he is!!!

It's highly illegal to stop on the motorway - the M1 has a hard shoulder to use in emergencies. Nobody ever stops in a vehicle lane unless there's a mechanical fault that leaves no alternative.

Travel / Travel Within Poland - from Warsaw airport to Mragowo [49]


That's a good way to do it - it saves mucking about with taxis and buses. You can buy tickets at the ticket office in the Okęcie Airport railway station. They speak English.

I don't think you can go by rail to Mrągowo at the moment - you may have to go to Olsztyn and get a coach.

If you want to buy online (you can print the ticket off) these sites (both from Polish railways) are available in English. I prefer using the first one:

intercity.pl/en/
rozklad-pkp.pl/en

UK, Ireland / 31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]


That's about as far from the truth as you can get.

There will doubtless be plenty of coverage of the case when it comes to court. Right now, his family have gone to ground, to avoid media attention within Poland.

Law / My Poland born father served in a foreign army - Polish citizenship questions [76]


This is a key issue. It's a good principle in life to be belt and braces careful about any paperwork connected to any interactions with the state. Otherwise it just stores up trouble for any future interactions, as our 'legal eagle' (among other usernames) has found to his cost.


I bet that brightly coloured hair really brightens up a courtroom.

UK, Ireland / 31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]

There's a very good article in Fakt on this: fakt.pl/wydarzenia/polska/pijany-kierowca-z-polski-zabil-mu-ojca-poruszajace-wyznanie-syna/470d3sw

It is very sympathetic to the victims. The comments on the various articles are sometimes extremely strong about the idiocy of getting into a lorry while drunk and driving it on a motorway.


There's a thread on that already here to discuss that. This is the section about UK/Ireland.


No, it isn't " the biggest Poland related story in the UK media" at all. And you know that.

UK, Ireland / 31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]


Well, Spiritus, this is a forum relating to Poland, this section of the forum is about people from there living in the UK, and this is the biggest news story, the biggest talking point right now in that matter.

When I've got a bit of time later, I'll post some links to the Polish language media, especially that published in the UK - you'll find some very strong opinions indeed about Matysiak and about the export of drinking culture and the culture of poor driving skills.

Not having a thread on it would be pretty weird, wouldn't it now...

Language / What are escorts called in Poland? [25]


No. Those wretched, drug-addicted, disease-ridden and abused women are called 'prostytutki'.

No self-respecting person who can get laid any other way would go with one. It just perpetuates the misery that they are in.



'Slut' has subtly different meanings across the English-speaking world. Where I'm from, slut is used for a woman with a dirty house, who doesn't clean or cook properly and parties rather than looks after her kids. Most sluts are not prostitutes, however most prostitutes are either sluts before they start of become one at some point.