Study / Recrutation at Warsaw or Wroclaw University closed? [18]

The Polish academics at my uni all speak English very clearly. It's something they pay a lot of attention to.
Niklas, you might find unis which have places due to students getting sick or changing their minds. Some places are struggling to find students. Keep trying.

Travel / From Warsawa Centralna to Old Town hotel [4]

If you don't have luggage, why not walk? If you do, jump in a cab. Shouldn't cost more than 25 PLN.

Work / Diary of a Teacher in Poland [181]

The thing that drives me nuts is when ss look up a word on their phones. The online dictionaries they use are often laughable. One lad last semester wrote an essay using the most archaic words. I asked him where he'd found them, and he showed me the dictionary he used. It was a Polish online one and was about 150 years out of date. Another time, instead of listening to me explain what a bud was (Shakespeare's sonnet Shall I compare...) a woman was busy poking her phone. She'd found something about cannabis, and was busy reading it while the other ss were discovering the genius of the Bard.

History / Aurochs, the primitive prehistoric cattle of Europe, had lived in Poland? [48]

The last time I was there a stallion was servicing a mare, and the other mares had formed an orderly line.

History / Aurochs, the primitive prehistoric cattle of Europe, had lived in Poland? [48]

I'll be visiting them on Saturday. Afaik they recreated them using tarpan-like animals they found on farms. The ones in the reserve in Bialowieza are as close as they could get to the real thing.

Travel / Golabki in Mragowo - where to buy? [10]

I didn't think of that! Yes, they're as good as you'll probably get in cafe.

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]

Carpentry grade Oak, 50mm boards. 4305PLN/M3 today online. Nice business.

Travel / Golabki in Mragowo - where to buy? [10]

Try a milk bar. Addresses can be found by googling mrągowo bar mleczny or mrągowo obiady domowe. These places don't cook them every day, but if you visit a few, you'll be sure to find them.

History / Aurochs, the primitive prehistoric cattle of Europe, had lived in Poland? [48]

I'd be interested in your source for your assertion, ca.
Kaprys, absolutely agree.

Life / No Health care in Poland for the elderly? Insulin injections. [8]

It can be complicated because the diabetic has to monitor their blood sugar level and sometimes adjust the dose. The injection pens couldn't be simpler but the condition needs monitoring, so a nurse is the best option.

Law / Schengen visa for a Moroccan guy married to a Polish girl [13]

How is it possible to have both a Moroccan and a Polish marriage certificate?

History / Aurochs, the primitive prehistoric cattle of Europe, had lived in Poland? [48]

The aurochs appears in red in the town crest of Bielsk Podlaski in eastern Poland. The main reason they became extinct is probably because they didn't fear humans and, unlike the European bison, were not aggressive, so they were very easy to hunt.

On Saturday I'll be showing some visiting Americans around the bison reserve near Bialowieza. I always look forward to seeing the Zubron there. Now that is a strange beast.

UK, Ireland / British court lets violent Polish racists walk free [61]


I knew you were Old Labour! Takes one to know one.

UK, Ireland / British court lets violent Polish racists walk free [61]


Did I say that? I merely pointed out the fact that these payments have made it possible for some to give up work. It's not a measly 100 quid. It's 500 PLN per kid (except for the first one). Child benefits are necessary for the poor, but 500+ goes to everyone. I have well-off friends in Warsaw who get this money. They don't need it and didn't ask for it.


It must be comforting for you to believe that all PiS voters think one way and all PO voters think alike on every issue. The world is, of course, like people, more complicated than that. I hate all politicians equally, but I use my vote every four years anyway.


Indeed. Several decades ago I was unemployed for a while. Bedsit land. HB didn't cover the rent so dole had to be used to top it up. Lived on pasta and tinned pilchards. Bits of teeth fell out. Went half nuts. I could go on.

UK, Ireland / British court lets violent Polish racists walk free [61]


A student of mine told me that she and her mother live in a flat and have troublesome neighbours. These people have four kids, and shout and fight regularly. They are alcohol abusers and there is strong suspicion of low level drug dealing. The cops make regular visits. The patriarch of this happy brood used to work, but since the 500+ scheme came in he doesn't. Why bother?

UK, Ireland / Polish man jailed for using dog to attack Muslims leaving mosque [45]

Dd, do you feel like you are treated as a sub-human? I certainly don't. Quite the opposite. As a middle aged, middle class pink European I am treated with respect. Not on here, of course; nobody expects that.

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]

To those who say, "You're not a biologist so your opinion is worthless," I say, OK, then you should no longer post on anything other than your field of expertise. If I had a serious illness, I'd consult a doctor, maybe two or three. If they all gave the same diagnosis, I'd be inclined to believe them, especially if they had no vested interest or possibility to make money from me. In the case of the eastern forest, there is broad consensus from the experts. This should not be a party political issue. The scientists would be just as angry if PO were in power and doing the same.

I have cooperated with several institutes in Bialowieza for nearly twenty years, and have checked dozens of academic papers for the scientists working there. I'm no expert, but I do know that the current logging has little basis in science. The biologists working in the forest are poorly paid yet highy dedicated people who know what they are talking about. Yes, I listen to them rather than people who know nothing.

UK, Ireland / British court lets violent Polish racists walk free [61]


Unlikely if the quote is accurate.

"Dog stay here England, you Jews go away."
These people appear to be common or garden scum of the type found in any country. It's a great shame that the wedding party had their day ruined, but a custodial sentence would just have cost the taxpayer a fortune. These lowlifes will now have to pay their fines out of their benefits and forego a few cans of super strength cider.

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]


Wow, that's a lot. Especially when you consider that Germany has an area of 357 021 KM2

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]

Yes. In the 'strict reserve' they allow fallen trees to rot where they fall, when they are windblown or diseased. They provide habitats for all kinds of insect and fungal life. The rotting trees feed the earth nutrients which plants use. Ruminants eat the plants and disperse the seeds through zoochary. Life goes on. The birch bark beetle has to live, too. The forest has survived for a long time. Only man can kill it.

Travel / Milk Bars in Warsaw's Old Town [18]


You probably remember when cop shops' canteens were open to all. I never could decide whether I was in the safest place in town or the opposite.


No! Don't publicise this! This is the reason for the queues. That and being able to pay for a bowl of soup with a card.


There's one place in my nearest town that accepts these vouchers (is it MOPS?) Our layabout neighbours used to cycle fourteen km every day to get their free lunch. I've seen recipients get their free soup, bread, main course and compote, then buy 100gr of vodka to wash it down.

Life / No Health care in Poland for the elderly? Insulin injections. [8]

She could engage a private nurse to give the shots for a couple of weeks. There must be a nurse in the neighbourhood who would like to earn a little extra. If the injections are given using one-off self-administered syringes, a neighbour could do it if shown how.

Travel / Milk Bars in Warsaw's Old Town [18]

Twenty years ago they were subsidized, and the poorest people (but not only them) went there to eat cheaply. I've been using the same one near my workplace for seventeen years, and much has changed. You don't see as many very poor people now that the subsidy has gone, although they are still pretty cheap. Last week I had scrambled eggs with bacon, tomato and onion salad, a bread roll and a pot of kefir for under 12 PLN.

UK, Ireland / Polish man jailed for using dog to attack Muslims leaving mosque [45]


Absolutely right. Who's stopping you?

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]

The vast majority of scientists, both in Poland and abroad, have deplored the rape of the forest. Szyszko is totally outnumbered on this. It's like climate change. 99.9% of those qualified to comment accept it's happening, and then there are people like donald trump, who knows nothing, but declares it a hoax. I'll be in the forest the weekend after next, so I'll see for myself what's happening.

Travel / Milk Bars in Warsaw's Old Town [18]

The Old Town in Torun is like that now. You can't sit in peace because one bum after another comes asking for a cig or change. Many of them look well fed and clothed, too.

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

Revoked licence, over the dd limit and asleep on the motorway. But he's Polish, so he's being victimised.

Food / Mushroom picking (and eating:) in Poland [36]

Just been round to the mum-in-law's where the mushroom dryer has been on the go for a week non-stop, with two cats wrapped around it. She asked my wife to take her mushrooming again tomorrow. My wife agreed, but on the condition thay would collect only ceps and walk past anything else. I wouldn't be surprised if this continues. Wet and warm.

Travel / Milk Bars in Warsaw's Old Town [18]

Alltimegreat. Bring some Levis. You can make quite a bit because Pewex charges top dollar.

Food / Mushroom picking (and eating:) in Poland [36]

This has been the best mushroom season in Poland for many years. Chanterelles/kurki were in great abundance in the summer, and now the forests are full of people collecting an amazing crop of boletes and others. On Sunday my sis-in-law found over 100 ceps/prawdziwki, as well as birch boletes and maszlaki. Our freezer is full, our jars are packed, and the drier is working overtime. Happy days (is that allowed on here?).