Life / Moving to Krakow (and other questions) [23]

How did this get on? Did the OP move in September? Did they get a job? How are they finding it if so?

The thing about being 20 mins from the market square struck me as a big beginner mistake. It's the most expensive area in Kraków to go out. You can get a much better place to stay outside the centre and the public transport is fine and cheap (84PLN for all lines at the moment). You won't be looking at more than 20 mins on the tram/bus to the centre. If you decide to go for the centre then you will be paying over the odds for a flat which may not be that great. Plus if you are a bit out of the town in a block, you can take advantage of fast cable internet and council heating!

Love / Romance with a polish girl... I need help! [7]


Interesting choice of term there. That is a very common Polish mistake in English as the direct Polish-English translation is "on" a destination at times. Sure you are not a native Pole in disguise?

Law / Personal contents insurance in Poland? [2]

Can I just bump this up. I rent and have looked around for contents insurance. It seems that there is such a thing but only if you are the homeowner. I would like to be able to cover the cost of electronics and other items incase something should happen (like it did in the last place). I have good security here both in the flat (metal shutters, solid door with multiple locks, etc), and in the main building (know the neighbours, always lit and CCTV) but I would feel better if, in the worst case scenario, I could claim back the costs of certain items in the flat that would be too expensive to replace out of pocket.

Anyone know if any company does this, and if so, any reccommendations?

Food / What food and drinks should I buy a Polish friend who is missing Poland? [12]


The new Kokosowe ones are to die for! I love Michałki, thought the white ones were too sweet, coffee ones didn't taste that great and the orange ones i hated (I have a thing about orange and chocolate). But these new Kokosowe are the nuts (pun....intended!)!

Life / How can I change 100 PLN bank notes for smaller currency? [17]


I agree with this sentiment. I generally like to keep everything 20gr and under in cups and jars about the house. Must have about 60PLN worth kicking about. But I am not 100% what the script is taking it to the bank. I also don't really want to be the guy at the front of a huge biedronka queue paying in all change. Can I go to the bank and get little plastic money bags to bag it all up and bring it back to them? Someone said just bring it all together, but a)if I do that and the bank says no then I have lugged it about for no reason and b)seems a bit inconsiderate to the bank clerk and people behind me while they have to count through it.

What does everyone else do with their little change?

Food / Is Domino's Pizza popular in Poland? [18]


It is getting better, Polish people going and working in Italy or in the UK (where we have a huge Italian community) and coming home and thinking that they can do better than what is here now. I had a great pizza delivered the other day, home made dough, cooked thin and to a nice crisp outside and chewy inside, and then some nice mozzarella and tomato sauce. Tasted like some of the best pizzas I've had.

Glad it's getting better and so I don't need to resort to chains!

Work / Does google voice work correctly in Poland? [22]

Keep in mind that if you are using it in a home office or just at home. Internet speeds in Poland are some of the best in the world at the moment so you should have no problem running it over Wi-fi.

UK, Ireland / wife wants to have baby in poland not ireland [52]

To re-itterate a few things mentioned in her in my own dwie grosze: She's having a baby, it's best to do it where it's most comfortable for her. The differences in patient care in Europe are minimal at best and to make a major decision on the basis of a few stories would be silly. I myself have never had a bad experience in a hospital (or with a doctor) in Poland or in the UK (I can't talk about Ireland as I've never been to hospital there). There isn't really such a thing a perfect hospital (although Singapore came close) as the amount of money it costs to run a hospital and the amount of money available don't match.

But mainly, have the baby where your wife feels the most comfortable having a baby.

(edit)As for going for scans, they are completely safe and so you shouldn't be wasting money that could be spent on the baby travelling for scans!

Life / Any Polish pride wallpapers? [10]

Why not search for Raclawice and check out the high res images there? It's a hugely famous panorama and there are few parts of it that don't say "Polish Pride".

Work / Average IT salary in Poland [60]


It depends the industry. From what you have told us so far, that wage is hugely above what most people would be earning. You would be able to live a very comfortable life with those payment terms.

Travel / Best way to get to Krakow Business Park? [27]


I work pretty standard office hours. In the middle of winter, the sun comes up as I am getting into the office at quarter to 8 and it's down well before half past 4 when I leave.

Travel / Best way to get to Krakow Business Park? [27]


Come on, I live 10 minutes away from my work and in winter it's dark when I get up and dark when I finish.

Travel / Best way to get to Krakow Business Park? [27]

Having a look at the map, there is more than likely a small bus company that will run the route. However their websites are sometimes hard to find and not very up to date. It would be a good idea to talk to the company and ask if they know anyone who commutes by public transport from Katowice. Or you can try your first week commuting via the bus station in Kraków (it will be time consuming, but it will give you an opportunity to talk and learn about possible other routes), then attempt a few different ways. I would even say that you can get the bus to Kraków bus station (it's not so close, unfortunately), but then on the way back to Katowice, try another route. There is a main road running through Zabierzów that connects with the A4 to Katowice, there must be a bus that goes along there.

Good luck.

History / Poland unit in England - can anybody recognize this military uniform? [10]

The epaulets look quite navy in shape. But alas with the condition of the photo and the knowledge that he was in Africa then it could be any number of hot weather uniforms or, as you say, Naval dress white.

But very interesting topic, I am curious about the conclusion!

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

1. Hippo
2. Rhino
3&4. Feeding time (or else that fox (fennec fox?) has a nasty cough!)

Life / An Englishman wanting to watch TV in Poland [51]

I would also recommend FilmOn for free-view channels. Just get an HD cable running from your laptop to the TV and you're laughing. Maybe not for Sky though.

As for:


I have only been in here twice and both times the staff were incredibly rude and place was very dark and dingy (and not in an "atmospheric Kraków" way). I personally wouldn't back up this person's recommendation. There are plenty of other places that have Sky.

Life / New to Poland (Bydgoszcz) - cost of living there [46]


Yes, unless you enjoy coming home from work and sinking a bottle of champagne or cognac before bed every night.

Law / I have recently been scammed in Poland. My company accounts frozen. [58]


Just the way it was worded was along the lines of "It's not Poland's fault" without addressing the issue he was posting about. As I said, I read it as him not being comfortable wanting to do business in the same place after such an experience, not that he was blaming Poland at all. Maybe I read too much into it too. :)


Exactly, by them breaking their contract they have broken your trust, that's a hard thing to deal with. I can see why it would be the last straw.

Food / arab restaurant in poland ? [8]

I would imagine that, given the price of Lamb and Mutton in Poland they would be quite an expensive option. I remember when I stayed in the middle east that Lamb and Mutton were pretty much staples of many of the dishes. But I do agree that Middle Eastern cuisine is rather marvellous!

Law / I have recently been scammed in Poland. My company accounts frozen. [58]


I did not read it that way at all Pawian and I think you are being rather misleading with your choice of quote to use. I read it as him having had a bad experience and wanting to leave the place where it happened, as I'm sure many people would after being the victim in such a scenario. If I was to say that my house got broken into and I wanted to move somewhere else, I am not doing it because I believe my house to blame for this, but rather the feeling of edginess living there as it has happened. Do you think Sean will be happy dealing with other sub-contractors in the same region (especially knowing they have multiple companies) in future? He will always have that sense of betrayal and I think moving on somewhere else is a way of dealing with that feeling, not accusing all of Poland of wanting to cheat him.

This thread is not Poland bashing, it's just talking about his experience, don't jump on the defensive horse mate.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]


Kraków Zoo?

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

Picture one rings a bell. The red buildings in the background make me think of Politechnika, however the wall in the foreground made me think of the Jewish cemetary just behind Starowislna, near Galeria Kazimierz.

Give us a clue!

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]


Is photo 2 the solidarnosc building on Plac Szczepanski?

Law / Is there much demand in Poland for real ale? [38]


This is pretty much exactly the type of site I was hoping for. Good work InWroclaw, a bottle of Cardno Ale shall be winging it's way to you...when I get round to buying and making stuff.

Real Estate / Stronger zloty - potential driver for Poland's property market [42]


WOOOOOOO, I love gambling!

Life / Etiquette in a Store and Market Queues in Poland [146]


I have noticed younger people seem to think it's crazy but older folk just ignore it. I think the retired community are not in as much of a rush as us youngsters.

I laughed the other day because an old woman tried to skip right to the front of the queue saying "but I only need to buy one loaf of bread", to which the girl she was trying to skip in front of said "and I am only buying this lettuce, plus I can count coins". It was a bit cheeky of her, but I had to giggle, because it is a nightmare when you have an old dear paying and taking about 4 years to count out the exact amount of grosze to pay for an item.

Life / Etiquette in a Store and Market Queues in Poland [146]

You need to perfect the "I have lots of things to weigh and there is no hope in hell you are getting in here" eye. Works every time and they shuffle off to the next weigh station.

All this pushing in queues and stuff used to annoy me when I arrived but you need to adapt. I will try and give people personal space, but if someone tries to skip in then you just need to sternly point out that the queue starts behind you. The other day I was at Biedronka and just put my stuff on the belt when a guy came back and said "I was in the queue, look there is my bag of tomatoes (on one of the sweet displays near the register) and I only have them and bread to pay for". I couldn't help but laugh slightly at his brass neck, then just told him I only have one item and the display is not the belt. He wasn't pleased, but he didn't really have a leg to stand on.

The key is to be polite and act as you would back home normally, but don't hesitate to be firm when need be. Simples!

Law / Is there much demand in Poland for real ale? [38]

That would be awesome, I will send you a bottle of the result!

Life / Polish natural remedies and homeopathey better than English [84]

To be fair the science there is pretty sound, although the castor oil isn't really needed and mint leaves don't have THAT much menthol in them. But it works along the same lines as Ice Sprays you get. Menthol gives a cooling sensation and that will help stop it swelling so much.

In saying that, ice would have worked better.

Life / Polish natural remedies and homeopathey better than English [84]

Because you can't sue a plant?