Travel / Driving in Poland, are there any rules at all? [149]

Merged: Advice needed about driving in Poland

I am an Irishman who loves Poland and everything Polish. Don't ask me why, I've been like that since childhood. I just cannot help liking every Pole I meet (and envying their intellegence). My wife and I are planning a motoring holiday in Poland next year, using our own car. We plan to visit Poznan, Torun, Warsaw, Kraków, Mazuria, Wroclaw and many other places besides over a four week period.

Two things scare me to death. Firstly, every guide book I read rails about the dangers of driving in Poland & how manic Polish drivers are. I get questions like 'Are you mad?, Do you have a death wish? Don't you realise how lethal it is to drive in Poland?, etc, etc. Secondly, the guide books emphasise that foreign registered cars are particularly targeted by thieves in Poland. They say that if you are mad enough to drive in Poland, then make sure you drive a hire car.

The advice I am getting disturbs me. This is not the Poland I so like and admire.
Would somebody PLEASE put me straight on driving in Poland and give me some honest advice. Are the guide books right? And is there anything or things I should bear in mind before making this 'death defying trip'???

Travel / Driving in Poland, are there any rules at all? [149]

Many thanks, Delphiandomine, St. Bilko and Istannbullu34. Your comments are very comprehensive, highly informative and most welcome! I will read them over again to ensure I have not missed anything. They reflect what my gut feelings were actually telling me, that guide books tend to exaggerate problems, never diminish them. I'm now quite looking forward to my Polish trip and I will keep your advice very much in mind. If I get into trouble I'll do like in the Tom & Jerry cartoons; close my eyes, whistle a tune and put my foot to the metal!! (Joke). I'm perfectly sure we'll have a superb adventure. Thank you again.

UK, Ireland / Why English do not like Polish? [417]

Yes, it's true. The English DO hate the Poles and with a vengeance. They hate them nearly as much as the hate the French or the Scottish, the Welsh, the Irish, the Germans (despite the fact that the British royal family are half German), the Italians, the Czechs, the Slovaks, the Romanians, the Bulgarians, the Russians, Indians, Chinese.........How many more countries are left in the world?

I've thought about this for some time and wondered why the English, not the British as a whole, view the world with such vitriolic xenophobia. I think it's an Empire thing. Despite the fact that the British Empire has disappeared into the mists of history, and England has now become a second class citizen of Europe, most Englishman & women, deep in their subconscious, still think that they have an empire. And because they think they still have an empire, they look down their noses at everybody else, especially from the former Colonies, Americans take note.

I can't help commenting about what really puts the cat amongst the pigeons. It is the fact that thousands of Eastern Europeans, Middle Easterns and North Africans have heard about this country called Shangri La (England) that showers people with free money, free housing and free healthcare, just for turning up on its doorstep. And the best thing is you don't even have to work for it! No wonder this so called 'benefit seeking' multitude (tabloid press) cross many national borders, some countries very much richer than England, in order to get to the 'Land of Milk & Honey'.

If this potential flood of humanity, seeking a better life in England, (and why not?) ever do get into England, they meet the mindset of the superior, empire wielding, flag waving, xenophobic locals i.e. they are not welcomed with open arms. What a surprise!

And so we come back to the original question 'Why do the English not like the Poles?' My personal opinion is that the Poles should feel glad that they are not liked by the English. If they WERE liked, I'd be very suspicious as to why?

UK, Ireland / Why English do not like Polish? [417]

You have said it all , Johnny Reb!

We hear a lot about The Battle of Britain in WW2 and of the courage and bravery of the RAF fighter pilots, 'The Few', and rightly so. I have one question. Which RAF fighter squadron shot down the most German aircraft in The Battle of Britain? Answer, the Polish 303 squadron. Question. Which British agent (SOE) was one of the most acclaimed agents in WW2, and featured prominently in the long running TV series 'Wish Me Luck'? Answer: Christine Granville (Krystyna Skarbek), born in Warsaw and daughter of a Polish count.

There are countless other examples I could name, simply to emphasise what short memories the English people have and how they now ignore the fantastic contribution that thousands of Polish men and women are today making to the British economy. You are not benefit seekers or scroungers but decent, hard working and intelligent people. Please don't go home or be angry when insults are thrown at you. These insults are borne out of ignorance and bad manners. Don't respond in like manner. Don't lower yourself to that level.

I am neither English or Polish but I greatly admire Poland and the Polish people and I feel it when you are insulted or treated badly. Yes, I have been to Warsaw and to Chopin's home in the country nearby. Similarly to Torun and the birthplace of Copernicus. A beautiful country and wonderful, friendly people.

Thank you for that.

Travel / Buying Zlotys in Poland (4-week holiday - Lublin/Zamosc) [19]

Thank you jon357, for what appears to be excellent advice. I will certainly trust you on that. Our first stop in Poland is Poznan and I will select a Kantor on the outskirts to change UKSterling cash into Zlotys. I will think of you when I change mt Pounds to Zlotys at a much better rate than in the UK. Thanks again.

Travel / Buying Zlotys in Poland (4-week holiday - Lublin/Zamosc) [19]

Hi delphiandomine, yes, driving from Rotterdam via Germany to eastern Poland (Ukraine & Belarus borders) and into Mazuria!
Long stops in Warsaw, Lublin and Torun. First stop Poznan, hence the enquiry about Kantors there. Any advice you can give about Kantors would be most welcome. Thank you, too, jon357, I really appreciate your advice. Thanks, gentlemen.

Travel / Buying Zlotys in Poland (4-week holiday - Lublin/Zamosc) [19]

Wow. I cannot believe the level of detail in the advice I am getting! Astounding. I am so pleased I found this forum and you gentlemen. Firstly, delphiandomine, you certainly seem to know your stuff and thank you for the advice. You speak about Kantors on the German/Polish border. I plan to cross into Poland at Frankfurt an der Oder. Is that the border crossing you mean, or Cottbus? I am certainly going to follow your advice as it makes much better sense than Poznan.

Secondly, jon357, thank you also. I have looked up Zamosc (how did you get the accents over the s and c?) and it sounds a wonderful place to visit, just south east of Lublin. I am now adding another night at Lublin to make sure we have time to do Zamosc justice. I also want to see the Bug river as I understand it forms the border in that region.

Thank you again, gentlemen, you are adding such a lot to our tour of Poland.

Hi delphiandomine, please ignore my last message. I have located the three Kantors just over the bridge in Slubice (Jednosci Robotniczej). They are fairly close together. I have managed to get the Latitude/Longitude of the street so if I go wrong I will blame the SatNav!

Thanks again for your invaluable help.

Travel / Buying Zlotys in Poland (4-week holiday - Lublin/Zamosc) [19]

I would be stupid to ignore the excellent advice now coming from three different sources! jon357 and Harry, you have opened my eyes to Zamosc. The pictures of the Stare Miasto are truly stunning. How could I have missed such a gem before. I am so impressed that I have cancelled the booking in the Lublin hotel and instead have booked the full stay in Zamosc. My wife is going to be blown away at such a beautiful place. Thank you, jon357 and Harry. You have made my day!

delphiandomine, your knowledge of Poland seems endless. A one man Wikipedia! Believe me, I am happy to wait as long as it takes for details of Kantors in and around Slubice. You are so kind, thank you.

Travel / Buying Zlotys in Poland (4-week holiday - Lublin/Zamosc) [19]

Thanks Harry.
I have just booked our stay at the Mercure Zamosc Stare Miasto with a request for a room overlooking the main market square/piazza!! It all sounds delightful. The Bug river is not too far to the east so I might even get to see that!

Many thanks for your advice.

Travel / Buying Zlotys in Poland (4-week holiday - Lublin/Zamosc) [19]

Harry, I'm determined to get one of those apartments! And yes, you're right on the button, Sobibor is where I'm headed with Wlodowa and the Bug the cherry on the top, thanks to your help. After that we head back to Warsaw for a while before heading northeast to Malkinia Junction and Treblinka, followed by Mazuria and The Wolf's Lair. You'll have gathered that I'm a WW2 nutcase! Thank you so much for the superb information.