Travel / Anyone here use/used Ryanair? Flying from/to Poland [31]

More ill-informed, biased twaddle. Ryanair operate over 400 aircraft across Europe every day, and are about the largest airline in Europe. They have NEVER had a fatal accident, as opposed to virtually every other large European airline. Every LLC operates in the same way, I have had far worse experiences with WIZZ. Both are value for what you pay for, all LLC's are.

Modlin is an overcrowded kip, and I aggressively avoid it. In fact, I never take my family through it even though it is close to us. Ryanair have being publicly campaigning for an extension to Modlin, but PiS are blocking in anticipation of their new central airport. When they moved domestic flights to Chopin they were treated like dirt, and given distant cargo stands to load passengers, as they were destroying LOT on these routes.

Travel / Anyone here use/used Ryanair? Flying from/to Poland [31]


Some utter nonsense being spouted here.

Ryanair have in the past grounded planes for months when it suited them, particularly in the winter months. He will have no problem doing again. They have plenty of planes over 10 years old fully paid for and written off in accounts.

Yes they made a mess of things last year, and the guy responsible walked. They are now realising unionising will not solve all their problems, and there will be strikes. There is a massive global shortage of pilots, and they were caught out.

As it stands, post-brexit the UK will revert back to bilateral rights with each country. That will cause havoc, not so much for Ryanair, as it will for the EU shareholder owned BA. The Brits can try tax and punish MOL all they want. He will just move his planes elsewhere. He has markets like the Ukraine, Finland, France, Israel, Albania, Croatia, Serbia, Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland, Denmark where they have zero bases yet.

You might think he is complaining about Brexit to reverse it. Really he's looking for publicity as always (it's free), and highlighting the UK government is sleepwalking into a disaster. If brexit is to happen in March 19, then airline schedules for that time are planned NOW, and will be announced this summer - about 9 months ahead. Given the UK govt haven't a clue, how can an airline.

PS It has emerged this week that the buddies of the UK, the USA, are sticking it to them in back room air access negotiations. May is a complete joke.

News / 60% of Poles say Szydło's government should resign [238]

The inforamtion going round is that Chopin is barely able to handle existing traffic and the forecast pressure will be more than it can deal with.

A first for everything, never thought I'd agree with P3.

Chopin's RUNWAY has a capacity of 25mil pax, as does any full size runway. The busiest single runway airport in the world is Gatwick with about 35mil. That is bursting at the seams. The smallest aircraft using that now is about 120 seats, smaller aircraft too expensive to run there given fee structure. LOT's runs a load of 70-90 seat aircraft.

Chopin's issue is terminal capacity, which it is close to reaching. There is also limited space for building expansion.
Modlin is an utter disgrace, a shambles of a 3rd world airport. It should be shut ASAP.

A new twin runway airport on the Lodz side of Warsaw would provide capacity for 50+ years, and get rid of stupid vanity projects haemorrhaging money like LJC, BYD, MOD. Overnight an extra 4mil of feeder flights would be added in a new unified Warsaw airport. LOT could grow services without restrction, and WAW could develop into a proper hub. Lodz regional railway could use the savings to fund a huge investment to improve Lodz-Warsaw railway services via the new airport. Better rail and air services for the city, not nett job losses. Win win for everyone.

PS. amazed/delighted that Duda finally grew a pair. It is horrible to watch the slide in this country over the past few years from the inside.

News / Cameron's EU reform good for Poland [95]



I don't disagree that there are massive problems with it. However the positives far, far outweigh the negatives. I also think it is no more corrupt that the average national government at worst. Bureaucratic, yes - hugely.

It is a multi-national democratic system that is far fairer that that of many national systems, including the USA and any monarchy.

Do you live here?

P.S. name calling is a great way to start an argument.

News / Cameron's EU reform good for Poland [95]

To paraphrase Monthy Pyton. What has the EU done for us?
The roads. Aside from that?
The rail. Aside from that?
Free-movement. Aside from that?
Human rights. Aside from that?......

You can claim the EU is German-centric. However outlying countries like Poland and Ireland have been transformed by central investment.

I picked a Polish woman up after a nasty fall in Ireland yesterday. She had her EC card to had all her costs covered. What would have happened if she fell in the USA?

The Court of Human rights ensure localised prejudice, racism and downright judicial stupidity is prevented throughout the bloc.

Can I also maybe mention the EU has created an era of peace never seen in European history. I don't know about you lot, but I don't find it patriotic sending my son off to war.

PS, about UK contributions to the EU pot. If they leave the EU they will have no choice but to join EFTA. The proportional cost of that will be about 2 billion (versus Norway). Co-incidentally a similar figure to the nett UK contribution to the EU. In EFTA they will be obliged to implement EU laws, and have no say in their creation.

It is priceless that on this forum the most vociferous opponents of the EU don't even live here, have no clue about how it really works and benefits its citizens. Massive problems and all.

Law / Biggest supermarket chains in Poland vs Germany [23]


You could not suggest a more unpopular idea. It is detested by the Irish and all parties are committed to abolishing it.


Ditto. And why should the unemployed drive for free. Or employees pay for their employer to use roads for work?


There is nothing to stop either entering this market. The Germans are very price concious and have poor brand loyalty. Put simply, they are smarter than the rest. The mighty WalMart entered and then left with their tails between their legs. The discounter format is wiping the eye of the hypermarket. The Germans invented the discount format. Discounters have gone from 0 to 16% in Ireland in roughly the same number of years, just broke 10% in the UK. No sign of slowing either.


They would want to make a profit for once in Poland before taking on expansion.


+1. If Pis think they can solve an issue of competition by tax they are just proving themselves to be morons. The biggest issue hindering the independent grocery sector is competition, and in particular access to international brands for smaller wholesalers. Major manufacturers have a warped system here of selling huge volumes only (P&G do it globally). The massive players can buy directly from them, but everyone else must buy from agents. This creates layers of costs. There is extremely poor competition in the wholesale/cash&carry trade. I have often seen promotions where supermarkets were cheaper than wholesale. I'm not talking about loss leading either. Selgros, Makro and Eurocash (which is a franchise) are the only operators. In a country this size there should be hundreds of independent cash & carries. They can't get a foot on the ladder.

The simple reason there are almost no Polish chains is that cash was needed for the gold-rush of the 90's, no Polish company had it. The westerners did however.

Study / Studying in University of Lodz as an Indian student? What's the city like - is it safe here? [56]

Deported directly back to his home country.

Technically he was on his way back from Denmark. Whether it was the Germans or Danes that deported him he was never seen again in the class I shared with him, and his room mate had to box his stuff to ship back.


That bridge is absolutely necessary and feeds directly into the new cross city road tunnel. Will have no impact on city centre traffic. It's not blocked yet AFAIK.


Another load of bull. A recent large order has been placed for new trams with a Bydgoszcz firm. There is a program to completely refurbish and modernise (wheelchair access etc) all the oldest trams.


Is it not good to separate cyclists and traffic? Cyclists are so spoiled in Lodz there is now an anti-cyclist campaign. Piotrkowska has NEVER been quieter or more cyclist dominated.


A whole new road through the main rail station will be taking most of the traffic off this street.

Study / Studying in University of Lodz as an Indian student? What's the city like - is it safe here? [56]

Yes I live in Lodz.

It never fails to amaze me the hate Poles have for Lodz. How is Lodz the "dirtiest" city in Poland? It is not even in the 10 worst large cities for air quality in the country. Every city was neglected under communism, some cities got more of a handout than others. With the investment underway here now Lodz will have the best transport infrastructure in the country in a few years (New rail stations, new ring motorway, new underground, inner city relief roads).

Multi-cultural, I'm not claiming the city is half non-Poles. I'm not even saying it's 10% non-Poles. However, it is just about as multicultural as any Polish city apart from Warsaw and Krakow. There are thousands of foreign students, studying for anything from a few months to years here. The are concentrated around their universities obviously. In traditionally poorer areas like Baluty there are almost none.

Also Lodz has a fantastic variety of restaurants of all kinds of ethnic origins run authentically (Kazak, Azerj, Armenian, West African, Montenegran I can think of right now)

If you think your city is better than Lodz state that. Inaccurately criticising another city is just childish.

Study / Studying in University of Lodz as an Indian student? What's the city like - is it safe here? [56]

Lodz has plenty of foreigners that stand out like Arabs, Asians and Africans. The city is multi-cultural, just look at the variety of restaurants. Yes like all Polish/European cities there are idiots who think they're patriots, and have nothing to do. No more here than I have seen elsewhere. There are loads of Multi-national companies here, for language skills they often hire abroad.

At the main University there is a large tower block dedicated to overseas students in their first year, hundreds if not thousands of them. Lodz University is well regarded and has good facilities. The residential area near the university is full of foreign students.

Work wise you will have very limited options (if any) to work legally. Your visa will state this.
Travel wise I doubt your visa will allow you to leave Poland, even though it is in Schengen. I know of one student who traveled to see his brother in Denmark and was stopped on a train in Germany. Deported directly back to his home country.

Food / Can you buy HP Sauce in Poland? [20]

Piotr i Pawel have some HP sauces too, Likely closer to you. I'm not sure if the offer the original but I remember seeing the

piotripawel.pl/a/63/firma/znajdz-sklep

these guys distribute I think.

abworldfoods.com

Life / Watching a movie in cinema (Łodź), without Polish dubbing? [9]

Most adult films here are shown in the original language here with subtitles in the cinema. Only the kids movies get dubbed.

Law / Bank Account in Euros - Is it possible to negotiate exchange rates to zloty with a Polish bank? [24]

I've tried Mbank and they finally have come back and said they can offer preferential rates. They robbed me on my first few exchanges so now are chasing business.

I've taken my business to a private Kantor that gives MUCH better rates than Mbank ever offered, I also have a business partner that says in his experience Alior Bank offers the best Bank exchange rates.

Travel / Pub Quiz in Warsaw? [19]

Pub Quiz this Friday night in Lodz organised by my rugby club. Questions in Polish though.Can provide a translation.

PM if interested by chance.

Work / I have 2 job offers, should I choose Lodz or Krakow ?? [9]

Minus tax guesstimate.
Krakow = 3800 gross = 2900 nett
Lodz = 4200 gross = 3200 nett

For a central 30/35m2 apartment in Krakow I expect you will pay 1700-2000pln gross (incl utilities), Lodz you will pay 1400-1700.
Lodz is cheaper in general to eat and drink out as it is not a tourist city.

I Krakow you'll get by, in Lodz you might be able to save some money. If you are young and looking for fun Krakow is on of Europe's most beautiful cities.

Travel / Suggestions for what i should do or see in Lodz? [16]


The guy has said he WILL be in Lodz and you guys start a diatribe about why he should avoid it. Jesus what is it about people and this city? Get over it, Lodz has a tourist!


Personal experience? Brilliant contribution.

Lodz has excellent options for cusine. A few I like.
Varoska for Hungarian
Manakin for all sorts of pancakes on a budget
Anatewka for Jewish
All these 3 within spitting distance of each other beside Grand Hotel. There are all sorts of independent places hidden behind the main buildings.

The main street is being completely replaced, both ends are done so now they're doing the middle. You can still walk about though.

For pubs Kaliska is always a good place to start. Off-Piortkowska has a big assortment too. In the backyard of many of the buildings along Piotrkowska you will find all kinds of bars. Enjoy the adventure.

UK, Ireland / British products in Warsaw [32]


McVities are about to launch a range here through Delicpol, Digestives, Hob Nobs, Creams.

Travel / Suggestions for what i should do or see in Lodz? [16]

Behind Manufaktura you'll find the Catholic,Orthodox and Protestant Graveyards. Well worth a walk around. From the simple packed Catholic graveyard to the massive Protestant graves many of which are neglected. Maunfaktura is on the edge of the Ghetto. Get a Ghetto map and go for a walk. Many of the old buildings are still intact. The area is still the most run down in the city. Finish on the far side of the old Ghetto at the Jewish Graveyard. Most of it is overgrown but tells a story about the history of Lodz. Thousands of graves slowly being destroyed by trees. Families completely wiped out in the war.

Food / Where to buy British mature Cheddar Cheese and salted butter in Poland? [289]


You're talking out your ass. Kerrygold is a proper cheddar, it is not processed cheese. I'm sure you can find better artisan cheddars in the UK and Ireland, but given what is available here it is the best.

Law / I want to move to Poland, but is it still difficult to obtain a visa for non EU nationals? [8]

Wrong AFAIK. A Polish student visa is just that, for Poland. I was on a course with a guy who traveled to Denmark from Poland on such a visa. He was stopped and detained on a train in Germany. I got deported from Germany and had his Polish visa cancelled for breaching its terms.

Speaking English is no real advantage here. It won't do anything to improve your chances of getting a visa.

If you want to come here get a college place first. They you have reasonable grounds to be granted a student visa.

Real Estate / Recommend good residential areas in which to rent an apartment in Lodz? [24]

Given you are changing countries it would be normal for your employer to ensure you are housed, they should nominate someone to assist you. Many landlords will speak English. When inspecting any flat check the radiators are hot and run your hand around windows and doors. Really in that area all housing should be fro 1970's on and have PVC windows. Where you have the quality issues are generally older "Kamienica's".

The Indian food shop is across the street from the Irish Pub on Piotrkowska, it should not be difficult to find. The other store is upstairs near Real at the back of Manufaktura. There are a few Indians in Ganesh Restaurant that should be able to give you better info.

Real Estate / Recommend good residential areas in which to rent an apartment in Lodz? [24]

Of what I know: The area you will be working in is an average Lodz residential area. A quiet working area. There are all the major stores (Carrefour, Lidl, Biedronka) on your doorstep. There are excellent tram and bus connections to the city centre. I would advise you stay west of Wolkniniarzy, some of the areas along that road closer to the city centre are quiet run down, the closer to the city the worse nearly. It is partly the old Lidtmannstadt Ghetto.

In fairness the public transport here is excellent. Regular, fairly clean and cheap. On that route there are likely over half a dozen different routes.

In the city centre there is an Indian store selling the food basics. Another in Manufaktura selling foods of the world at a higher price.

If your employer won't help I would get a rate from a hotel for 2 weeks and go visit the apartments yourself so you are not under pressure to take anywhere.

nobohotel.pl

Not far away. There are plenty of hostels in the city centre too. Cinnamon, Flamingo etc.

There is an Ikea to buy cheaply any furniture you may need so get the right apartment for you.

Real Estate / Recommend good residential areas in which to rent an apartment in Lodz? [24]

Grocery and bus won't be an issue. There are perfectly nice areas on all sides of the city. As an Indian (guess) I'd avoid certain areas with higher youth unemployment and football fans. Perhaps the student areas would suit you better. Politeckniki or just west of the city centre.

Rent nothing until you have seen it and the areas around. There are plenty of hostels and cheap hotels here to start you off.

Rents AFAIK for a 1bed/studio will be about 1500pln per month all in. There is rent + fixed service charges + utility bills that you will likely pay to the landlord. internet/tv you'll have to sort yourself.

Food / Where to buy British mature Cheddar Cheese and salted butter in Poland? [289]


The curds and whey are separated using rennet, an enzyme complex normally produced from the stomachs of newborn calves (in vegetarian or kosher cheeses, bacterial-, yeast- or mould-derived chymosin is used).[

Food / Where to buy British mature Cheddar Cheese and salted butter in Poland? [289]


That's it alright. First spotted today so I expect it will be everywhere soon enough. Best value in the country. Dale Farm at home is a pretty mild cheddar, flavour is okay but it has the right texture. Only 9 months maturing so no big kick.

Food / Where to buy British mature Cheddar Cheese and salted butter in Poland? [289]

Just in Lidl this morning to pick up the last of the Cheedar. Spotted a new 400g block made by Dale Farm in Norn Iron (Northern Ireland to the unfamiliar). Packaging looks a little similar to Cathedral City. 11.99pln for 400g is the best value I've seen here - and it looks like it will be a regularly stocked item like the German Kerrygold butter.

Travel / Cheap travel to Lodz (coming from Belgium) [6]

Lodz is only an hour by car fro Warsaw airport, Modlin is slightly further.

I have driven Lodz - Belgium in a single day on a few occasions (about 10 hours), might be a better option. Motorway the entire way and only tolls in Poland.

Love / Indian girl met a Polish guy and got pregnant. He doesn't want to marry me and my visa expires... [14]


I don't think that is cast iron. Ireland have deported a number of Irish Citizens (through birth) along with their mothers, and said the child can return when they are of age. Has cleared the entire Irish legal system.

Food / Where to buy British mature Cheddar Cheese and salted butter in Poland? [289]

lidl recently had kerrygold they brought in from germany. piles of the stuff but it all seems to have cleared from my local store.

PS Tesco's best own brand butter is now supplied by IDB (Kerrygold) through it's German operation. Not sure if it is the same recipe though.

Travel / Hotel with gym or close to gym in Lodz [3]

Focus has a gym and is reasonable, Andles has a leisure centre, as does the Ambassador I believe. Ibis, Campanile, Novotel are across the road from a large gym.

UK, Ireland / The Changing Attitude Towards the Poles in Ireland [21]

I don't think anything has changed at the core. The Poles were welcome when they were needed and any Irish person who wanted a job had one. They integrated much better than most, so even the prejudiced have easier targets groups to vent at. Now they are blamed for taking jobs from Irish people and should go home. The thing is they took the jobs when the Irish didn't want them, why would they walk out on them now? I had a Manager under me that tried to Anglicise the names of all our foreign staff because of his laziness. As soon as things started to take a downward turn he started suggesting who should be let go if we had to, to hell with last in first out. He never said anything directly but I knew that he resented all the foreigners. Since I left I know he promoted a completely incapable Irish lad to a job when there was a Polish guy there who had done the same job capably under me as holiday relief.

Re your friends party: Had the Polish neighbours reason to report them?

I would agree with your last sentence. A few friends and family have made the comment about the Polish skin heads etc lately. Honestly I think it's just prejudice, do the expect every nationality to blend seamlessly to the Irish landscape? It's the way many Polish men want to appear.

IMHO most of the Poles who are remaining long term in Ireland are poorer educated, older and have kids. In the good years all kinds of Poles came to Ireland to make some quick money. However the younger, more educated and unattached went home when they had earned some money. They had college to finish or had the prospect of a good job here. The unskilled Irish based Pole would have far fewer options here. I see many capable people struggle here.

I was recently on a lads weekend with a Pole living in Manchester. He told me there was no chance of them going home. He earned good money and as he had no qualifications he would struggle to get any descent work in Poland. Despite this he was living week to week. However his wife is highly qualified and would walk into a job here. His pride prevents them coming back.

I was working on a job in Cork about 8 years ago. I kept hearing foremen complaining about the standard of Polish Tradesmen. They were saying the building standards in Poland must be shocking. We were kitting out an apartment in Poland at the time and knew well the cost and standard of trades in Poland were high. I challenged a few of these guys, and realised the Poles coming off the planes were just answering want ads claiming to be all kinds of trades that didn't require certification (plasterers, carpenters, painters etc). I asked did they check any references, "how can we, they're are Polish speakers". I asked did they check they were certified or registered in Poland, same answer. This is where the myth of poor Polish tradesman quality comes from. Lads walking off planes into sites and taking jobs they had never done before. They got paid well so how bad, and bluffed their way through jobs.