Life / Made in Poland clothes (Warsaw) [12]

Thank you for the replies (*had some problems with the log in yesterday thus started the thread under a different name)

Probably is the same like in my country, the local producers are only doing clothes for export not for the internal market unfortunatelly. I was asking since back home there are quite a lot of stores with made in Poland clothes, and they are pretty much the only ones that fit me. I was really hoping to find a lot more here :(.

How about the Milo brand (sport clothing, mountain, etc.)? Does anyone know anything about it? As well I found it back home and it was written made in Poland on all the etiquets, but when I asked here, nobody heard about it...

History / Norman Davies - the Brit who loves Poland and becomes one of Us [250]

Aahh... sorry about that, I don't know Polish (yet), hopefully I'll pick some when in Warsaw.

History / Norman Davies - the Brit who loves Poland and becomes one of Us [250]


Interesting, that's not what the books reflect, at least in comparison to many others. But I guess there's a different level of perception of the detail as an aspect, from a simple reader's point of view - such as mine, or from an experienced researcher's point of view.

History / Norman Davies - the Brit who loves Poland and becomes one of Us [250]

Norman Davies is actually very well known in the circles of interest, and is considered one of the best if not the best historian who wrote about Poland.

I've read 2 of his books and I like his dedication for details and historical truth (to the best approach of the concept). Plus, as any outside historian, he offers a somewhat objectivity much needed when assesing a country's history.

I think that, when you treat and write about things of that magnitude, relating to the WWs and a few others, there is no way of not being controversial, in its whole general approach it is a subject that raises voices and question marks from all over the world, to please them all it simply isn't any way.

Language / How similar are Polish and Romanian languages? [75]

Not much. I recognise a few archaic (now) words from Polish, but not that many.
Ulica - is the first word I came in contact that is in my language as well (for example), but in my language is almost archaic by now, remotely met in villages and it means village road - not street.

And a few other words, due to the interaction between our countries in middle ages, and later from the slavic influence that came through russian language during communism, but not significantly.

You might also understand a few words, not from having them in the Polish language, but from being universaly almost the same in romance languages, and thus being familiar with them through latin perhaps.

History / The Grunwald Battle: Today is 600th anniversary of the greatest medieval battle. [66]

The same goes for history overall. That's the problem, even if contemporary sources with the event, are available, there is hard to tell wether they are accurate or not.

The same goes for every event of this sort, for Grumwald for example, as well, as admitted above actually. I usually like to see that there are more sources than 1 or 2, and of various origins. I've posted those battles because the events were reported by many, and of various backgrounds, from Italians to Poles or even Greeks (leaving aside the major parts directly involved).

Grumwald and Mariemburg were major battles, I didn't contest that, just that they weren't the biggest, from the region perhaps but not overall. As Bartolome observed, the sources are uneven from West to East, quite unfortunate.

Just as a paranthesis: it is however a good sign, that more and more people are interested in those "unkown" events. Various countries have received the support and dedication of "objective" and well respected historians among academics, and have found in those a kind of PR officers and advocates of their histories, such as for example for Poland - Norman Davies.

We may argue as much as we want who's (battle) was bigger, but I find it a good thing even the talk about it. I'll leave you to your topic now.

History / The Grunwald Battle: Today is 600th anniversary of the greatest medieval battle. [66]

Good attempt Sokrates, but just an attempt.

I've given that source since it does relay on books with multiple sources, the other on grunwald being from wiki.
You give a Huniade (not recognising the name, perhaps you have the original spelling) - and only one man, and expect to believe him when there were several other historians such as the Greek Chalconydes, the Venetian envoy - Tomassi, another Italian - Tocco who placed the numbers far higher and observed the battle.

Also, if you read the article you will see some sources mentioned who somewhat agree on the numbers, and are by far bigger - the cassette with numbers seems rather alleatory written, the text giving more details. As for the 1st battle, the Pope named it the biggest battle of Christianity, and the sources of that time agreed on it - among which being also Jan Dlugosz.

History / The Grunwald Battle: Today is 600th anniversary of the greatest medieval battle. [66]


Great battle indeed, but not so big.

Eg 1: The battle of Vaslui (or Podul Inalt) the biggest victory of Christianity - January 10, 1475
Participants: around 50.000 Romanians, 3.000 Hungarians, and 2.000 polish against 60.000 - 120.000 ottomans
To not say I'm biased, and also not to quote wiki:
statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Battle-of-Vaslui

Eg2: The night attack (Vlad Tepes against ottomans) - June 17th, 1462
Combatants: agreed upon - 30.000 Romanians against number most agreed upon 100.000 - 200.000 ottomans (most of the sources of that time placed the numbers of the ottomans at 200.000 - 400.000, but nowadays historians think this is impossible and agreed on the lower)

Again:
nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/The-Night-Attack

Travel / Poland to Romania (and back!) [18]

Unfortunatelly I am looking for some reasonable priced flights myself and couldn't find any for the moment. I am searching in the other direction: Bucharest to Warsaw for September. Train doesn't pay up, it's almost the same price and at a considerable amount of time in addition :(.

News / Poland President National Mourning in Some Countries [212]


Yes, I am a Romanian as well, like you. I wanted to PM you as to not disrupt the forum, but you have this option disabled.

News / Poland President National Mourning in Some Countries [212]


The visibility and the systems alike.
At the Superior School of Aviation in Bucharest were conducted a series of simulations the past few days, and all the systems on bord, as soon as they entered the cloud, went to the ground. A pilot who flew some missions in Kuweit and flew through some clouds of petroleum (you get the idea) after rafinaries were burnt, said it would be almost the same, and that he flew blindless, with almost no system working.

But air is not the only way, trains and cars are also an option at least for the continental countries.

Genealogy / Are Poles aware of Thracian aspect in original roots of Polish ethos? [69]


Interesting... Why did Poland stay by Kosovo side at the International Court of Justice against Serbia?

News / Poland President National Mourning in Some Countries [212]


I know, this is why I answered to Sasha and made the distinction between politics and people's feelings. Genuine feelings of Russians towards Polish and otherway around, are not to be confused with politics and more so with geopolitical games.

News / Poland President National Mourning in Some Countries [212]


It was ment from the political point of view, not from the two peoples approach at personal level. But even that will change, the cooperation between the two countries is becoming stronger by day and the wounds seem to seal.

News / Poland President National Mourning in Some Countries [212]


I paid my respects as well on Monday. I went at the Polish Embassy here in Bucharest, lit a candlle and put some flowers. I wanted to upload a picture here to show you how Romanians have paid their respects, in front of the Embassy, the entire wall and the street in front of it was covered in flowers and candles.

Yesterday, at the Polish language class I am attending, our teachers was dressed in black and we talked about the accident and how it was perceived here as well.

News / Poland President National Mourning in Some Countries [212]

In the end, who is coming?

News / Poland President National Mourning in Some Countries [212]

We have the aeroports closed as well, even most of the flights from Bucharest are cancelled. Our president had gone by car travelling trough Hungaria and Slovakia. I am surprissed that Germany had cancelled as it is much closer.

News / Poland President National Mourning in Some Countries [212]

How do I upload a picture here, please?

News / Poland President National Mourning in Some Countries [212]


I think they will, just give them one more day.

In my country, monday was announced a mourning day. We don't have a big Polish community compared to others but it is considered a sign of respect to the sorrow of a nation we consider a close friend.

I was supposed to go tommorow at the Polish Cultural Institute here to get a letter for my Erasmus file, but most probably it will be closed, but I will go and pay my respects and light a candle at the embassy as well.

History / What connects Poland with Vlad Impaler or to say Vlad Tepes or simple Dracula [43]

I got the point Crow, and I would have actually liked to see a whole thread dedicated to the Order of the Dragon, is quite interesting topic. I just didn't like the fact that you mixed things, Vlad was not a Slav and fought not for the glory of the Slavic world but for Christianity in its whole. Of course at that time the Slavs fought for the same purpose, yet if you want to stress out only the Slavic aspect leave Vlad and Cantemir for that matter out - they were part of the Dragon who was indeed of Slavic heritage, but that's about it, and yes, if you want to look at it like that - in order to revert to the title - that would be the only connection between Vlad and Poland :).

Since we're at it, what happened to the Order? Was it dissmantled, was it kept alive up to our days or what?

Life / Polish stereotypes of other nationalities!? [472]

Didn't know that, thanks :).

Life / Polish stereotypes of other nationalities!? [472]


How did Warsaw looked before it was rebuilt? I've heard it looks pretty much like any other communist city - +/- the specific culture elements - since it was rebuilt by the Soviets, the same grey sad blocks and buildings, but how did it look before it was leveled down? Were any parts of it preserved?

History / What connects Poland with Vlad Impaler or to say Vlad Tepes or simple Dracula [43]

Crow, I really like Slavic people and some countries more than others (from the ones with Slavic heritage) but I would really appreciate if you could point out everything you want about the slavs in a different topic. I know it is your topic and you have all the right to write about everything you want, but don't get Vlad Tepes into your Slavic dream. It doesn't fit. The only connection we have is the christian religion and the fight against ottomans, but he was no Slav.

If you want to champion the fight for the christian values against the ottomans, be my guest, but don't champion any Slavic pride with getting people they are clearly not Slavs into your camp.

Much appreciated.

Language / Learning Polish, good for beginners? [29]

Hello,
I've been trying to learn Polish for a couple of months already and it's not going well for me, but perhaps some of the beginners around here are more astute.

The books I'm trying to learn from: The "Teach Yourself Polish" book - if you have an Oxford centre around you can order it from them, it comes at a good price, with a CD also and has some interesting things.

The one it is used at my courses is Hurra Po Polsku 1 and is a good one to my opinion.

Hope it can be of some use to you.
Enjoy and good luck!

Life / Which on the list of Polish girl's names do you like the most? [67]

I have a curiousity. I noticed that you guys usually like to have the names short. Like Basia, Krzys or others alike. Can you tell me what would be the short forms, the more familiar forms for: Elena, Mariana, Tereza, Michael? - that is if you have those names.

Love / How to turn a No into a Yes (she invited me to Poland to meet her) [30]

Girls can be quite scared sometimes if a boy is very persistent. There are a lot of loonies out there, and if they (the girls) feel the boy is moving in too quick, they will run away as fast as they can.

From what you've described, she isn't the kind of person to do the final step. It will be on you, but you have to play it smart. It might take a lot of time for that, just be there for her, and take it slowly.

I hope it will all be good for you! The best of luck!

History / What connects Poland with Vlad Impaler or to say Vlad Tepes or simple Dracula [43]


Western Europe is no saint during Middle Ages, no part of Europe or the world is. They aren't called Dark Ages for nothing. The countries where impaling was used the most were Spain and France during the Inquisition.

I am no fan of wiki but: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impalement

I will try to find at least somewhat more reliable sources for this, should you wish. I don't usually rely on Internet for documentation.

Life / If I say POLAND, you say...? [100]

If I say Poland you say...?

I say many things: from Stanislaw Lem (the first SF writer I read), to Boleslaw Prus, to Sienkiewicz, to Pope Joan Paul IInd, Wiszlawa Szymborska (don't think I've spelled the name right) to Adam Malysz and to me coming with an Erasmus to see Poland and learn Polish :D.

History / What connects Poland with Vlad Impaler or to say Vlad Tepes or simple Dracula [43]

I understand what you meant. But the impaling was quite a common punishment in middle ages, accros all Europe, not just these parts (it is very cruel and inimaginable today, but it was quite often used those days). What made him unique is that he used it exclusevely, being the only punishment used no matter the crime(from here my statement above). And the fact that no one else impaled entire armies of Ottomans...