News / Will Poland be badly hit by Recession ? I don't think so. [70]

@pawian
The actual numbers are 60% decrease in tourism in Poland. One of my business is located in rynek, and the traffic patterns are way down over years past. My neighbor with hotel and restaurant is getting killed without bookings. While Krakow is still busy looking, and while inexpensive products, service and dining business are doing better, it is coming at the expense of the higher end business that usually thrives here. One of the best steak places in the city went under with no notice after 8 years, the manager cited 10% of revenue projections in April, May and June. Thats a staggering number.

News / Will Poland be badly hit by Recession ? I don't think so. [70]

Polish tourism is down 60% this year. Thats the number after the covid years of decreased tourism. My neighbor who owns a hotel and restaurant, is averaging less than 30% occupancy all summer when she is usually sold out, restaurant reservations down nearly 80%. Mind you that is for upscale hotel and fine dining, but that is the mark in Krakow Rynek. Others I know on the same street one of my business's located are down at least 50%.

Recovery money, if it ever comes will not do much good.

News / Ruling PiS party tried to cover up eco disaster in Odra River [88]

not mercury poisoning. Looks like extremely high levels of Sodium. This can only be the case of an illegal dumping from a factory that would give those levels of Sodium.

Life / How does Poland feel about Digital Currency and being Chipped [48]

You don't even understand digital currency. Poland will have a digital zloty. There is already an effective digital payment system, hardly anyone uses cash anymore. Oh, and if you want to talk bitcoin and things like this, then you probably would like to know that it was not the "woke" crowd that designed these items. Digital currency is designed to circumvent regulations and streamline payments, while allowing for quick conversions to local hard currency around the world. While the governments around the world would like to regulate it, they will never be able to fully regulate it because ways of transferring currency without third parties are being invented. Chips? Not a chance. Biometrics, yes. The US is already using it and I have not had to show my passport my last few trips, they just scan me. Who initiated those protocols? Trump.

Life / How does Poland feel about Digital Currency and being Chipped [48]

Clearly you do not know Poland. Everything is already available digitally with medical records, vaccinations, signatures etc. Been that way in Poland for years. Instant payments in bank transfers, no delays of 24 to 72 hours so banks can F with your money. No additional fee for it. No record storage fee's. No touch payments were in Europe for years before the US.

Travel / Things to do in Krakow and questions [16]

Ozcypek is a goats cheese, excellent when grilled wrapped in bacon. Highly recommend. Pucok is just large piece of Oscypek. I would look for amber at small shops outside of rynek, or go to maybe Katowice which is an hour away and not so touristy.

Travel / Things to do in Krakow and questions [16]

@mochadot18
Slawkowska street has a few great pottery shops, just off the square. There is a food festival in the square now, and another beginning on Maly Rynek as well. Locals would not be buying amber anywhere within the city. If they were buying it, they would look outside the city.

News / Does Poland support Taiwan`s independence? [54]

@Joker
Perhaps you want to rewrite history too? Afghanistan withdraw was the result of Trump negotiating with the Taliban, a terrorist group, Biden extended the withdraw time by almost a year or it would have been a bigger mess. Trump is also the one that withheld security packages and funding to Ukraine that resulted in his second impeachment. So lets make sure we get history correct before attempting to predict the future. Taiwan is an independent country, and the US have given security promises. As stupid as those promises may be, they were given many years ago and renewed by multiple presidents.

Food / Comparison of supermarkets in Poland. Which one is the cheapest? [33]

@pawian
Bierdronka much less expensive than Carrefour in Krakow.

News / Poland's PiS party members and crime [346]

@Cojestdocholery
PiS will likely win the presidency again unless a real alternative comes to the front. But the opposition will control the sejm. No question about that at all, even the PiS polls show they will not be in control. This is exactly why they are trying to delay local elections now.

News / Lech Walesa urged to "reduce Russia" to 50 million people [366]

@Velund
You mean real assets like those developed, owned, patented, produced and repaired by the west that are used to get the natural resources out of the Russian ground? You mean those real assets that Russia is incapable of producing or reproducing? Or do you mean the assets like those being repaired in Canada?

As for the virtual assets you must mean the actual internet that Russia can be cut off from in less than a day? Or do you mean virtual currencies that were created by Russians that could be pummeled to death in a day?

Really, your complete lack of intelligence is surprising. Your following the Russian mantra to the death will likely be the death of you at some point. Russia is a dead man walking.

News / THE ARMY OF POLAND - THE REALITY [493]

@pawian
The Abrams in this order are refurbished from Afghanistan. They will be delivered by the end of January. Refurbished in US military speak means just about as good as new. There is already a substantial amount of these tanks here with the Americans on the border. Nothing is going to happen to Poland without a direct US response. Putin knows this and will not risk it.

News / Lech Walesa urged to "reduce Russia" to 50 million people [366]

Could it be that I predicted the events transpiring in Belarus? Now senior officers from the 5th Special Forces Brigade in Belarus do not agree to participate in the war in Ukraine, which they describe as "pure suicide."

"Russia's occupation of the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine, which is a friend of our state, and the attempt (of the Russians) to drag Belarus into a completely unprovoked war against a sovereign state can only be seen as the destruction of Belarus's sovereignty. We, the officers, have now observed the most serious violation of Clause 1 of the Constitution of Belarus by the highest political leadership of Russia. According to this clause, the Republic of Belarus retains sovereignty and full authority on its territory. It also enjoys independence in domestic and foreign policy. (...) By joining the war with Ukraine, Belarus will be expelled from the community of civilized states and will be an international outcast for many years," the letter reads.

Without Belarus, Russia is in deep $hit. Imagine Lucky Luka is overthrown. What then for Putin? Keep going to the middle east for help? Soon even the middle east will see the Russian weakness and turn on them. IF Russia lost Belarus, the whole house of Russian cards would collapse in only a few months.

News / Lech Walesa urged to "reduce Russia" to 50 million people [366]

@Velund
The area though to visit, very nice. Not every wine was meant to be special. Most were just meant for a table with friends and food. But I will get back on topic.

Lech Walesa is a bit crazy, but mostly misunderstood.

News / Lech Walesa urged to "reduce Russia" to 50 million people [366]

@Velund
We will see, but I believe things will turn in the next six weeks. Russia will not be holding so much territory if any by the end of the year.

Spanish wine though. Fantastic. We have found a common ground. Logrono is a great region, and Barcelona once a year is still not enough.

News / Lech Walesa urged to "reduce Russia" to 50 million people [366]

@Velund
You have been drinking too much. Nothing is going to happen to Polish borders. You may want to watch Belarus though because if they are drawn into Ukraine war, I am betting Lucky Luka will be assassinated or overthrown. Then Russia would really be isolated and Kaliningrad could come back to Poland and change the border in that way. More seaside property and the residents could actually have a life again. Everyone wins. ;-)

History / Polish patriotism - through the ages [25]

@mafketis
Please do. Cant understand why they would close an active thread that had so many engaged. Makes zero sense.

News / Lech Walesa urged to "reduce Russia" to 50 million people [366]

@Velund
Congratulations, you just posted meaningless history. Because the USSR gave up on Estonia and Latvia when the USSR ceased to exist. More idiotic theory and history revision by a Russian. Good luck trying to get Alaska back. LMFAO The citizens there have more guns and ammo than any Army you could send over. Stay where you are, isolate yourself from the rest of the world, and eventually the rest of the world will carve Russia into little pieces that can govern themselves.

News / Lech Walesa urged to "reduce Russia" to 50 million people [366]

@Paulina
Gregy741 also believes that Trump won the last election. Stop the steal. LMFAO The steal is happening in Ukraine, where Russia is stealing Ukraine land, lives, and crops. The good news is that Ukraine now is going to mobilize about one million men to attack the Russian forces occupying Ukraine. They will have 20 MLRS on their side now and now the soviet era weapons they have been using. Using and killing tens of thousands of Russians. Now with modern weapons, we will see just how much death Russia can stomach.

News / How is the Ukraine War effecting Poland and the rest of the E.U. [35]

@johnny reb
Kids going to school in limo's? Disadvantaged people? Its clear you have not been to Poland. There are very few with the kind of wealth you mentioned. There are so many jobs available, even to seniors for an extra income, that no one in Poland should be disadvantaged.

Inflation is irritating here, yes. Gas and electricity are the most irritating. But there are solutions if people want to use them. Walk, or take public transportation. Cut down on TV and other electricity. Food prices are up, but only slightly for most things. I fill my gas tank now once a month and walk everywhere I can within a few km. The exercise isnt going to hurt people either.

News / How is the Ukraine War effecting Poland and the rest of the E.U. [35]

@johnny reb
You really have no idea how F up PiS has the retirement system. Social Security is an 10 ton Atom bomb, ZUS is a 100 megaton multiple warhead Fission bomb. The social safety net under PiS can never be paid for. They may US Democrats look like genius bankers.

Work / Is it difficult to make a living playing Soccer (football) in Poland? [54]

@Soccernyc
Yes, any professional paid athlete may obtain a visa. There are multiple ways of doing this. There are also certain restrictions for the club that they would have to get over. The "agent" unless very well connected in Polish sport, and unless very experienced in Visa matters in Poland had better be sure he knows what he is doing.

Life / Will Poland ever be multicultural like Sweden, Germany or France? [283]

@Dirk diggler
Ukraine people have been dominating the Uber and Taxi market in Krakow for at least four years. Now, with most of the Ukraine people in Poland being women due to the men not being allowed to leave, many of them will simply integrate over time. It is going to take years to rebuild Ukraine, and many of these women are not going to wait to have a life, or have a better life in Poland to begin with. While some will not want to integrate, the majority will as a matter of not only survival but ease in transitioning.

Today when in Rynek, you hear just as much Ukraine as you do Polish. More and more Ukraine people are taking the lower paying jobs, when before it was near impossible to find help which was driving wages through the roof. Now that has stabilized a little. Shops are full, small business is getting back to normal. They are "cousins" so to speak when it comes to similar heritage, traditions, and foods. Assimilation is not going to be too difficult for most of them. In the end, that increased citizenry will help keep others who are not so welcome from coming to Poland as well.

Life / Will Poland ever be multicultural like Sweden, Germany or France? [283]

@Alien
No. Not while immigration issues are decided by Poland. While every country has some multicultural areas, Poland and its people simply do not want it. People of a different skin color and religion are simply not widely accepted here. Most know this and most wouldn't come to Poland because of it. Now with millions of Ukraine women in Poland, you can expect to see many of them marry Polish men. Housing those Ukraine people also creates less room for others to come to Poland. Poland will never become like Germany or France, it simply wont happen.

Law / Karta Polaka - is it possible to obtain by a Polish-American citizen? [15]

@Sunset
Short answer, no. Great Great Grandparents is a bridge too far for Karta Polaka.

News / How strongly are Poles sure that president Duda defend Poland's interests ? [265]

I have to say, PiS and Duda have done an excellent job in this crisis. Poland's economy is still in the toilet and the Polish Deal is a joke, but they get high marks for what they have done for Ukraine and NATO. Hats off.

News / What should Poland do with the problem of Belarus? [1800]

@Novichok
I think you would find many would shoot them. You underestimate people's "want" to rid the world of Russians and Belarussian's, those that actually support the governments anyway. And if by taking out one soldier at a time with a sniper rifle, that's just like deer hunting and not a problem.

News / How does Poland feel about influx of US troops? [60]

@pawian
ITs actually quite common to see military on the move in the US. there are bases in every state and drills taking place all the time. You dont see them in the cities often, but rural area's all the time. Roads are much wider though.

News / How does Poland feel about influx of US troops? [60]

@johnny reb
Poland pays Department of Defense. Poland also paid to build the bases, like they offered to pay for mythical Fort Trump. The personnel are not out partying JR, I have only seen a few in Gdansk and all behaving. 6000 soldiers is not a huge economic impact when most activity takes place on base.

News / How does Poland feel about influx of US troops? [60]

@johnny reb
You do know that Poland pays for the US to be in Poland don't you? Those that are stationed here anyway. I don't know about the latest moved here for sure, but the full time base personnel are paid for by Poland.