Life / I woke up in Poland's Hilton of Drunks after the Juvenalia party. Must I pay the 300zl fine? [49]


Yes. You have to pay. They can chase you for the money and can make life difficult. You have to decide whether saving 300zl is worth more than a lot of hassle. You might get lucky and get away with not paying, however it really isn't worth the risk for such a small amount. I can't remember the legal status of what you have to pay - if it's criminal they can have you arrested for not paying, if it's civil they can get bailiffs to collect which may damage your credit rating.

A lady did get €10000 compensation from the European Court some time back for being taken there because she had alcohol in her blood but was behaving ok. But she a. was middle-aged and respectable, b. had very solid witnesses and most importantly, c. didn't just wake up there wondering where she was.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

Probably from gontarz, somebody who made and fitted roof shingles (gont).

Genealogy / Surname Cybert. Is it Welsh or Polish? [11]


Not only. There are French and British names that end in ..bert, and probably others too. Seibert however is a German name.

Not that everyone with a German name is German.


That doesn't make much sense.

You don't say what country you're in. If however some of your family were immigrants to wherever, you should be able to find some record of the move. Also, the death certificate of the family member you're interested in should say where they were born.

Work / How much is the average living cost in Poland for foreign student? [46]


That isn't very much to survive on if you have to pay for somewhere to sleep and public transport.

Genealogy / Surname Cybert. Is it Welsh or Polish? [11]

This is more likely: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seibert

News / World's oldest man is Polish! [9]

My grandfather died on his hundredth birthday. The saddest thing was that we were only half way through giving him the bumps.

News / Bitcoin Embassy Launches In Poland's Capital Warsaw [37]


This is the key. Technology changes very fast and what we call the internet did not exist a blink of an eye ago, just as it's naïve to think it'll be around in the same form in a generation's time. So-called 'bitcoins' have no intrinsic value.

Genealogy / I have Jewish DNA, but only know of Polish ancestry . [120]

Worth mentioning some of the more exotic, not to say capricious surnames given by ETA Hoffman when he was doing that in Warsaw. One of the stories about him was that he had a particularly nice lunch of fish and assigned people the names of fish as their surname for the rest of the afternoon.

Genealogy / I have Jewish DNA, but only know of Polish ancestry . [120]


Most likely because there's nothing to show.

Life / Health insurance in Poland - your suggestions please [35]

Medicover is OK. Not the best, but also not expensive for the basic cover. Damiana also do it at a reasonable price.

Genealogy / I have Jewish DNA, but only know of Polish ancestry . [120]

I'm glad you agree with me. There's nothing to suggest that the lady is Jewish and indeed she was surprised to find websites (almost certainly American ones) suggesting that some people with her surname are.

Off-Topic / Toilet seat manners of British and Polish males [42]


Rubbish.


Maybe the ones you hang with.

Genealogy / I have Jewish DNA, but only know of Polish ancestry . [120]

Do you know how surnames work in Europe? I suspect not. Most people with her surname aren't Jewish. Some are, however you'd need more than your own preoccupation to reliably suggest that the lady who posted is anything other than just Polish.

Genealogy / I have Jewish DNA, but only know of Polish ancestry . [120]

Or more likely that she isn't.

Life / Public Masturbation now allowed in Sweden, Would this work in Poland? [43]

In nudist beaches it would be very much frowned on, though the are plenty of such beaches to choose from in Poland.

Genealogy / I have Jewish DNA, but only know of Polish ancestry . [120]


Some people called that are descended from converts, but by no means all. There are quite a few villages in PL called Majewo and perhaps some of your grandmother's ancestors came from one of these.

History / Polish conscripts to German army [132]


Exactly.

In any case, so many records were destroyed during those terrible times.

Off-Topic / Eurovision - Today I will be ashamed to be Polish [580]

I thought that Donatan and Cleopatra were tasteless - a typical joke song and a strange choice. The one that won had a bit of class - rare for Eurovision.

UK, Ireland / Need some help to buy Polish cars(s) Zuk pickup &/or Nysa van [18]

Why would someone want a 1975 Zuk?

Work / Is it worth moving from Dubai to Poland? (cities like Krakow, Wroclaw) [11]

Poland is much nicer than Dubai. Prices are more or less the same for most things, perhaps a little more expensive. Except for accommodation which is cheaper. Poland does have income tax though and jobs are in general harder to find.

History / Polish Easter Tradition is also pagan! [47]

That's all falling away rather. I don't see any great movement towards the things you seem to want though. More a case of increasing educational levels leading to more rationalism and less religion. Also for the less well educated, more television leading to other things in their lives than yesterday's superstitions.

Language / Polish language would look better written in Cyrillic Script? [212]


Indeed. The current alphabet suits fairly well - certainly more than Cyrillic or any revived and obscure alphabets like the Southern Slavonic Glagolitic alphabet


There's way too much political and historical baggage due to Russian imperialism for that ever to happen. The Russians did try it without success - people in Poland prefer their modified version of the Latin alphabet.

UK, Ireland / Prices of Clothes in Poland and England [35]


You're surely joking?

News / Poland and Russia in military alliance - Is that even possible? At least temporary? [71]


They have gas rather than oil and yes, most is already sold under existing agreements. Any on the open market is subject to market price fluctuations.

Love / My Polish wife's family hate me. Maybe it is because I'm black. Advice needed. [87]


Stay true to your heart. You're living your life - your parents have theirs.


Evidently not so wrong, though neither of these posters are in Poland and one has never been here:

Life / What are the best cars to buy in Poland? [64]


Poles have said exactly that to me quite a few times and it's no coincidence that it's popular to go across the border to buy a used car. Also garages and dealers aren't much trusted here.

Law / Opening a Polish Bank Account by a foreigner in Poland. Recommendations. [299]

I did once - but that was 15 years ago. It was at PKO BP and I needed to show my contract of employment and passport only.

Genealogy / Do I look Polish? (my picture) [375]

I didn't know you'd been, P3. But he'd probably blend in ok in a big city.

Law / Working in EU countries and in UK with Poland's Residence Card (Karta Pobytu)? [51]

Where are you from?

Travel / Where do Polish people fly to for beach vacations in the winter? [34]


Enough to keep several chains of travel agents and several international airports in business. That and more and more cheap flights to holiday destinations.