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Posts by BLS  

Joined: 14 Feb 2008 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 18 Jun 2014
Threads: Total: 65 / Live: 40 / Archived: 25
Posts: Total: 188 / Live: 114 / Archived: 74 		From: Poland, Krakow
Speaks Polish?: Mowię trochę po polsku, but I want to learn more

Displayed posts: 154 / page 4 of 6
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BLS   
5 Dec 2011
Life / Automobiles vs. Pedestrians in Poland [77]

Late yesterday afternoon, I was walking back to my flat when a car turned into a driveway immediately in front of me, forcing me to stop. Amazingly, the driver stopped on the sidewalk to wait for the automatic gate to open, so I had to walk around the car. I shouted a sarcastic "dziękuję" and slapped the trunk of the car, which resulted in a passenger exiting the car and saying something to me in Polish which I didn't understand. I ignored him and kept walking, so he returned to his car - however, if I had known the language better, I might have engaged him. So it's probably best that I didn't...

Admittedly, it's not the end of the world, but I find myself becoming more and more frustrated with the lack of consideration that some Polish drivers demonstrate towards those of us on foot. Does anyone know Polish driving laws regarding pedestrians? If we indeed have the right of way in such a situation as I suspect, I'd like to print a copy of the law and slap it on the windshield of the car that impeded me yesterday. Thanks to anyone with constructive thoughts and contributions!
BLS   
1 Dec 2011
Food / Food hygiene in Poland [60]

O.k. I will go now, I'm bored.

Do us all a favor and go already...you've posted 4 times since you said you would go.

Croggers made some salient points in his initial post - why the negative backlash? He isn't complaining - he's airing some concerns about basic sanitation in regards to food preparation in Poland. I have many of the same concerns and am very interested in the subject.

I get so tired of posters on this forum who are obviously so frustrated with their own lives that they need to come online to lash out at innocent bystanders.
BLS   
25 Nov 2011
Food / Pinto beans in Poland [17]

I found something at Kaufland that looks similar - however, I don't recognize the name: kolorowe fasola jednolita czerwona. I understand what the individual words mean, but I don't know the English equivalent - any ideas?

Thanks to all!!!

BTW, the information on the counter at Kaufland reads "fasola czerwona cętkowana", not what is written on the packaging. Spotted red beans - seems I am in the neighborhood of pinto beans...
BLS   
23 Nov 2011
Food / Pinto beans in Poland [17]

Are pinto beans available in Poland? They are very popular in Mexico - used primarily for refried beans.
BLS   
3 Nov 2011
Life / Electric rate (Tauron charges per kilowatt hour) in Krakow [9]

I'd like to know how my bill breaks down as well. It appears that I have 6 separate charges + VAT (the first is easy to understand, the others not so much):

1) Energia elektryczna czynna - 0,2682/kWh
2) Opłata przejściowa - 4,50/month
3) Opłata jakościowa - 0,0070/kWh
4) Opłata dystrybucyjna zmienna - 0,1889/kWh
5) Opłata dystrybucyjna stała - 3,03/month
6) Opłata abonamentowa (OSD) - 0,84/month

Including the 23% VAT, it looks like my total electricity rate is 0,6235/kWh - significantly higher than the basic rate. If anyone can shed some light on these surcharges, I would be most appreciative! Thanks...
BLS   
6 Oct 2011
Food / Grilled Oszczypek/bacon/cranberry sauce - where to find in Krakow? [6]

I came across a wonderful taste sensation this summer - grilled oszczypek cheese with bacon and cranberry sauce on top. I had a craving for it last week, so I returned to the restaurant where I get my fix - unfortunately, the restaurant was no longer there.

Does anyone have any ideas where I can find this in Krakow? Any decent restaurants offering it on their menus? I imagine there are plenty, but I don't know where to start looking - thanks!
BLS   
3 Oct 2011
Food / The Fortuna beer brewed near Poznan, Poland [8]

Has anyone tried Fortuna beer? It's brewed in a small town just outside Poznan and it's wonderful! The dark honey beer is a bit sweet for my taste, but the dark cherry beer is absolutely the best Polish beer I have ever tried! Highly recommended if you like lambics or piwo z sokiem!
BLS   
23 Sep 2011
Food / Orange Roughy in Krakow? [9]

Has anyone come across frozen orange roughy in any stores in Krakow? It's a very popular fish in America, but perhaps it isn't in Europe...

Apparently is is also known as deep-sea perch. The Polish name is gardłosz atlantycki. Please tell me - is it popular in Europe?
BLS   
28 Jul 2011
Travel / Warsaw transport mobile phones app - iPhone/iPad/Nokia and travel apps [15]

I'm in Krakow and use Scheduler PL - it works in many Polish cities including (of course) Warsaw. It's a free app, but you must pay a $2.99 yearly subscription fee to get schedule updates. Definitely worth the cost, IMHO - however, the current version of the app tends to crash often when opened.

itunes.apple.com/us/app/scheduler-poland/id322983240?mt=8
BLS   
17 Jul 2011
Travel / Differences between trains in Poland? [15]

I am surprised that it takes 2 hours.

The train last night took 2:15 - there were many instances when it slowed and even stopped for no apparent reason. It was one of the most frustrating train rides I have ever experienced!

Good to know that one website shows all trains - if only the ticket-selection process was this simple!
BLS   
17 Jul 2011
Travel / Differences between trains in Poland? [15]

I always searched for trains on the PKP website (rozklad-pkp.pl) - after reading the remarks posted here, it seems to me that I may be using an incomplete search engine. Is there a better website that will show all available routes?
BLS   
17 Jul 2011
Travel / Differences between trains in Poland? [15]

I was returning to Krakow via rail yesterday and had to switch trains in Katowice. The IR train that was supposed to arrive at 18:55 never showed up, so I opted for the next train to Krakow. A TLK train arrived at 19:15, but I didn't have a ticket - when I bought one on the train, I was charged 18 zł plus an additional 10 zł for purchasing it on the train.

What makes this rather frustrating is this: I had the opportunity to buy a ticket on the platform (at an automated ticket machine), but the only ticket choices were Regio and InterRegio. Would either of those types of tickets have sufficed for the TLK train? And if not, why have an automated machine that sells tickets for only two types of trains? This must be absolutely perplexing for tourists - I wonder how many travelers have inadvertently purchased the wrong type of ticket and have been forced to buy a second ticket on the train.

And a more-general request - can someone in the know outline the differences between all the train choices in Poland? I've lived here for 3 years, yet I am pretty much in the dark. Thanks for any and all constructive input...
BLS   
30 Jun 2011
Life / Where to recycle stuff in Krakow? [5]

Apparently Poland does not participate in a recycling program for empty laser toner cartridges like many other countries, so does anyone know of an alternative method of recycling them in Kraków? I prefer not to throw them in the trash. Thanks for all constructive input!
BLS   
12 Mar 2011
Law / Duty rules - threshold for paying duty on goods? [4]

What is the threshold for paying duty on packages mailed from America to Poland? I have always heard $25, but one of my colleagues claims that this amount varies depending on the contents. Also, he says that used items typically are not charged duty regardless of their worth - I find that hard to believe...

Does anyone have knowledge of these rules or a office/website that outlines these rules? Thanks in advance for all constructive input!
BLS   
22 Oct 2010
Law / Poland residency dilemma - illegal worker affecting my income [19]

It's not quite that easy, Harry - if I say or do anything, I risk losing my job at the school. Also, the illegal lad is popular with the other teachers - if word gets out that I blew the whistle, I could be ostracized. It's a very touchy situation.

I have always held a bit of a grudge that this cat stays here snug as a bug while I bust my hump to stay here legally, but it never adversely affected me before now. I thought the issue would be solved last year when he returned to the states for a couple of weeks - but for some reason, he was allowed entrance back into Poland! I don't get it...
BLS   
21 Oct 2010
Law / Poland residency dilemma - illegal worker affecting my income [19]

I have no intention of calling him out - I merely think that the school should do more to satiate its legal workers when times are lean. And I don't think the school is paying him less than me (but I don't know this for a fact).

I broached the subject with my DoS today and he didn't seem to understand my point. His argument was that this guy has bills to pay as well. I replied that he doesn't have to pay ZUS like I do and that sort of shut him up, but it didn't seem to change his opinion.

To be honest, this feels like a lose/lose situation for yours truly...
BLS   
21 Oct 2010
Law / Poland residency dilemma - illegal worker affecting my income [19]

I am a legal resident of Poland, own my own business, and teach at a language school in Krakow. As an American citizen, so I must re-apply for Polish residency one year at a time - one of the requirements is that I earn enough money to live, eat, pay ZUS, etc. Last year, the residency official almost denied my application because she was concerned about the number of hours I taught each week - she thought it was a bit too low but begrudgingly allowed me to stay.

Anyway, my language school has cutback everyone's hours this year, so I am concerned that this might adversely affect my residency status when it comes time to re-apply. I now have a dilemma - one of my colleagues at this school (also American) is living here and working illegally, and I feel his hours should be redistributed among the rest of us who are legal and in need of work. I hold no ill will towards this person and don't wish to deny him the opportunity to make a living, but it doesn't seem fair that I could face deportation due to an insufficient workload while he continues to stay and teach without doing the legwork necessary to be here legally.

I really don't know what to do next - has anyone else faced this issue before? I will try to find some hours elsewhere, but most schools want to pay me under the table and I need legal, above-board hours. Perhaps everything will work out positively, but I do not want to risk being sent away because I under-reacted.

Any constructive input will be highly appreciated - thanks!
BLS   
20 Oct 2010
News / Giant Jesus Rising in Świebodzin ( Tallest in world ) [323]

Three thoughts:

1. Religion is a highly personal issue and should remain private - a 35-meter statue of Jesus is NOT private. In fact, it smacks of overcompensation - 'small penis syndrome' comes to mind.

2. My girlfriend is devoutly religious...but when she heard about this statue, she said, "I'm embarrassed to be a Catholic today."

3. I have always admired the Poles for not wearing their religion on their sleeves like we do in the States...but now, that admiration is waning.
BLS   
18 Oct 2010
News / Palikot's "Modern Poland" and the Tea Party - how do they compare? Should be banned? [21]

yes, cut down the national debt by going after the middle class entitlements but ignore the costs of the two wars in afghan and iraq.

Bravo, CP - why do the supporters of this movement rail against health care but say NOTHING about the cost of the current US wars? Also, it was recently reported that America spends 48% of the world's military costs when the country in second place (China) spends a mere 6%. Why do these "anti-deficit" zealots choose to ignore this gargantuan portion of US spending?

I personally try to ignore this joke of a "party" - they typically regurgitate the venom that is spewed on conservative radio and TV shows instead of thinking for themselves.
BLS   
16 Oct 2010
Food / Quince ("pigwa") in Krakow? [7]

I have scoured the stalls several times at Stary Kleparz and found nothing. If someone comes across pigwa in Krakow, please let me know - this is the time of year they are supposed to be available. Thanks!
BLS   
29 Sep 2010
Food / Quince ("pigwa") in Krakow? [7]

I understand that pigwa is not appropriate - I am told to search for pigwowiec instead. Can anyone enlighten me on the differences between the two? Also, which would work better for creating membrillo?

Most importantly, are either available in Krakow - and if so, where?
BLS   
28 Sep 2010
Food / Quince ("pigwa") in Krakow? [7]

Does anyone know where to find quince (quinces?) in Krakow? I was just introduced to membrillo and would like to try making some myself. Thanks!
BLS   
20 Sep 2010
Life / I have experienced allergies since I moved to Krakow... [3]

I moved to Krakow two years ago - since then, I have experienced what I think are allergies each April/May and September/October. I am not exactly sure since I never experienced this before - no problems whatsoever while living in the States.

Over the past several days, I have either experienced allergy problems or a very light cold - sneezing, stuffy head, a slight sore throat, but no other symptoms. Are any "experienced" allergy sufferers having similar difficulties now?

Thanks for any and all constructive input!