Travel / Why do people say that Poland is so unsafe? [60]


Completely true. I am living like six years in Warsaw and I am coming since 1989 regularly to Poland. Never experienced something bad criminal/dangerous here, and also take often the metro late at night without problems. My car is parked on the street and the worst thing which happened is that somebody stole two wheel covers from my Touran. Admittedly we do not live in a "hot spot". Bielany is not an "exciting" place at night. Praga might be different, from what I hear.

I think actually the biggest danger is from the absolutely deranged drivers I see each day on the roads.

Travel / Changing money in Poland [15]

That could be a point. I heard the one in CH Arkadia is not too bad.

Work / TEFL Jobs in Poland - your success story? [16]

Harry
I can understand that as concerns hospitals etc.... Public ones are best to be forgotten...
That is why I have Medicover (which is also far from perfect but still...). But if you pay ZUS, at least you get your medicines for the normal rate and do not have to pay the complete price.

Travel / Why do people say that Poland is so unsafe? [60]

Actually my brother-in-law thinks that the average Warsaw driver is quite civilized compared to the Paris ones. Is this the case? I have no idea.

Travel / Why do people say that Poland is so unsafe? [60]


Maybe that is why I feel OK in this city :) Our weekend activitities - as of most couples as we know - are limited to going to the movies, in Summer participating in some bbq out of town, dinner with friends, open-air concerts in the Old Town...So I have no idea what you mean with "messing with people".

Actually I find life here very similar to my native Flanders, excluding the language of course.

Life / Dutch bicycles repair shop in Warsaw [16]


I want to lodge an official protest here :). God knows that being Flemish I pray every day for the Dutch to loose in South Africa :)

But I do not think any thin-plated fragile Giant bike can compete with my Dutch bike.
The Dutch are good at making bikes, even if I hate having to confess that :)
It will go on indeed for the next 30 years or so. It is not made to impress, just brings me to my pub in a reliable fashion.

In the meantime I have asked in the local bike shop here in Bielany. They scratched their head a bit on the advanced technology but will manage :)

Travel / Best Gessler Restaurant in Poland [9]

I have from hearsay that her Italian restaurant on the Rynek in Warsaw is quite OK.
Anybody been there?

Genealogy / Does anyone have any relatives who served with 1st Polish Armoured Division (Gen. Maczek) [310]

They also liberated my mother's hometown in Belgium - Ghent - and played a big part in liberating the region where my dad comes from. (Merksplas - Rijkevorsel - Hoogstraten)

USA, Canada / Poles in America: How do you pronounce your Polish surname? [128]

I know in my native Flanders the fact that women's surnames change gramatically - "a" on the end in most cases - at times confuses people in the administration.

But what is think is very confusing is that the fact that women after marriage take their husband's surname - be it gramitacally adjusted -.

Honestly I also do no not understand this. In my country up to the 60's wifes added their husbands' surnames to theirs. But not giving up their own.

Life / What are the poorest regions of Poland? [15]

The Eastern half of Poland always has been the poorest and less developed. That was already so before partition time.
One only has to take a look on a map of the railway network.
The other side of the medal is that the nature and landscape are arguably the most beautiful there.

Travel / Best Gessler Restaurant in Poland [9]

Bellini on the Rynek. No idea which Gessler owns it.

USA, Canada / Poles in America: How do you pronounce your Polish surname? [128]

Girls in my company systematically take their husbands' names.

Study / Good cheap course to learn Polish in Warsaw [44]

I did Polish at IKO years ago. It was good, but as in all schools I guess it depends on the teachers how effective the course is.

History / Poles should emulate Jews? [153]

Could we not talk about Summer topics.... outdoor drinking in Warsaw... where to sit in the shade and not melt these days....
But please not yet another dreary same-subject topic :(

History / Poles should emulate Jews? [153]


About not living in Warsaw - I agree :)
I do not know anybody at all who ever mentioned something about a "Jewish Question" in my social circle, nor at work. Perhaps I did not meet any "Nasz Dziennik" readers yet :)

For that matter, hardly anybody is mentioning the elections as well.

News / Poland's successful big business? [5]


What makes you think if they would be Polish-owned they would be more efficient/honest ?
What is the difference if KGHM would still be state-owned?

Life / Does anybody care about the elections in Poland? [26]

Yes I know this. In our local gmina here in Warsaw people were waiting for hours to get the documents to vote - presumably - on the seaside. But it is not a topic between people, as far as I can see.

Anyway, good. BK needs every Warsaw vote there is.
Also there are almost no billboards around. Could be because the candidates had little time to prepare themselves.
Yesterday was the big debate on TV - I read today about it in the papers -. I wonder who watched it to be honest. BBQ time I think it was for half the country.

Life / Does anybody care about the elections in Poland? [26]

JK would have enough powers to make this country the fool of Europe. Bigoted, Radio Marija-sponsored. Thinks the world ends basically at Plac Wilsona. Has a paranoid vision of seeing enemies everywhere. Has a cherished tradition of double-dealing. Made backroom deals with Lepper and Giertych.

In all Western countries the president represents the country in the outside world. I do no think JK would show an image of a modern Poland.

News / Komorowski won Poland's presidency vote? [125]

I hope it is true. Poland was on the abyss of a bigoted Radio Marija sponsored era - once again. It deserves better.
At the moment PIS is parading Maria Kaczynska with her children - disgusting

Law / Driver's licence - How to exchange British one to Polish legally? [34]

No, your driving licence (since you come from another EU country) is valid in Poland as well. (though I am not sure abour the UK and Irish ones - righthand driving). I am driving on my Belgian licence here without problems.

By the way, can somebody confirm that even with another EU licence you get points deducted? Belgian licences do not have points, but I heard this is connected to your PESEL ?

News / Will Komorowski be Poland's worst ever president? [72]

You mean like PIS who happily made a coalition with Lepper and Giertych - one a dumb populist, the other one a convinced nazi?
Presidents in general have to represent their country to the outside world and not behave like primitives. Her BK is a good choice I think. At least he knows Poland is a part of Europe

Travel / Is it safe to travel to Poland? [194]

I would like to add CH Arkadia here in Warsaw as one of the criminal hotspots, and this since yesterday. Left my shopping trolley from Carrefour unattended for 5 minutes when I went upstairs to Marks & Spencers. When I came back, it was gone...

Somebody was very much in need of its content (washing powder, white cheese and catfood) :)
Disgraceful :)

Work / Some opinions about current pay rates (normal pay per hour for housekeeping in Poland)... [19]

We pay our Pani Jadzia 150 PLN for ironing and cleaning. She is here approx from 07:00 untill 19:00. She is coming here for like 12 years, and is basically part of the family. If we go on holidays she comes here to sleep over and take care of our cat. In this case we pay her per 24 hrs 50 PLN + once per week the 150 PLN for the cleaning part.

Work / Average monthly salary in Poland is around 1000 PLN (few hundred bucks). [387]


Not to mention they put here sour cream on their salad and bread crumbs on basically every warm vegetable :))

Actually I thnk median salaries do not tell the whole story. There are really very big income differences between the different parts of the country. Salaries in Warsaw are much higher than for example in Augustow..But so of course is also the cost of living.

As I know the average income in Warsaw is around 3.000 PLN. But I am at a loss how you can lead a decent life here on that salary, bearing in mind a lot of people earn a lot less than that.

History / Quotes of Polish or German kings, generals [42]

"Veni, Vidi, Deus Vicit" or "I came, I saw, God conquered"
by Jan Sobieski III after his hussars routed the Turks before Vienna on 12 september 1683.

History / Quotes of Polish or German kings, generals [42]

Still a great victory though

History / Quotes of Polish or German kings, generals [42]


For me it ranks in the same league as some other decisive battles such as the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, Battle of Tours/Poitiers in 732 and the 451. All of them were lead by competent generals, all saving Western Civilization from the barbarians.

So whether he adapted Caesar's quote a bit... not so important :)