bullfrog
5 Mar 2010
Life / Doctors taking bribes in Poland [76]
Been five years in POland and never had to bribe anyone...
Been five years in POland and never had to bribe anyone...
bullfrog
6 Mar 2010
Travel / Nice restaurants in Warsaw [30]
Here are my preferred in Wwa
Medium price
Asian :Buddha Bar
Polish/international:Kom
Polish:Rozana
Dom Polski
Tradycja Polska
Expensive
French:Michel Moran Bistrot de Paris
Italian:San Lorenzo
International/polish:Belvedere
Here are my preferred in Wwa
Medium price
Asian :Buddha Bar
Polish/international:Kom
Polish:Rozana
Dom Polski
Tradycja Polska
Expensive
French:Michel Moran Bistrot de Paris
Italian:San Lorenzo
International/polish:Belvedere
bullfrog
6 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]
The system in the US is just plain stupid. Service should be included in the price like in most other countries in the world. Than you can add 1, 2 maybe 5% if the service has been particularly good. Many tourists coming rom outside just don't realize that there is nothing at all included in the price you are charged for service, that's why there is confusion, it's not because they are necessarily stingy.
Same thing with the sales tax in shops. Why can't it just be added and included in the price?? The US are sometimes so parochial!!
Yet most waiters have decided they "deserve" the tip because they don't get much in salary. Sorry it doesn't work that way.
The system in the US is just plain stupid. Service should be included in the price like in most other countries in the world. Than you can add 1, 2 maybe 5% if the service has been particularly good. Many tourists coming rom outside just don't realize that there is nothing at all included in the price you are charged for service, that's why there is confusion, it's not because they are necessarily stingy.
Same thing with the sales tax in shops. Why can't it just be added and included in the price?? The US are sometimes so parochial!!
bullfrog
6 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]
very true indeed
In this case, why don't doctors/dentists/lawyers also get paid only on a "tip" only basis? Work should be properly remunerated whether it's that of a waiter, a guide,a doctor or a lawyer..
To an American, if someone doesn't instantly jump out and make you feel like you've made a new best friend, the service is immediately dire.
very true indeed
It's a normal, human behavior to become complacent.
In this case, why don't doctors/dentists/lawyers also get paid only on a "tip" only basis? Work should be properly remunerated whether it's that of a waiter, a guide,a doctor or a lawyer..
bullfrog
10 Mar 2010
Law / The 'Secret' of Poland's Economic Success [83]
Wrong. 65% of Polish GDP is in services, 30% in industry an 5% in agriculture
While western (especially UK and USA) is mostly based on "financial market" or "service industry", Poland main business is production of goods.
Wrong. 65% of Polish GDP is in services, 30% in industry an 5% in agriculture
bullfrog
27 Mar 2010
Real Estate / How are Poland's properties priced? [51]
Of course there are property valuers in Poland.. how on earth do yo think a bank assesses the value of its collaterral when it lends? They ask property valuers to give them an estimate...
plk123: there is no valuation of properties in PL like it is in USA, 4 example.. it's like magic, man.
Of course there are property valuers in Poland.. how on earth do yo think a bank assesses the value of its collaterral when it lends? They ask property valuers to give them an estimate...
bullfrog
29 Aug 2010
Life / Any treatment centres for homos in Poland? [455]
Seanus
One of the best things that happened to Britain since Maggie!!
Seanus
Go and cure Tony Blair, one of the most hypocritical psychopaths out there.
One of the best things that happened to Britain since Maggie!!
bullfrog
21 Nov 2010
News / Polish GDP per capita has dropped ! [30]
65 bn€ over 2007-2013 is around 10 bn€ per year, that's 3% of total GDP. Quite substantial by any count!
EU funding has had an impact on GDP, but not a substantial one.
65 bn€ over 2007-2013 is around 10 bn€ per year, that's 3% of total GDP. Quite substantial by any count!
bullfrog
28 Aug 2011
Love / Expecting a baby with Polish partner - "multi-cultural pregnancy/parenting"? [45]
Totally agree with Pip.. I am myself french, my wife polish and we each spoke in our own language to our kids. Since we were also living in London when they grew up, they ended up being fluent in english, french and polish, and to answer WB, no they don't confuse the languages!
The children differentiate if each parent exclusively uses their mother tongue while addressing the child.
Totally agree with Pip.. I am myself french, my wife polish and we each spoke in our own language to our kids. Since we were also living in London when they grew up, they ended up being fluent in english, french and polish, and to answer WB, no they don't confuse the languages!
bullfrog
3 Sep 2011
Life / Worlds most liveable cities (Krakow or Warsaw don't even hit the radar screens) [104]
They are not comparable, Vienna was not destroyed during the war like Warsaw was. IMO, Warsaw is not a city you initially fall in love with, the way it was rebuilt post war makes it quite ugly. It does take time to discover its advantages, like the space, greenery, general easiness in moving from one part of the city to the other... I lived for 3 months or more in each of the following cities: Athens, London, Montreal, Paris, Warsaw, Zürich and I would probably rank Warsaw in # 4 (the worst being Athens).
Lets compare Vienna, a European capital of roughly the same size and ranked high on these lists, with Warsaw.
They are not comparable, Vienna was not destroyed during the war like Warsaw was. IMO, Warsaw is not a city you initially fall in love with, the way it was rebuilt post war makes it quite ugly. It does take time to discover its advantages, like the space, greenery, general easiness in moving from one part of the city to the other... I lived for 3 months or more in each of the following cities: Athens, London, Montreal, Paris, Warsaw, Zürich and I would probably rank Warsaw in # 4 (the worst being Athens).
bullfrog
5 Sep 2011
News / Polish publicly-funded pre-schools have put up their prices [7]
Where on earth did you get this idea from? Taxes (as a proportion of income) are higher in Poland than in many other EU countries!
yes, and if you pay for everything as a proportion of your income, then there is no point in earning more, is there? That is (one of the many) definitions of communism..
Do you realize that in Poland,your taxes are peanuts compared with other European countries',
Where on earth did you get this idea from? Taxes (as a proportion of income) are higher in Poland than in many other EU countries!
Under Communism, you paid for pre-school depending on your level of income. It was a much fairer system
yes, and if you pay for everything as a proportion of your income, then there is no point in earning more, is there? That is (one of the many) definitions of communism..
bullfrog
5 Sep 2011
Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]
Well, not sure I agree.. In fact, I found people in Poland much more educated and polite than in Britain or most western countries, especially as far as men's attitude toward women:
- help ladies put on coats
- hold car doors for ladies
- ...
It is however true that this is less and less prevalent among the younger generation
They have no manners, Polish elite were eradicated and the People's Republic did not care much for bourgeois trivia.
Well, not sure I agree.. In fact, I found people in Poland much more educated and polite than in Britain or most western countries, especially as far as men's attitude toward women:
- help ladies put on coats
- hold car doors for ladies
- ...
It is however true that this is less and less prevalent among the younger generation
bullfrog
5 Sep 2011
Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]
I know I'm probably a little older than most on PF, but I see it happening quite often in Warsaw in restaurants etc.. It's true that it's more frequent among.. lets' say.. middle aged people. But I suppose you can't have it all : Wroclaw has a large student population, which is part of its attractivity (it is in fact my preferred polish city) but this means that old school good manners tend to be less practised..
I know I'm probably a little older than most on PF, but I see it happening quite often in Warsaw in restaurants etc.. It's true that it's more frequent among.. lets' say.. middle aged people. But I suppose you can't have it all : Wroclaw has a large student population, which is part of its attractivity (it is in fact my preferred polish city) but this means that old school good manners tend to be less practised..
bullfrog
6 Sep 2011
History / Chance of Lwów once again became coming part of Poland [344]
I still found it mesmerizing to see how Wikipedia has achieved such iconic status as being almost the only source used to substantiate statements on this forum. Ease of access and ubiquity (which Wiki has) does not guarantee reliability..
I still found it mesmerizing to see how Wikipedia has achieved such iconic status as being almost the only source used to substantiate statements on this forum. Ease of access and ubiquity (which Wiki has) does not guarantee reliability..
bullfrog
6 Sep 2011
Law / Opening a Polish Bank Account by a foreigner in Poland. Recommendations. [299]
Eurobank, the Greek bank, is no longer in Poland. Eurobank in Poland is not owned by them but by Socgen (French bank)
Greek Eurobank used to own Polbank but they sold it earlier this year to Raiffesen
Eurobank, the Greek bank, is no longer in Poland. Eurobank in Poland is not owned by them but by Socgen (French bank)
Greek Eurobank used to own Polbank but they sold it earlier this year to Raiffesen
bullfrog
7 Sep 2011
USA, Canada / Why are Polish restaurants not successful in the USA? [698]
polish vegetarion section? Isn't that an oxymoron??
I hope the restaurant would have a Polish vegetarian section.
polish vegetarion section? Isn't that an oxymoron??
bullfrog
8 Sep 2011
UK, Ireland / Is moving to UK now a good idea? - antipolish prejudice of the Brits [231]
The references given in this thread are not improving, first the Sun now the Daily Mail.. Will you resurrect the Pravda next ??
The references given in this thread are not improving, first the Sun now the Daily Mail.. Will you resurrect the Pravda next ??
bullfrog
8 Sep 2011
Love / POLISH GIRLFRIEND WONT PAY HER WAY [127]
I have difficulty in understanding married couples who keep separate accounts.. IMHO, all earnings should be pooled together and all expenses, both common and individual, funded from the common pot.. However I do recognize it can be an issue when the spending habits differ too much (taste for expensive clothes or cars..)!!
I have difficulty in understanding married couples who keep separate accounts.. IMHO, all earnings should be pooled together and all expenses, both common and individual, funded from the common pot.. However I do recognize it can be an issue when the spending habits differ too much (taste for expensive clothes or cars..)!!
bullfrog
8 Sep 2011
USA, Canada / Why are Polish restaurants not successful in the USA? [698]
To the point that the guy who said 'To eat well in England you need to have 3 breakfasts a day" was an Englishman!
Yeah, but be fair for a moment.. Only English people like an English breakfast.
To the point that the guy who said 'To eat well in England you need to have 3 breakfasts a day" was an Englishman!
bullfrog
8 Sep 2011
Love / POLISH GIRLFRIEND WONT PAY HER WAY [127]
Well, the difference in earnings between my wife and I is (much!) higher than yours but we put everything in our joint account which is used for all type of expenses (house, shopping, personal..). and it works fine, I don't remember my wife and I ever having an argument about money (about other matters, sure!). But I guess that I am lucky to have married a very reasonable polki who deson't spend millions on clothes or shoes..
Well, the difference in earnings between my wife and I is (much!) higher than yours but we put everything in our joint account which is used for all type of expenses (house, shopping, personal..). and it works fine, I don't remember my wife and I ever having an argument about money (about other matters, sure!). But I guess that I am lucky to have married a very reasonable polki who deson't spend millions on clothes or shoes..
bullfrog
8 Sep 2011
Love / POLISH GIRLFRIEND WONT PAY HER WAY [127]
Well said Seanus, couldn't agree more..
If marriage is to be a shared thing then, well, costs have to be shared ;)
Well said Seanus, couldn't agree more..
bullfrog
8 Sep 2011
Work / JOB in Wroclaw for a Business Student fluent in ENGLISH/FRENCH/RUSSIAN/ROMANIAN [56]
Well done Elena, that is indeed a constructive and elegant response.. Makes al 111 (or is it Hal 111, the great grandson of Hal) look a little foolish..
Well done Elena, that is indeed a constructive and elegant response.. Makes al 111 (or is it Hal 111, the great grandson of Hal) look a little foolish..
bullfrog
8 Sep 2011
Love / POLISH GIRLFRIEND WONT PAY HER WAY [127]
A philosopher or even worse.. a marxist??
This objective good is pursued by me
A philosopher or even worse.. a marxist??
bullfrog
8 Sep 2011
Work / How To Study In Poland and stay with my GF? Inability to move to Poland looks stupid. [60]
Ha, ha, ha.. I am not sure that Turkey qualifies as an "underdeveloped" country, at least when you compare it to Poland.. The difference in GDP/capita between Turkey and Poland is about the same as between Poland and the Czech republik..
Poland ( and a number of other states who require minimum amount of $ from "students" from not-too-well-developed countries )
Ha, ha, ha.. I am not sure that Turkey qualifies as an "underdeveloped" country, at least when you compare it to Poland.. The difference in GDP/capita between Turkey and Poland is about the same as between Poland and the Czech republik..
bullfrog
9 Sep 2011
Love / POLISH GIRLFRIEND WONT PAY HER WAY [127]
Utter nonsense.. Money Honey is not even a Polish song, it's American..
lol, in slavic countries like Poland, the women are all either gold diggers or hookers. As they say, no money, no honey, baby.
Utter nonsense.. Money Honey is not even a Polish song, it's American..
bullfrog
9 Sep 2011
News / Prime Minister in Krynica on European integration [53]
before he was President, in 2005, Sarkozy said that Poland was the natural leader in the CEE region within the EU and that as such it should be integrated into the G6 of the EU to represent the region' s interests
s
can't be in warsaw, brussels or strasbourg, the quo are playing tomorrow in Zurich!!
Yeah, Germany and France would curtail the Slavic influence for sure. I wonder what Merkel and Sarkozy have to say about Poles.
before he was President, in 2005, Sarkozy said that Poland was the natural leader in the CEE region within the EU and that as such it should be integrated into the G6 of the EU to represent the region' s interests
s
Today from Krynica, tomorrow from Warsaw, but also from Brussels and from Strasbourg a very powerful voice should be heard, sustaining the spirit of all those who believe in the meaning of European integration, not only in the sense of the status quo, but also to further promote integration,’ the Prime Minister said.
can't be in warsaw, brussels or strasbourg, the quo are playing tomorrow in Zurich!!
bullfrog
10 Sep 2011
Law / Is there some way to extend the residence permit here in Poland? I have a tourist visa. [50]
can't you just respect the rules? i thought that in this respect Chileans were more "civilized" than other South Americans...
can't you just respect the rules? i thought that in this respect Chileans were more "civilized" than other South Americans...
bullfrog
10 Sep 2011
bullfrog
11 Sep 2011
History / How do Poles feel about 10th anniversary of 9/11 [40]
Yeah, nothing new, these are the usual theories of a bunch of idiots who say that the whole 09/11 was a conspiracy by the US government/military/Israel.. Next they will be explaining to us that the Sun revolves around the Earth..
Yeah, nothing new, these are the usual theories of a bunch of idiots who say that the whole 09/11 was a conspiracy by the US government/military/Israel.. Next they will be explaining to us that the Sun revolves around the Earth..
bullfrog
13 Sep 2011
Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]
This has only to do with a peculiar "polish" attitude made of a mix of stubborness and misunderstanding of what a market is. When they want to sell and once they have set what they believe to be the "right" price for their house/flat, they will rarely bulge from it and adjust it downwards if that's the way the market is moving. They think their price is right and prefer to stick to it and wait for the market to move their way which can sometime take .. a very very long time..
hmm I've seen home/apartments still not sold after 2 years.
This has only to do with a peculiar "polish" attitude made of a mix of stubborness and misunderstanding of what a market is. When they want to sell and once they have set what they believe to be the "right" price for their house/flat, they will rarely bulge from it and adjust it downwards if that's the way the market is moving. They think their price is right and prefer to stick to it and wait for the market to move their way which can sometime take .. a very very long time..