Travel / From Krakow to Auschwitz (transportation) [31]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Yes, I will spend an entire day there and want it to be at the end of my trip. Also I would rather not drive there and back as I may be distracted. Though not Jewish myself, I have some Jewish ancestors, who came to the UK from Russia in the late 19th century and one who came from Austria in the early 20th (some time before Hitler came to power) so for me this is not simply about seeing somewhere famous from TV...

Travel / From Krakow to Auschwitz (transportation) [31]

I looked on Google Maps and for a journey starting at 9.30am it looks like a journey of about two hours on public transport, about half that by car. Does that sound about right?

Travel / From Krakow to Auschwitz (transportation) [31]

Merged:

Auschwitz travel advice please

I'm visiting Krakow in early February and would like to take a trip to Auschwitz. Most of the packages offered seem to consist of transport, a guided tour of the camp/museum and a minimal amount of time to explore at one's own pace. I'd like a couple of hours for the last of these items. Can anyone recommend a company that provides this?

Love / ACCEPTABLE modest wear for Polish women? [49]

Pity. The few times I've seen Polish women without trousers or tights on I've thought they were blessed with really nice legs. It'd be great if they'd keep them bare :-)

News / FEMI-FASCISTS MARCH AGAIN IN POLAND [126]


I pity any woman who gets involved with you.

News / Polish MEP Korwin-Mikke's latest outrage, insulting women [216]

@ Paulina, thanks for your well argued and entertaining defence of women. You rock!

I apologise for assuming those who posted offensive comments about your half of the human species were Polish. While I suspect that some Polish men are less inclined to support feminism than men of some other nationalities, I'm sure that very few are remotely like the handful of cave-dwellers who've posted misogynistic comments here over the past couple of days.

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]

There are some medical benefits to circumcision, and a lot of women who've experienced both say they prefer circumcised. But I think it's rare in Poland because the Catholic church has often opposed it, perhaps because of its historic antipathy toward Judaism.

News / FEMI-FASCISTS MARCH AGAIN IN POLAND [126]


+1. Women in Poland and elsewhere should be free to do what they want with their bodies. If they oppose abortion, that's fine; no-one should force them to do it. But if they support it, no-one else should tell them they can't do it.

Many of the comments on this thread are deeply offensive in their image of the role of women: 'at home', not sexually or economically independent. What kind of man finds that appealing? One who gets off on oppressing women, not seeing a woman fulfil her potential and be happy.

News / Polish MEP Korwin-Mikke's latest outrage, insulting women [216]

I think it's sad that so many men from Poland, a country that celebrates International Women's Day and where the gender pay gap is the lowest in the EU, should have spent much of IWD criticising women. As Atch rightly points out, their under-representation in so many fields until recently is the fault of men who denied them education and opportunity. We men are the fools, for denying half the human population a chance of fulfilment, and of contributing to the advancement of humankind.

Love / Polish Girl & Me...Is She Interested? [57]


Show her some respect. And stay away from her. You're not good enough for her, you sexist dinosaur.

Off-Topic / New Anglo-Polish alliance in the making? [55]


This is true. A tiny amount of Marmite on your toast is delicious. Too much of it is absolutely foul. That's why we Brits like the stuff: it rewards our belief in moderation in all things...

Life / Professional feminists' of Poland meet-up [631]


You come across as a rampant misogynist.


'Unladylike vulgarities'? Admirable and principled political demands, more like.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2971]


No, the foetus is not alive until it has developed sufficiently to live independently from the mother. Until then, it's part of her body, so she should be able to decide what happens to it.


A key difference between us is that I'm very much bothered about women's beliefs. I believe in respecting their right to choose and am against imposing my will, or anyone else's, on women.

Is that controversial? I hope not.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2971]

It seems to me the only argument against abortion that's based on morality rather than misogyny is the religious belief that life begins at conception. I say it's a religious belief because science doesn't support it.

Women who hold this view should not be forced to have abortions. And they're not. They, and men who share their views, should not be allowed to limit the freedoms of women whose views differ.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2971]

I've noticed that many of those who oppose women's right to abortion are male. They should remember that one of the permitted categories for terminations is rape. Deny women the right to choose for their own reasons and some, in desperation, who can't afford a 'short holiday' in Germany, the Netherlands or the UK, might see no alternative to making allegations.

Really, the only moral solution is to say that a woman's body is her own, and for as long as a foetus is part of her, it's her decision what happens to it.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2971]

I'm in awe of the amazing Polish women who marched, went on strike and wore black to assert their right to terminate unwanted pregnancies. Those who oppose abortion should never be compelled to undergo terminations; they should show the same respect to those who might one day want to exercise that right.

Language / SEXUAL AND PASSIONATE WORDS IN POLISH [41]


+1. And sometimes women need it more, if they wear painful high heels.

IMO no better way to help a woman to relax after a busy day than offering her a foot massage, chocolate, and oral sex :-)

Love / What do you like most about Polish girls? :) [120]


I haven't heard of American feminists advocating rape and abortion (obviously the right to have abortions, but not the idea that they should be part of everyday life). Are you sure you weren't having nightmares?

Love / What do you like most about Polish girls? :) [120]

@ Szalawa, my point precisely - many third-wave feminists have reservations about the label, which is why the description I gave of Polish women (which Wulkan describes as simply 'independent') amounts to feminism. In my view any woman who believes she is entitled to the same respect and opportunities as any man is a feminist, and that description applies to most Polish women, especially younger ones.

Love / What do you like most about Polish girls? :) [120]

I'm pretty sure I do :-). What's your definition of feminist then?

Love / What do you like most about Polish girls? :) [120]

Are you sure? Most of the ones I've met have been. Maybe they wouldn't call themselves that, I don't know, but they were all into being well educated, having good jobs and being independent of men.

Love / What do you like most about Polish girls? :) [120]

There are about 20 million Polish girls and women so it's impossible to generalise about all of them. However, I've noticed that Polish females are naturally very beautiful without being showy/fake (think Russian/Ukrainian women with fake tans, bleached blonde hair and extreme heels), well educated, quite feminist and independent-minded and interested in culture and politics. A class act, in other words :-)

Life / In Poland, are women and girls obligated to wear head scarves in church? [36]

Wow - I thought only Polish people actively celebrated it in the general population, as opposed to among politicians and campaigners for feminism. I think it's a good thing, we should try it in the UK.

Keep to the topic please

Life / In Poland, are women and girls obligated to wear head scarves in church? [36]


I guess that could be it. In comparison to other countries with a Catholic heritage, Poland is distinct in having been under Communist control for half a century, when equality between the sexes was a high priority and women did a lot of jobs that could not easily be done in skirts.

Also I know that Poland celebrates International Women's Day, which many countries don't, which suggests that Polish women are quite strongly feminist.

As I think feminism and gender equality are good things, I'm pleased that Polish women mostly wear jeans :-).

News / Poland marching for life and family [132]


Do you enjoy sex? And do you think it's good that women should enjoy it too?

If you do, how about cutting out the insulting language when referring to women who have the temerity to enjoy their sexuality?

Life / In Poland, are women and girls obligated to wear head scarves in church? [36]

True, but the same could be said about women of every nationality. What I don't get is why hardly any Polish women wear skirts and dresses compared with other nationalities, especially given the Catholic heritage which used to include banning women from wearing trousers in church.

Life / In Poland, are women and girls obligated to wear head scarves in church? [36]


It must have been difficult to enforce that rule in Poland. I've noticed that Polish women hardly ever wear skirts and dresses, only trousers. BTW I've never understood why this is. Any ideas?

Love / Woman 28 single, too late for a relationship with a Polish man? [67]


Actually I think most modern, educated, independent women DO care about a man's opinions. If he comes across as a cave dweller when it comes to the role of women, only a small minority attracted by money and the prospect of being 'kept' will want to know you.

I'm not saying that every man who treats women as equals is drowning in interest from the opposite sex, but at least we stand a chance. This is especially true of Poland, where educational standards for women are high and young women are very happy to explore career options that weren't always available in the past.

Love / Do women in Poland change their surnames to a feminine form of their husbands' surnames? [40]


True, though it can also work the other way round. I once met a woman called Jenny who was very pleased her Italian boyfriend Roberto Talia wasn't upset she wanted to keep her original surname when they married...

Love / Do women in Poland change their surnames to a feminine form of their husbands' surnames? [40]


+1. I think it's demeaning that we still have a tradition of women changing their surnames to their husbands' when they marry.