db1874
14 May 2010
db1874
29 Mar 2010
db1874
18 Mar 2010
UK, Ireland / The Gessler restaurant empire expands to London [21]
in The Guardian today guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/mar/17/polish-delis-restaurants-british
Polish delis and restaurants no longer cater merely for homesick expats - British diners have fallen for this hearty, eastern European cuisine.
in The Guardian today guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/mar/17/polish-delis-restaurants-british
db1874
12 Mar 2010
Life / British sky satellite TV in Poland [87]
I can confirm Harry is correct here about only some channels working as I have a 1m sky dish too in Warsaw, additionally the sky sports channels and ESPN work also if you subscribe to them.
Only if you have a 2.7 metre (maybe 2.4 metre) dish.
I can confirm Harry is correct here about only some channels working as I have a 1m sky dish too in Warsaw, additionally the sky sports channels and ESPN work also if you subscribe to them.
db1874
16 Feb 2010
Travel / Indian or Mexican food in Warsaw. [60]
for me Blue Cactus is the best place in town for Mexican food but it's not cheap, burrito is 44zl, Corona 14zl etc
for me Blue Cactus is the best place in town for Mexican food but it's not cheap, burrito is 44zl, Corona 14zl etc
db1874
15 Feb 2010
Work / Have just moved to Warsaw and need some job advice... [10]
Neil
Welcome to Warsaw, it's not easy for foreigners to find work here in Poland other than teaching English but with your many talents you might have more luck.
You could submit your CV to some of the IT agencies and with your other skills you need to start making contacts, so the expat bars could be a worth a visit - Bradley's etc.
Neil
Welcome to Warsaw, it's not easy for foreigners to find work here in Poland other than teaching English but with your many talents you might have more luck.
You could submit your CV to some of the IT agencies and with your other skills you need to start making contacts, so the expat bars could be a worth a visit - Bradley's etc.
db1874
2 Feb 2010
Life / You are Polish if... [433]
- you sleep on a sofa bed
- you can't reverse park
- you put ketchup on a pizza
- you sleep on a sofa bed
- you can't reverse park
- you put ketchup on a pizza
db1874
2 Feb 2010
Study / "MAGISTER" OR "MASTERS DEGREE" - ARE THEY THE SAME? [75]
You're wrong there Harry, here's a good explanation of the 4 year degree system in Scotland:
independent.co.uk/student/into-university/clearing/the-beauty-of-scotland-is-the-fouryear-degree-606867.html
"An undergraduate honours degree in Scotland takes four years and offers much greater breadth and flexibility than most degree courses in England. Students typically join a faculty and in the first year are encouraged to take a variety of courses within their area of study. It is not until the second or third year that they are expected to specialise in the subject in which they wish to graduate"
That first link is for a Scottish uni and Scottish unis are well known for accepting a qualification which is below the level of A levels: that is why their courses take four years.
You're wrong there Harry, here's a good explanation of the 4 year degree system in Scotland:
independent.co.uk/student/into-university/clearing/the-beauty-of-scotland-is-the-fouryear-degree-606867.html
"An undergraduate honours degree in Scotland takes four years and offers much greater breadth and flexibility than most degree courses in England. Students typically join a faculty and in the first year are encouraged to take a variety of courses within their area of study. It is not until the second or third year that they are expected to specialise in the subject in which they wish to graduate"
db1874
1 Feb 2010
Work / Working in Poland in a Non-Polish Speaking Job? - How? What? (no teachers!) [16]
What? Programmer for one of the big Polish banks.
How? By contacts and my niche knowledge of a particular software package.
How much? More than I would earn teaching english.
What? Programmer for one of the big Polish banks.
How? By contacts and my niche knowledge of a particular software package.
How much? More than I would earn teaching english.
db1874
22 Jan 2010
Law / Car Insurance costs in Poland. [24]
it maybe depends on what agent you use within Allianz, I'd been paying contents insurance with them for a few years and just switched my car insurance to them too as what they were offering was cheapest especially with the combined flat/car insurance discount. I had to provide a certificate from Admiral in the UK to prove my UK no claims. The lady I deal with at Allianz even sends me a christmas card each year :)
I'm also with Allianz and got no discount apart from the model specific discount.
it maybe depends on what agent you use within Allianz, I'd been paying contents insurance with them for a few years and just switched my car insurance to them too as what they were offering was cheapest especially with the combined flat/car insurance discount. I had to provide a certificate from Admiral in the UK to prove my UK no claims. The lady I deal with at Allianz even sends me a christmas card each year :)
db1874
22 Jan 2010
Law / Car Insurance costs in Poland. [24]
I drive an SUV in Warsaw and get a discount with Allianz for having 6 years of no claims (and they counted my UK no claims in that), i also get a further 20% discount for having an anti theft tracker device installed in the car, and then 15% more discount as i have my flat contents insurance with them too.
I drive an SUV in Warsaw and get a discount with Allianz for having 6 years of no claims (and they counted my UK no claims in that), i also get a further 20% discount for having an anti theft tracker device installed in the car, and then 15% more discount as i have my flat contents insurance with them too.
db1874
21 Jan 2010
News / New Polish gambling law - outlawing gambling except in casinos [34]
this law wont happen, the Polish government forgot they were in the eu.
thenews.pl/business/?id=123895
this law wont happen, the Polish government forgot they were in the eu.
thenews.pl/business/?id=123895
db1874
17 Jan 2010
db1874
17 Jan 2010
db1874
17 Jan 2010
db1874
13 Jan 2010
Travel / Fish and Chips in Warsaw [53]
I think I had the cod thus the higher price. I chatted with the owner a bit, they're only just opened a couple of weeks. I noticed they had open fryers compared to the closed ones that most UK chippies have so that probably doesn’t help with the ventilation.
I wonder what fish they use?
I think I had the cod thus the higher price. I chatted with the owner a bit, they're only just opened a couple of weeks. I noticed they had open fryers compared to the closed ones that most UK chippies have so that probably doesn’t help with the ventilation.
db1874
13 Jan 2010
Food / Burgers, why not in Poland? [54]
I found the steaks in Rodeo Drive (Warsaw) to be excellent but their burgers far too small - maybe the Poznan chefs are more generous. The Warsaw restaurant has since closed.
if theres a branch of rodeo drive where you are they do amazing burgers, the one in poznan is truly excellent
I found the steaks in Rodeo Drive (Warsaw) to be excellent but their burgers far too small - maybe the Poznan chefs are more generous. The Warsaw restaurant has since closed.
db1874
13 Jan 2010
Food / Burgers, why not in Poland? [54]
HardRock Cafe burger is the best I've had in Warsaw, way better than Champions imo.
HardRock Cafe burger is the best I've had in Warsaw, way better than Champions imo.
db1874
13 Jan 2010
Travel / Fish and Chips in Warsaw [53]
I tried it on Monday evening and was pretty happy with it, had large fish and chips (23zl), was cooked while I waited and tasted fine. My clothes were reeking of the cooking smell from the shop though for a while after - they need better ventilation. I'll definitely be back though.
the new fish and chip shop
I tried it on Monday evening and was pretty happy with it, had large fish and chips (23zl), was cooked while I waited and tasted fine. My clothes were reeking of the cooking smell from the shop though for a while after - they need better ventilation. I'll definitely be back though.
db1874
23 Dec 2009
Law / Coffee Heaven (Poland's biggest coffee chain) for sale [33]
Do the majority of Coffee Heaven customers actually spend that much money there? Seems to me like a lot of them just nurse a coffee there for a few hours.
They also tend to have a lot of staff in each of their premises which means for quick service but higher costs i suppose. I also imagine they have a lot of wastage from their sandwiches as I've rarely seen anyone buy one.
Do the majority of Coffee Heaven customers actually spend that much money there? Seems to me like a lot of them just nurse a coffee there for a few hours.
They also tend to have a lot of staff in each of their premises which means for quick service but higher costs i suppose. I also imagine they have a lot of wastage from their sandwiches as I've rarely seen anyone buy one.
db1874
11 Dec 2009
Life / Gyms in Warsaw [44]
purepoland.com/node/36
says 230zl , am sure you could negotiate it to 200zl. They give free tours for potential members so go in the evening to see how busy it it.
Anyone know what the monthly fee at the Zloty Tarase gym (Pure) is
purepoland.com/node/36
says 230zl , am sure you could negotiate it to 200zl. They give free tours for potential members so go in the evening to see how busy it it.
db1874
25 Nov 2009
Law / Stała Karta Pobytu and how to protect it in Poland [11]
Yes it's a pain in the ass to carry around compared to the old credit card sized ID you used to get, mine is folded up in my wallet and is a bit tattered already just after a few months.
I've been stopped by the police a few times and they always required my polish ID.
it is basically a flimsy piece of paper, God knows how that will last the coming years.
Yes it's a pain in the ass to carry around compared to the old credit card sized ID you used to get, mine is folded up in my wallet and is a bit tattered already just after a few months.
even if the police stop you, they're not going to care less about you having it or not at the moment
I've been stopped by the police a few times and they always required my polish ID.
db1874
16 Oct 2009
Work / Does it make sense to move from the UK to Wroclaw for this salary? [50]
I think you would struggle to be honest, if you've been earning say 25-30K GBP a year gross in the UK then it would be quite a drop in standards for you to survive on 4500zl gross a month here.
I'm an application developer here too in Warsaw, the IT salaries being offered in Poland were around 10-15k zl a month gross (for specialised skills) until the credit crunch hit.
I think you would struggle to be honest, if you've been earning say 25-30K GBP a year gross in the UK then it would be quite a drop in standards for you to survive on 4500zl gross a month here.
I'm an application developer here too in Warsaw, the IT salaries being offered in Poland were around 10-15k zl a month gross (for specialised skills) until the credit crunch hit.
db1874
12 Aug 2009
db1874
21 May 2009
Law / English-speaking bank in Warsaw ? [33]
150K PLN minimum or an HSBC Premier account in another country, not sure about their business account as i just have a personal account.
What kind of minimum are we talking here?
150K PLN minimum or an HSBC Premier account in another country, not sure about their business account as i just have a personal account.
db1874
20 May 2009
Law / English-speaking bank in Warsaw ? [33]
HSBC is great but only their Premier service is available in Poland at the moment. You need a large minimum balance to qualify for the account or you need to have an HSBC account in another country (which I do).
The website is in English, all staff speak English and no fees.
What's HSBC like?
HSBC is great but only their Premier service is available in Poland at the moment. You need a large minimum balance to qualify for the account or you need to have an HSBC account in another country (which I do).
The website is in English, all staff speak English and no fees.
db1874
20 May 2009
Law / English-speaking bank in Warsaw ? [33]
Is that a new policy (or is it specific to a product) ? I closed my citibank account last year and I'm pretty sure i was paying 5zl even when withdrawing from the Euronet machines. I've switched to HSBC which has no charges.
Free withdrawals from all Euronet machines
Is that a new policy (or is it specific to a product) ? I closed my citibank account last year and I'm pretty sure i was paying 5zl even when withdrawing from the Euronet machines. I've switched to HSBC which has no charges.
db1874
20 May 2009
Law / English-speaking bank in Warsaw ? [33]
Citibank is expensive, 5zl for every ATM withdrawal ( if not a Citibank ATM) and other monthly fees on top of that.
I heard MBank is best but you still have to pay a fee for transfers to accounts in other Polish banks.
Citibank is expensive, 5zl for every ATM withdrawal ( if not a Citibank ATM) and other monthly fees on top of that.
I heard MBank is best but you still have to pay a fee for transfers to accounts in other Polish banks.
db1874
23 Apr 2009
Life / Popular and Practical Cars in Poland [49]
I imported an SUV from the US east coast, I would get in touch with an agent who can advise you on the exact costs for your scenario and how much they will charge you to arrange it all on top of the costs.
Other things to consider, my container cost was cheaper because the agent shipped mine and another car in the same container.
Transfer from Polish port to Lublin - this is a matter of insurance, you can drive it from the Polish port yourself as long as it is insured, i couldn't get insurance until it was registered so had to use a transporter to get it to Warsaw.
EU conformity - buy a mercedes that has rear fog lamps and that will save you a bit of trouble as it's required in the EU. The cost of the changes will basically be how much it costs to change the front two lamps.
I imported an SUV from the US east coast, I would get in touch with an agent who can advise you on the exact costs for your scenario and how much they will charge you to arrange it all on top of the costs.
Other things to consider, my container cost was cheaper because the agent shipped mine and another car in the same container.
Transfer from Polish port to Lublin - this is a matter of insurance, you can drive it from the Polish port yourself as long as it is insured, i couldn't get insurance until it was registered so had to use a transporter to get it to Warsaw.
EU conformity - buy a mercedes that has rear fog lamps and that will save you a bit of trouble as it's required in the EU. The cost of the changes will basically be how much it costs to change the front two lamps.
db1874
23 Apr 2009
Life / Popular and Practical Cars in Poland [49]
Here are some costs for you from when I did it in 2008:
transport to US port $500.00
container $1,500.00
polish customs fee 1,400.00 zł
transport to Warsaw 1,500.00 zł
inspection 300.00 zł
registration 750.00 zł
EU conformity changes ( lights etc and depends on the type of car) 2,000.00 zł
Commision to dealer who arranged it all $2,500.00 ( this included sourcing the vehicle for me)
On top of this you have your Polish import duty and taxes which is dependent on the model, age and engine size of the car.
Here are some costs for you from when I did it in 2008:
transport to US port $500.00
container $1,500.00
polish customs fee 1,400.00 zł
transport to Warsaw 1,500.00 zł
inspection 300.00 zł
registration 750.00 zł
EU conformity changes ( lights etc and depends on the type of car) 2,000.00 zł
Commision to dealer who arranged it all $2,500.00 ( this included sourcing the vehicle for me)
On top of this you have your Polish import duty and taxes which is dependent on the model, age and engine size of the car.