Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 3 [796]


I would say so given that it's so widely spoken but then Szklary is a bit off the beaten track. The sort of place that geologists are more likely to know about than the public generally.

The photos in the gallery from the first link are great.


When I first looked at it I thought it was some vegetarian food but looking at it closely I think the dark piece in the top left hand corner is some chocolate? Or I could be going in the wrong direction.....

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation - part 2 [711]


Well done! I wouldn't have made that link.

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation - part 2 [711]

I'm sure it's not czernina but that's what I instinctively thought of......

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation - part 2 [711]


Exactly :)


From Poland or the US? I've heard of duck soup but not duck food.

Travel / Transport adventures in Poland [99]


I know, the whole thing is ridiculous.


I think Starmer and Miliband have blocked granting new licences for drilling in the North Sea. They haven't revoked old ones but Miliband is pushing the green agenda big style and there was also a problem with the supreme court blocking drilling in the North Sea.

theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/19/uk-ministers-to-restart-approval-process-for-two-north-sea-oilfields

What infuriates me just as much is the lack of gas storage capacity here. It leaves the UK vulnerable and dependent on imports. I'll leave it here though as I'm getting way off-topic.

Travel / Transport adventures in Poland [99]


I do too but the public transport over here is absolutely shocking. Don't even bother trying to catch a train on weekends, it will be cancelled/diverted. It took me 9 hours to get home a while ago as the train at the start of my trip was cancelled. That was actually on a week day. The knock-on effect had me diverted to various parts of the country. Buses are no better. I rarely use them but tried to get to my work conference on one last week. Stood for an hour at the bus stop and it didn't turn up. Had to get a taxi in the end as there was no parking at the venue or anywhere near.

For a government pushing net zero they seriously need to think about the public transport situation. No-one is going to give up driving over here with such a poor public transport system.

From my experiences in Poland, public transport is way better than over here and I've used trains, buses and trams. Frequent and on time. Never had a problem. As Alien pointed out, in a large city it may well be possible to do without a car, especially for those who are single or who don't have children, but in rural areas, not so easy. For families, life is just that much easier with a car.


You're braver than me. I wouldn't even consider driving in Poland....but good that driving appears to have improved.

News / Poland Sports News - part 2 [14]

Great result!

News / How will Trump's trade tariffs affect Poland? [74]


He says a lot of things. Here is a nice little record of the bullsh!t things he said....

forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/07/11/trump-floats-raising-baseline-tariffs-to-20-here-are-the-29-times-hes-flip-flopped-since-liberation-day/

Off-Topic / USA News and Poland - part 16 [364]


I think most people would say English. These days British refers more to nationality. If someone asked where I was from I would either say England or the UK.

Law / Gun control in Poland: should Polish people be allowed to own guns? [1070]


Shows exactly why Poland doesn't need guns. Poland in particular has a lower murder and crime rate when compared with the rest of Europe and is a very safe country.

Why Americans persist in their thinking that Poland would be better off armed is beyond me. Especially given the endless mass shootings that have become a normality in the US.


As you're a grammar bore......

Hyphenated
Non-hyphenated
The irony.......

News / Poland's aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 23 [676]


Because for all that bluster, he's a weak man who always backs down. What amazes me is how long it took him to realise he was being played and that Putin has no interest in a peace deal.

Off-Topic / Music Thread - part 2 [875]

[login to read]

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation - part 2 [711]

Bit crude and sure it's way too easy but here we go:

In the arse you've been, sh!t you've seen.

News / Why should Poland consider pursuing a strategic alliance with Russia? [176]


That's my understanding too. The Poles I know have expressed complete lack of trust of Russia and Russians from conversations I've had with them. Especially older Poles who grew up under Communism. They wouldn't give them the time of day. I'd say there's a higher chance of Russia invading Poland than the formation of any kind of a Polish-Russian alliance.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 3 [796]


It certainly does but that would require more free time than I currently have. Bet it would be an amazing walk though.


Ok, thanks for the info.

Law / Gun control in Poland: should Polish people be allowed to own guns? [1070]


That doesn't matter to the gun nuts. It's that tiny 0.1% chance that it might happen. It's called living in fear.


Like the death penalty has been a deterrent for fatal shootings? Don't make me laugh.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 3 [796]


Those look really interesting. I would definitely like to go on 3 or 4 of those! Plus, you get to keep the minerals! What's not to like :)


Cool. As with the tours in Paulina's link, I'm guessing the tours are all in Polish language though? Not sure how much I would follow when it comes to discussing minerals and rock formation. I'd be interested in visiting the Blue John cavern too. It's just up the road from Edale where I was planning to start a hike from, so guess I will be making a small diversion :)


Hope you find something nice.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 3 [796]


I wouldn't mind a trip there :)


I like the rings in your link although most of them are sold out. Guess Polish flint's quite popular.


It's a lovely colour. I saw a couple of Blue John pendants in an Edinburgh gem and jewellery shop. It's only found somewhere in Derbyshire if I remember rightly.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 3 [796]


Yes, I was quite surprised to find it was mined in Poland.


I think most of their opals come from a town called Coober Pedy.


I didn't realise you had collected them! Cool!

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 3 [796]


Lower Silesia? I already read that opal is mined in a place called Szklary.


I love the colour :)

I have a lot of gemstone jewellery but no opals yet. They're prone to cracking unfortunately.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 3 [796]

My other guess would be opal which is mined in Poland but I think it's more of a green than a pale blue colour.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 3 [796]

Akwamaryn? Although I don't think it is. The colour reminds me of blue ice.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 3 [796]

Looks like a very pale milky blue to me.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 3 [796]

Is it limestone? Looks like a band of something running through it but it's a bit blurred.

Law / Gun control in Poland: should Polish people be allowed to own guns? [1070]


Heat-related deaths are increasing in the US too, despite air conditioning.

I get that you need air-con in the southern states because it's not just that it's hot, it's also very humid. Much of Europe isn't like that and although heatwaves are increasing, people aren't just going to install it because of a couple of weeks here and there of extreme temperatures. Plus it would cost a fortune to run. I think it's just the norm in the US even in states where it isn't that hot. I doubt anyone gets to acclimatise to the heat either if homes are air conditioned.

Personally, I don't like it. Gives me a sore throat. I really don't mind the heat though.

UK, Ireland / BBC launches new Polish language news service [87]


He hasn't finished whining enough yet :( I'm wondering how many more posts we're all going to be subjected to before he's done sounding like a broken record.....

News / The Iran war and Poland [826]


This is true and requires specialized equipment and adhering to strict protocols to minimise risk.


I'm not saying it would be easy but they may well have had a plan in place for the unexpected. I'm sure they must have considered that at some point the site could be subject to attack and it might become necessary to move the uranium.


I would agree on that although finding out the extent will depend on how cooperative Iran will be.


Leaving so soon? How could you! Bobko and Torq will never forgive you.

News / The Iran war and Poland [826]


Without inspecting the site no-one can know for sure what damage has been done. Satellite imagery will only show surface damage.

Ground-penetrating radar and seismic equipment would give more of an idea. It's way too premature to say Iran's nuclear facilities have been wiped out, despite Trump's declaration of 'total obliteration' of the sites. The presence of trucks etc a couple of days before the strikes at Fordow suggests it's more than likely the enriched uranium was moved beforehand.

Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [145]


His name has cropped up on the Polish paintings thread before.

I like his work despite it being very dark. Not so much that I'd like his artwork hanging on my wall though!

This is a good site if you want to know more about him and see more of his paintings:

surrealismtoday.com/zdzislaw-beksinski/?srsltid=AfmBOory9Yy2ucugkdBvCD40tXP3ILchg_G-fLMUaTNzyoKL-aYJwS9Z

A sad end to his life though as he was murdered by someone he knew.

Life / Polish Music. [298]


Strange.....

Good track, I liked it.

Another couple of old ones:

Bogusław Mec - Jej portret



Czerwone Gitary - Ciągle pada