The BEST Guide to POLAND
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Posts by Feniks  

Joined: 14 Mar 2024 / Female ♀
Last Post: 4 hrs ago
Threads: 1
Posts: 956

Interests: Reading, Hiking, Science, Travel, Art

Displayed posts: 957 / page 1 of 32
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Feniks   
4 hrs ago
Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 3 [796]

if they don't have tours in English that's a pretty big mistake, imho.

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.

What is this?:

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.....
Feniks   
2 days ago
Travel / Transport adventures in Poland [99]

If Europe went to completely net zero it would have almost no effect at the global level....

I know, the whole thing is ridiculous.

they use so much marine fuel importing hydrocarbons from the global south rather than maxing out out own North Sea reserves while we can and providing jobs for workers and tax revenue.

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.
Feniks   
14 Jul 2025
Travel / Transport adventures in Poland [99]

I hate driving,

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.

First time I've driven a long distance in Poland and not thought I was going to end up in a ditch or a wreck.

You're braver than me. I wouldn't even consider driving in Poland....but good that driving appears to have improved.
Feniks   
12 Jul 2025
News / How will Trump's trade tariffs affect Poland? [74]

Trump said

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/
Feniks   
12 Jul 2025
Off-Topic / USA News and Poland - part 16 [364]

Do you like to be called British or English?

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.
Feniks   
12 Jul 2025
Law / Gun control in Poland: should Polish people be allowed to own guns? [1070]

comparison of homicide rate in the US and Europe from 2000 to 2022

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.

especially those with a hyphen...

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

Hyphenated
Non-hyphenated
The irony.......
Feniks   
10 Jul 2025
News / Poland's aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 23 [676]

Trump has so far shown now willingness to even remotely confront Putin on any issue

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.
Feniks   
9 Jul 2025
Off-Topic / Music Thread - part 2 [875]

[login to read]
Feniks   
9 Jul 2025
News / Why should Poland consider pursuing a strategic alliance with Russia? [176]

Generally speaking, Poles don't get along with Russians.

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.
Feniks   
7 Jul 2025
Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 3 [796]

a very famous and very long walk starts in Edale.

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

I think so, however it's mostly just walking through and looking at the exhibits in the mine.

Ok, thanks for the info.
Feniks   
7 Jul 2025
Law / Gun control in Poland: should Polish people be allowed to own guns? [1070]

What really is the chance of that happening on my way to Zabka ?

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.

But a gun could stop them from ever doing it again

Like the death penalty has been a deterrent for fatal shootings? Don't make me laugh.
Feniks   
6 Jul 2025
Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 3 [796]

There are also geological workshops during which you can find minerals for yourself under the supervision of an educator :):

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 :)

I was on a guided tour of the flint mines in Paulina's region

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 :)

may buy two matching rings with a band of Jet in if the shops have some good ones and if the other party likes them.

Hope you find something nice.
Feniks   
3 Jul 2025
Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 3 [796]

tourist attraction for geology enthusiasts, because it's a pretty rare place in Europe apparently (that area has 81 types of minerals).

I wouldn't mind a trip there :)

apparently the only place on Earth where striped flint can be found:

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

Blue John i

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.
Feniks   
3 Jul 2025
Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 3 [796]

Opal used to be very valued in antiquity, because it was rare.

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

vast deposits were discovered in Australia and opal has become the national gemstone of that country :)

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

Other pieces found at that location during a half an hour walk:

I didn't realise you had collected them! Cool!
Feniks   
2 Jul 2025
Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 3 [796]

Where in Poland do you think it was found?

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

this is what it looked like after getting it out of dirt:

I love the colour :)

I have a lot of gemstone jewellery but no opals yet. They're prone to cracking unfortunately.
Feniks   
2 Jul 2025
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.
Feniks   
2 Jul 2025
Law / Gun control in Poland: should Polish people be allowed to own guns? [1070]

Even to save 10s of thousands of lives?

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.
Feniks   
30 Jun 2025
UK, Ireland / BBC launches new Polish language news service [87]

btw you said you were never going to come back to this forum a day or two ago :)

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.....
Feniks   
25 Jun 2025
News / The Iran war and Poland [826]

Moving HEU is not as easy as it sounds, based on what I've read from papers in recent days.

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

Maybe it's possible to move it on 24 hours notice, but it seems like it's hard.

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.

Although more likely than not damage was done

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

PF has become a little too intoxicating. Until next time, y'all take care.

Leaving so soon? How could you! Bobko and Torq will never forgive you.
Feniks   
25 Jun 2025
News / The Iran war and Poland [826]

Grossi from the IAEA seems to think damage was done.

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.
Feniks   
25 Jun 2025
Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [145]

Did someone already mentioned Zdzisław Beksiński?

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.
Feniks   
24 Jun 2025
Life / Polish Music. [298]

I remember my Polish teacher told me that it's not about Africa at all, but Poland and Polish people...

Strange.....

Good track, I liked it.

Another couple of old ones:

Bogusław Mec - Jej portret



Czerwone Gitary - Ciągle pada