Rich man, poor man - today`s Poland

The title of the thread refers to an American TV miniseries which was also shown on Polish TV in late 1970s. I vaguely remember those times, how the family sat down in front of the TV set and all watched the episodes with utter fascination.



However, the latest bomb threats in Krakow are dealt with by means of hi-tech device:

Looking from the outsider position for the last 12 years, I think Poland's growth is immense. The life quality is improving year by year (at least looking at my family members). I have two brothers who live in Poland and I live in the States but materially we are doing similarly. So no rich and poor man in my family.

But the three of us have one thing in common: we know how to work hard.

If that is true, it is completely crazy.

However, there is a lot of rationalisation needed in the public administration. Bureaucracy is very expensive.

By the way, why whenever people decide to save money they start with pencils and erasers? The do that in the States too. How is the $50 a year going to make a difference?

It is more of an over-used "Statement". Having management ration these items, it is supposed to create an awareness of the times and instill thrift in employee behaviour. More times than not, it is followed by layoffs. It is rare to see really creative cost cutting measures than already mentioned. Those that are able to think outside the box are to be envied and emulated.

There are cheap adverts, I agree

and more sophisticated ones:

in Poland they have already done (starting late 2008) most possible cuts on the fuel expenses for police - and it shows in the streets and in the reports how the police work in many cases (you have to understand Polish and watch Polish TV from time to time to hear about these things mostly)

And the government of course should control it and say which of them are "nice" enough ? You're a nazi just like your grandpas, not surprisig really.


Yeah, rich 1%, poor 99%.

Tragic.

I mean, you are tragic.

Fascinating, you being the teacher obviously belong to rich, am I not right ?

It is fascinating to see how you pretend not to know the fact that there is still a lot of room between rich and poor. And that is where most people fit.

We will see a growing divide under PO and the schism need not get any bigger. Having classes in society has its plusses and Tusk must continue to look at what the poorer people in Poland contribute. The economy thrives due to a totality of factors and not merely big business. We all make our contribution based on who we are and some of those 'lower end' jobs serve a useful purpose. Reward those who follow who they are in the job world and not by the GDP they generate.

That was a joke which might cause some misunderstanding. :):):):)

I suppose that most guys from US who know nothing about Poland still believe we, Poles, live in huts, do slave work in lords` fields and bring water from a nearby lake or river.

What is the reality? (all photos from Krakow)

Most people live in apartment blocks which were built in communist times. Only a few remained in their original ugly shape:

the majority has been insulated and repainted.

Blocks are usually grouped in estates, among abundant greenery

Modern blocks are much nicer:

Urban flats/apartments vary in size, some are very small, other quite big. People have hot and cold water, a seperate toilet, central heating from the city`s power station, gas heating for daily water. What else? Lifts/elevators in high rise buildings.

People who can afford high cost of land in cities can buy or build a house which looks like that:

Very few ot that kind:

Many of that kind, from the times when moronic communist authorities forced people to build the same square houses everywhere.

And more and more new houses of this type:

Ooops, I almost forgot. If you live in the city center, it is usually dense area, built up with houses. So, you can live in an old 19/20 century old house

or a modern filling

TBC with country houses.

Hey! That's my house you bsatard!

great! Can I visit you one day to take pics of the inside? People are curious what the interior of such a house is like....

PS. I forgot to add - no typical slums in Poland.

Where the hell is that?

Rio do Dzenero?

Clikc on the pic and read its name.

It is Manila

Yes!!

The worst slums in Poland are scruffy communist blocks:

and neglected 19 century houses:

An aerial view of a typical Polish city: (photos of Poznań)

The medieval Old Town:

19/20 century and pre-war districts:

Socialist:

and capitalist blocks:

Detached houses district

To see more views of Polish cities: skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=265790

Poznań: skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=399203&page=5

Thanks for this link, Pawian ; my favorite cities and places are : beloved Warsaw, Torun beautifully renovated and the unique Hel penisula . Look at the roofs of houses in Zamość - all have got copper tiles , which over the years has been covered with a beautiful greenish colour.

Warszawa:
Oh wow, is that really the new skyline ? Thats some serious change in 5 years :)

Yes, Warsaw is a beautiful city.

But very expensive one. People there have the highest salaries in Poland, equal to European average, but prices of apartments or houses or rent are horrendous, too.


:):):)
It is better to see the Warsaw skyline at night:

During the day it is a bit dull: Though for a comer from Eastern Poland countryside it must look like the West no matter day or night.

I dont like:(:(......homogenisation..but, I suppose its a good sign for Poland and thats what counts :)

Warsaw will even look better next year with a lot of new roads and other infrastructure constructions to be built in the upcoming year .


That is true . There is a new apartment complex next to the Hilton hotel, where the price per square meter was $ 10 000. Foreign investments make such prices skyrocket .

Dont get rid of the Trams in a rush to "modernise" we in the UK are just realising how great they were but its costing a fortune to re build the lines :(

maybe the best thing about the new skyline is its "Free Polishness"..............I mean,when I was there the main visual image of "modern Warsaw" was pictures of Stalins mini sky scrapper (which,I like,but...) ,now I suppose its the mini Mannhattan skyline in the tourist brouchures?

It is funny but most of those sky scrapers which surround that communist monster were meant to screen it and diminish in the skyline. But if you look at the picture, you will see it is still the highest.

Maybe next year, as Monia says, some new developments will surpass and shadow it. :):):):)

Not at all , we are modernizing lines and trams , but they will stay here in Warsaw as part of the whole urban transportation system . Don`t worry :)

It is the newest type .
pl.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plik:Pesa_Warszawa.jpg&filetimestamp=20090914141517

Are you talking about Platinum Towers?

50 m2 apartment costs about 850.000 zlotys on average.


Krakow`s modern trams are more beautiful than Warsaw`s. :):):):):)



And their name is - Bombardier! :):):):)

Yes, I am talking about them , the prices were such as I mentioned, during the construction of the first phase , later the investors made the prices looking more normal and available . The whole housing market slowed down during the last 2 years . So I am not surprised that they cost now that much . It was too crazy , IMO.