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Rich man, poor man - today`s Poland


pawian 221 | 23,970
20 Jul 2011 #1
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.

f

However, the latest bomb threats in Krakow are dealt with by means of hi-tech device:
Marynka11 4 | 677
20 Jul 2011 #2
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.
SzwedwPolsce 11 | 1,594
20 Jul 2011 #3
I read that due to budget cuts in the police, officers have to buy and bring to work their own rubbers, pencils and other stationery stuff.

If that is true, it is completely crazy.

However, there is a lot of rationalisation needed in the public administration. Bureaucracy is very expensive.
Marynka11 4 | 677
20 Jul 2011 #4
I read that due to budget cuts in the police, officers have to buy and bring to work their own rubbers, pencils and other stationery stuff.

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?
ShawnH 8 | 1,497
20 Jul 2011 #5
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.
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
23 Jul 2011 #6
Palivec - The public sphere is "polluted" by graffity, but even more by adverts, all over Poland. To me it looks horrible to see all these ugly, cheap adverts everywhere.

There are cheap adverts, I agree

and more sophisticated ones:
gumishu 13 | 6,133
23 Jul 2011 #7
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?

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)
Grzegorz_ 51 | 6,149
23 Jul 2011 #8
Palivec - The public sphere is "polluted" by graffity, but even more by adverts, all over Poland.

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.

Rich man, poor man - today`s Poland

Yeah, rich 1%, poor 99%.
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
23 Jul 2011 #9
Grzegorz- Yeah, rich 1%, poor 99%.

Tragic.

I mean, you are tragic.
Grzegorz_ 51 | 6,149
23 Jul 2011 #10
I mean, you are tragic.

Fascinating, you being the teacher obviously belong to rich, am I not right ?
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
23 Jul 2011 #11
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.
Seanus 15 | 19,674
24 Jul 2011 #12
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.
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
27 Jul 2011 #13
good luck. i hope you change water in the bath tub after your wife :)

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.
teflcat 5 | 1,032
27 Jul 2011 #14
Very few ot that kind:

Hey! That's my house you bsatard!
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
27 Jul 2011 #15
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.

d
teflcat 5 | 1,032
27 Jul 2011 #16
Where the hell is that?
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
27 Jul 2011 #18
=teflcat]Where the hell is that?

Clikc on the pic and read its name.
pip 10 | 1,659
27 Jul 2011 #19
It is Manila
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
27 Jul 2011 #20
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
Monia
27 Jul 2011 #21
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.
isthatu2 4 | 2,694
27 Jul 2011 #22
Warszawa:
Oh wow, is that really the new skyline ? Thats some serious change in 5 years :)
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
27 Jul 2011 #23
=Monia] beloved Warsaw,

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.

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

:):):)
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.
isthatu2 4 | 2,694
27 Jul 2011 #24
I dont like:(:(......homogenisation..but, I suppose its a good sign for Poland and thats what counts :)
Monia
27 Jul 2011 #25
Thats some serious change in 5 years :)

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

prices of apartments or houses or rent are horrendous, too.

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 .
isthatu2 4 | 2,694
27 Jul 2011 #26
Warsaw will even look better next year with a lot of new roads and other infrastructure constructions to be built in the upcoming year .

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?
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
27 Jul 2011 #27
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. :):):):)
Monia
27 Jul 2011 #28
Dont get rid of the Trams in a rush to "modernise" we in the UK

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
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
27 Jul 2011 #29
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

Are you talking about Platinum Towers?

50 m2 apartment costs about 850.000 zlotys on average.

=Monia]It is the newest type .

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

d

And their name is - Bombardier! :):):):)
Monia
28 Jul 2011 #30
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.


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