My impressions from Poland

Hello!
Last month I was in Poland for eight days, and here I would like to share with you some impressions of mine, which will hopefully be helpful to other people here visiting this country for the first time. Also I’d like to thank to all the people here who gave me some info on certain questions I asked on this forum.

I stayed for a week in the beautiful medieval town of Kazimierz Dolny, which is such a gorgeous little place! It’s got wonderful medieval market square, a castle, many old buildings, churches, and even a cursed nunnery (well, not cursed, but excommunicated)! I was settled in the 17th century granary, so the atmosphere was full!

I also had a one-day excursion to Lublin, and I liked the city very much, especially the big castle, and the chapel with Byzantine type of frescoes. There I found some souvenir shop which was incredibly cheap (I bought many, many items for less than 20 euros).

On the last day, I had almost the whole day off waiting for the train in Warsaw, so I had a small sightseeing of the city. I loved the architecture, really. The communist seem not to destroy the esthetics of the cities in Poland like they did in ex-Yugoslavia. I especially liked the “old town”, and the Wisla bank, and also the very centre of the city, around the Palace of Culture (man, that building is so huge and extremely scary)!

Now, here are some remarks and advices that I’d like to give to other foreigners here thinking of visiting Poland:

-Warszawa Centralna Station:
I already said here that I heard many bad things about this station and its neighbourhood, and I must admit that they were partially true. I arrived to that station about 9 am. The very station is pretty safe, as it’s got policemen there and cameras and everything. But the area surrounding the station is not! I decided to have a short break at the park surrounding the nearby Palace of culture, as this part of the city looked very elite and fancy to me (after all, it’s a centre). But as I sat on the bench, in 15 minutes at least 10 people started on me, making me feel very unsafe. By these “people”, I mean the beggars stealing the pack of chips from my hand, gypsies dancing (!) around my bench, junkies spilling some coffee in front of me and homeless people asking for money. After so traumatic 15 minutes I took my wits and went as fast as I could to the airport, where I was to meet my group. So, don’t hang around the Palace if you are not with some Pole to help you!

-Exchange offices
Be careful where you exchange money, because on some places they exchange 1 euro for 3.4 zloty and on others 1 euro for 4 zloty! Choose the best one.

-Sandals and socks
What is this with all Poles wearing sandals and socks at the same time?! I thought sandals were supposed to be worn on the bare feet. :)

-Polish cuisine
It’s gorgeous! You have to try as many dishes as possible! I especially liked the combination of the fried cheese and marmalade. The only thing I didn’t like was hlatka (or whatever it is called).

-Polish president and prime minister
I had no idea they were the identical twins! Dear God! :)

-Polish music
I loved Kazik, he’s got such great videos, with strong sense of irony and satire. And of course, I must not forget the mighty Doda Elektroda! :) That girl was a revelation for me! I wanna marry her, but she’s already married to that Beckham copycat. Oh, and I strongly dislike the Rubik guy and disco-polo representatives.

Polish beer
I liked Tyskie the best, but Zywiec is great as well!

Polish anthem
It reminds me very much of the ex-Yugoslav anthem, so it evokes some not so good feelings.

Great summary, thanks. And don't laugh at Polish politicians ;).

I use that combination all the time, whats wrong about it;)?

in hot weather no socks, in cold weather - socks, i dont want my feet to be cold! And sandals are comfortable. :-)

BUT you also need to be stylish when u do it or else it will like the way it does when guys do it (sorry boys :P)....

But we do it with style and panache. Sometimes we even have colour co-ordinated sandals and socks (without holes in). Women should understand that we spend hours deciding on the appropriate combinations of sandals and socks.

Admittedly my Nike air sandals are a liitle old and worn by now but they are old friends. They have character and make a bold statemnt about me...

Enough of this.... men, sandals and socks just don't work. it's all true.

aha... that must be the key. I've walked across or sat in that area hundreds of times, and I've never been harassed even once. :)


it must be cultural or something, like when you go to Pakistan and everyone's wearing shalwar kameez :D


those stupid cut-down trousers which women wear (I have no idea what they are called, but they are teh stupid) don't work either. :)

eeeh u know nothing about fashion :P They are 3/4 length pants. and they do work (for some people - not all). :-)

I know plenty about *male* fashion, and I know what I like on women. Let's have some equality for a change... some people think women would look great even if they wore a dustbin bag, but that's rubbish <g>. I speak as I find. I say that those 3/4 length trousers, especially when worn with flip-flops, those horrible Croc things, and especially with a backpack, look terrible. Well, that's how everyone seems to wear them here in the south-east, anyway. lol :D

I like the shorts pul zadek.

Well,sandals ARE supposed to be worn without socks, because the purpose of the sandals is to make your feet breathe, and they can't breathe if you're wearing socks!

excellent write up..

tyskie seems to be the fav of many folks.. i find it rather strong tasting on most occasions. glad you like it though.

kazimierz dolny, spent quite a bit of time down there, but it's been a while.. very beautiful, for sure.. do you have any pictures you'd like to share?


i know i've picked on you way too much already but man how can one resist; the sock thing, "that's gay". lol V V V




have we met? it's been a while since i have "heard" that one.. my friends and i like it well. lol


Capri


wow.. hahahahahaha... iron clad socks? hahahahahaha

Well 3/4 with flip-flops don't go- you are right. I was thinking of them more with sporty-type of shoes or anything that is suitable to the actual item since each pant will look different regarless of length.

A dust-bin bag.... hmmmm.... it may look "trashy" but I don't think you speak rubbish. :P I don't think it will be suiting you, i suggest to stay away from these items as fashion.

South East - do u mean in australia or where? I am studying in Australia right now and what I notice in fashion here, well some girls know what fashion means (european fashion anyway), but i think others get dress in a dark room! - or are confused to wear the jeans, shorts or dress and wear all three (i have seen this many times in adelaide at least... little bit strange sense of style i think)....hehe oh well....


Very very good i agree - I don't want to be smelling anything bad so fresh air is good - good good good!

Baki, I'm glad to hear you had mostly positive experience. The sandals and socks look funny, but it is pretty common in Europe in general. In the US, I see mostly men from India "sporting" this style l... :)

However, what I still look with amazement at, are people who wear shorts and tank tops in 90F weather with socks and gym shoes. I feel like bursting in flames on their behalf... Often, a nice sun dress... with socks and gym shoes! Sandals (no socks) would be great instead, I think.

I guess, it's all cultural.

Thsnk you all for your responses!

@ plk123
I have many photos, but they are from the develloped film, so if I scan them, I will post them!
Cheers!

cool, whatever and whenever.. looking forward to seeing them sometime. :)

And what do you think about Doda Elektroda? Would she accept to divorce that Beckham plagiarism and marry me? :D

I live 20 mins from there and if you want to see some pictures go to this site of kazimierz dolny kazimierzdolny.eu/

that should be punished!
:)

Are you kidding me? I'm Polish, 2/3 of my live spent in Poland and the only place I met people wearing sandals+ socks was Iceland! Seriously.

My father and I will be traveling to Poland in June. I was searching some information to see what I should wear. Maybe I will take my sandals and plenty of white socks? They say you should try to fit in, not stand out in the crowd. Very funny stuff, that comment made my belly laugh too, thanks for that.

Kaz

Maybe hanging around Palace of Culture with socks and sandals on would keep the rif-raf away?

Hmm, is it so late at night and I am so tired that I can`t recall this Polihs dish/food? Help.....

the OP's account blew my mind!
In the PRL-days the station and the area aroung the Pałac were uber safe


Hahaha! I thought the same thing!!!

Yes, but what about this mysterious food?:

I know. I know.
fried cheese and marmalade???
never, ever heard of it.
possibly a Góralski thing?

Sharing briefly at this time my own cursory impressions of the part of Poland I'd visited many moons ago, I enjoyed the hearty, stick-to-your ribs cooking I experienced while touring Szczecin. It reminded me of typical Central European cuisine I'd eaten while in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Although only shy of two days in Poland proper, I found the Poles much more voluble, volitile and intellectually aggressive than most other Europeans whom I'd encountered over the years. The French were perhaps prouder, the Italians more outwardly emotional, the Germans giving more the impression of stolid dependabilty.... Yet, not to lapse into stereotypes, the majority of those under fourty whom I'd met, they seemed honestly interested in meeting visitors from the West.

Perhaps though all that has changed:-) Pity, I haven't been back in so long.