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Traveling around Poland - our photo stories with very personal commentary


Marynka11 4 | 677
23 Jul 2011 #61
I actually like the last 3 paintings on the bottom. But I would call them murals rather than graffiti.

I wish they punished the hooligans harsher in Poland. It's really annoying seeing something nice or new and then someone sprays something obscene on it.
Malopolanin 3 | 133
23 Jul 2011 #62
This is so sickening.

This is so Banksy!
Seanus 15 | 19,674
23 Jul 2011 #63
Fair point, Marynka. Here in Gliwice, some flats with nice interiors are marred by the spraying of KSG on the exterior walls. It's criminal and depreciates the value of the property unfairly. KSG is the local football club btw.
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
23 Jul 2011 #64
But I would call them murals rather than graffiti.

When you read closely, you will see that I wrote murals. :):):):)

Any ideas why Wrocław is probably the most sprayed city in Poland?

I tend to believe it is some kind of tradition, started by Waldemar Fydrych in communist times and followed today by young Vratislavians who think they are as cool as Fydrych and his Orange Alternative movement.

He painted gnomes/dwarfs on wallls to mark the sites where anti-communist slogans were painted over by the authorities.
Wroclaw 44 | 5,379
23 Jul 2011 #65
i tend to believe that it's more to do with a weak minded local government that has no clue how to stop it.
Marynka11 4 | 677
23 Jul 2011 #66
When you read closely, you will see that I wrote murals. :):):):)

yes, I've noticed that after I've posted
Palivec - | 379
23 Jul 2011 #67
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. But it looks like the authorities can't issue and enforce proper regulations, or they don't want, I don't know.

And you can expand your observation about the foreigners of Wrocław to all "recovered territories". Poor Eastern Poland looks far neater than much richer Silesia for example, which is tragic, since the western territories are culturally far more precious.
dtaylor5632 18 | 2,004
23 Jul 2011 #68
Well a few of mine from when I first moved to Poland :)

God I look so young in these pics!


  • Cutting the grass on the farm :)

  • First Polish Christmas with the "in-laws"

  • At the top of the hill, somewhere on Czech border

  • What to do on a sunny Saturday in Krk, have an illegal bbq!
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
23 Jul 2011 #69
Cutting the grass on the farm :)

Hey, you are wearing tracksuit pants. Were you dresiarz then? :):):)

First Polish Christmas with the "in-laws"

You don`t look too happy. ):):):) Because you had to eat carp?

What to do on a sunny Saturday in Krk, have an illegal bbq!

In Zakrzówek. How about an illegal dive from the rock?

Palivec - But it looks like the authorities can't issue and enfore proper regularisations, or they don't want, I don't know.

It is our Polish freedom. Poles fought for it hard in the past to do what they want in their own country. Introducing regulations would be a breach of freedom of speech. Better education in easthetic spheres will come with time and money.
dtaylor5632 18 | 2,004
23 Jul 2011 #70
Hey, you are wearing tracksuit pants. Were you dresiarz then? :):):)

Na, just a young laddie who didnt want his jeans covered in dirt. I killed a pig not long after so had to wear something cool in the heat also :)

Can you guess where it is from the background of the pic?

You don`t look too happy. ):):):) Because you had to eat carp?

I never ate it. The man sitting beside me is the guy who trains the Krk Police in unarmed combat :) Loved getting into places for free cos of him.

In Zakrzówek. How about an illegal dive from the rock?

I was tempted, but rather not :D
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
23 Jul 2011 #71
Poor Eastern Poland looks far neater than much richer Silesia for example

Yes, probably. On one single day in Wrocław, we ran into three sites full of dog hair left on the ground after brushing those woolly dogs. Crazy. I see it in Krakow, too, but about once a year and in outback areas, far from people.

The first incident took place in the park. The couple visible in the picture have just finished brushing their dog, gave each other a kiss and walked away, leaving those nasty deposits on the grass. I was completely shocked.

Next we went to a cemetery and nearby we saw this and then we decided to have a walk along the Odra River and saw this guy:

Wratislavians, shame on you! :):):

It is good Wrocław has been chosen the cultural capital of Europe for 2016. Do everything to deserve it.
beckski 12 | 1,617
24 Jul 2011 #72
First observance refers to grafitti

Here's a few pics of some um artwork? Seen along the train ride from Warszawa to Lublin.



Wroclaw 44 | 5,379
24 Jul 2011 #73
more graffiti: wroclaw.



Llamatic - | 144
24 Jul 2011 #74
we ran into three sites full of dog hair left on the ground after brushing those woolly dogs. Crazy.

Birds pick it up and use the hair for nest construction materials.
rybnik 18 | 1,454
24 Jul 2011 #75
In no other city have I seen so much of that revolting vandalism.

some call it urban art :)
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
24 Jul 2011 #76
Palives - And you can expand your observation about the foreigness of Wrocław to all "recovered territories".

All? Are you sure? BTW, which territories exactly do you mean?
rybnik 18 | 1,454
24 Jul 2011 #77
But tags on walls in the Main Square, bins, bridges, playground equipment, even benches and trees in the park? This is so sickening.

How sad!!! (my communist-leaning cousin would say "There is your precious freedom"). How do I argue that? :(
delphiandomine 88 | 18,163
24 Jul 2011 #78
The public sphere is "polluted" by graffity, but even more by adverts, all over Poland.

Same problem in Slovakia.

It's to do with the lunacy of private landowners being able to do what they want with their land.
rybnik 18 | 1,454
24 Jul 2011 #79
are'nt the drawings placed there by vandals?
delphiandomine 88 | 18,163
24 Jul 2011 #80
Graffiti, yes, but not adverts ;) (though some might say that most of the reklama is vandalism, too)
Wroclaw Boy
24 Jul 2011 #81
The first incident took place in the park. The couple visible in the picture have just finished brushing their dog, gave each other a kiss and walked away, leaving those nasty deposits on the grass. I was completely shocked.

Ohh my god shame on those poor people living in flats brushing their dogs in the public park. I think the dog shite all over the place to be a bigger issue. You're weird. Were the couple in the photo aware they had some freak photographing them?

Wratislavians, shame on you! :):):):):):):)

Its people brushing their dogs in the park, whats to be ashamed of?

Here's a few pics of some um artwork? Seen along the train ride from Warszawa to Lublin.

Must be marking their territory hey?

(though some might say that most of the reklama is vandalism, too)

ha yeah give me grafitti over adverts anyday.
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
24 Jul 2011 #82
i tend to believe that it's more to do with a weak minded local government that has no clue how to stop it.

No government, no matter how stron, will prevent it if people don`t respect their own city. I made a test today to check if I wasn`t biased with that Wrocław grafitti - I drove a mile in a highly urbanised district in the center of Krakow and I saw two or 3 pieces of grafitti on walls. Houses were grey and drab like in Wrocław, but free of grafitti.

I killed a pig not long after so had to wear something cool in the heat also :)

Did you make haggis of/from/with it? :):):)

I never ate it.

Why?

I was tempted, but rather not :D

Don`t you have such rocky lakes in Scotland?

Birds pick it up and use the hair for nest construction materials.

I dislike birds unless they are storks.

How sad!!! (my communist-leaning cousin would say "There is your precious freedom"). How do I argue that? :(

Tell him that communism exploited white black people.

It's to do with the lunacy of private landowners being able to do what they want with their land.

And that is great. Your land, your fredom, your right to do what you want with it.

Ohh my god shame on those poor people living in flats brushing their dogs in the public park.

Yes, exactly.

I think the dog ****e all over the place to be a bigger issue.

I didn`t see dog **** in Wrocław.

You're weird.

Yes, I know. But it makes me happy.

Were the couple in the photo aware they had some freak photographing them?

Look closer what I took the photo of.

Its people brushing their dogs in the park, whats to be ashamed of?

Next time I will tell them to come and leave the hair in front of your house if you like it so much. :):):)
Wroclaw Boy
24 Jul 2011 #83
That's not the point is it?

as i said youre weird man.
Des Essientes 7 | 1,290
24 Jul 2011 #84
Photographing abandoned tufts of dog hair in public parks isn't weird. It's an avante guard attempt to widen the boundries of acceptable subjects for vacation photos.
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
25 Jul 2011 #85
Wroclaw Boy - as i said youre weird man.

Said by someone who starts such intelligent threads as: What do you think about Wrocław Boy? or Who is the most muscular of us all in PF?

:):):):)

OK, let`s assume we are both equally weird. :):):)

Back to the topic - photos stories with very personal commentary. The last post focused on the city of Wrocław entirely.

In my positive posts about the city I didn`t mention several petty things I liked.

E.g., those time counters on some traffic lights. Quite useful, I must say. Unfortunately, very few of them yet but I understand that is just the beginning. I hadn`t seen them anywhere in Poland:

Big sculptures in trees, also quite unusual

I also admired such architectonic contrasts and this symbolic grave to the builders of the church who died on duty.

When in Market Square, we ran into a vintage cars picnic. That one was probably the oldest or these?

but dearest to my heart was Fiat 127, the model which was my first own car at uni times and Opel Kapitan, which is a human-like character in one of my favourite childhood books - Great, Greater, the Greatest - about two children who experience extraordinary adventures with the help of the car.

I had mixed feelings about different pieces of art scattered around which certainly introduce some variety into urban landscape but also seem a bit out of space, out of time. Or too modern for me?

Someone in the PF said this fountain in the Market Square is a disaster. Why? Too modern for the old Market Square?

A few last peculiarities which surprised me in Wrocław:

Small market square stalls were full of sunflowers. Why?

The tram driver has to go out to change the rails

This is probably all that I wanted to share with you in Wrocław-focused posts. I think I will be still coming back to it in other posts about Polish cities in general.
Palivec - | 379
25 Jul 2011 #86
All? Are you sure? BTW, which territories exactly do you mean?

I only know Southern Poland, but there it's certainly true. And Wrocław looks neat and tidy compared to the countryside!

I had mixed feelings about different pieces of art scattered around which certainly introduce some variety into urban landscape but also seem a bit out of space, out of time. Or too modern for me?

The city has almost no memorials, and the ones that exist are usually not related to this place. I suppose these pieces of art are made to hide this emptiness.

Small market square stalls were full of sunflowers. Why?

Because they are beautiful? ;)
Wroclaw 44 | 5,379
25 Jul 2011 #87
those time counters on some traffic lights.

i was wondering if they appeared elsewhere. now i know. it seems not.

Someone in the PF said this fountain in the Market Square is a disaster.

i don't like the fact that the city spends so much time and money on fountains. it's like an obsession.

i like the fountain in rynek. there was a choice of two: one traditional, one modern. there was a period, soon after installation, when the city discussed moving it elsewhere because it didn't fit in.

The tram driver has to go out to change the rails

not on all lines of course.
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
25 Jul 2011 #88
I only know Southern Poland, but there it's certainly true.

Then it is not true in case of northern Poland, more exactly Elbląg. It is the neatest and cleanest major city which I visited in Poland. I thought I could live there for a while. One day I will make a post about it.

And Wrocław looks neat and tidy compared to the countryside!

:):):)

What did you expect? People didn't invest and maintain things because they feared Germans coming back and retaking everything during WW3. That is why it all looks like it does.

The city has almost no memorials, and the ones that exist are usually not related to this place.

That is true. Aleksander Fredro, a great comedy writer, had nothing in common with Wrocław, but a lot in common with Lwow, from where most Wrocław`s new residents came.

What do you expect, again? That newly come Poles would keep German monuments?

I suppose these pieces of art are made to hide this emptiness.

Yes, but they are trying to change it. Look at this memorial to a German priest who resisted Nazi regime and paid with his life. But it is still a copy, not original art.

Because they are beautiful? ;)

I am weird, I don`t appreciate flowers` beauty. :):):):) Why so many?

i was wondering if they appeared elsewhere. now i know. it seems not.

Nope, to the best of my knowledge and experience from a few major Polish cities. Not even in Warsaw. (maybe they are in Szczecin or Gdańsk??)

Wrocław rules, after all!

not on all lines of course.

Of course, not. But I compared it to Krakow where I don`t see it anymore because it is done automatically everywhere.

i don't like the fact that the city spends so much time and money on fountains. it's like an obsession.

I don`t agree. We didn`t see too many fountains in Wrocław. Compared to Warsaw or Krakow Wrocław is poor. Yes, there is that big one with music but it is just a little too big. :):):)

We always enjoy finding a fountain on our trips because my kids are obsessed with water.

A little amusing pearl from Stalinist times - a mixture of Polish patriotism with communist ideology:

fotopolska.eu/12156,obiekt.html
jwojcie 2 | 762
25 Jul 2011 #89
Just to straighten one popular misconception:

I don`t think so. Remember, modern Vratislavians are descendants of or even the same people who were deported to Wrocław from ex-Eastern Poland after its annexation by the Soviet Union...

I acquired an irresistible suspicion that Wratislavians, after being forcedly resettled into Wrocław from Eastern Poland, still haven`t taken to the city and treat it as alien...

It is half true. In fact the biggest part of Poles who came to Wroclaw after WWII were from Greater Poland Voivodeship. Those who came from ex-Eastern Poland were smaller in number but it was organized resettlement - with some noticable groups like scientists from Lviw or important institutions like Ossolineum. That is why popular view is that most of Wroclaw citizens are descendants of the settlers from east, when in fact they are mostly decendants of the mix of east and north.

By the way:

Today, there is a politically uncontroversial monument to Boleslaw, King of Poland.

Some Wroclawians call it monument of Mirmil (from "Kajko i Kokosz") not Boleslaw ;-)
OP pawian 221 | 23,970
25 Jul 2011 #90
It is half true. In fact the biggest part of Poles who came to Wroclaw after WWII were from Greater Poland Voivodeship.

Thanks but that is contrary to the map in the Etnographic Museum if you mean Wielkopolska.

Some Wroclawians call it monument of Mirmil (from "Kajko i Kokosz") not Boleslaw ;-)

Funny and sad. :):):)


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