Traveling around Poland - our photo stories with very personal commentary

Yes, it is a great tourist attraction near Busko, mentioned in all brochures etc.

Szydlow is amazing. A long history and a romantic feel - nicer than Kazimierz. I got the feeling though that the heart had been ripped out of the place, probably when the Jews were taken.

Without Jews, those small towns and settlements are not the same as they were. Pity.

Same in Lesko in Bieszczady - there is a very obvious "empty" feel to the place, not helped by the ruined Jewish graveyard there.

We passed through Lesko this summer (going to Bieszczady Mountains) and went to the Jewish synagogue and cemetery. Yes, the latter is ruined. I hope one day the authorities will gather enough funds to have it renovated, especially that the oldest tombstones there go back to 16th century.


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szyd%C5%82%C3%B3w
In 1929 Szydłów, already part of Kielce Voivodeship, had 2246 inhabitants, of which 30% were Jews. During World War Two, Germans opened a ghetto here, and the village itself was partly destroyed. In 1960 the population was 1402.

Then you should tell all your Jewish friends to move there.

I tell it to all my Jewish friends from past Poland but they won`t listen. They say that Heaven is a better place than rotten earthly life. Still pity, isn`t it?

I don't understand what you are saying by this.

Go to Hell (rubbish bin), then, together with this post of mine! :):):):):):):):):)

I still don't understand you. So why the insult?

Where is this bridge? It's stunning... didn't notice it the last time I was in Wroclaw.

Today we didnt go mushrooming as i got poisoned with chewing gum yesterday. We went to the sports field in Uscie instead and are playing soccer, volleyball, badminton and soap bubbles.

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every few years there is a drought and you can walk on the bottom of the river.
normally, it is waist deep in this place.

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It is still there.

BTW, which bridge do you mean?

Tomorrow we are going on our last trip this summer. Traditionally, to Busko Zdrój. Don`t worry, only a few days.

When I get back, I will start relating all 2012 trips. Pam, I still remember about Gdańsk photos for you.

Another exsellent board I see. This photographs are great. Eksuse me I have question or two. How long Polish people go on holiday typically? I calculated 2011 holiday from your entries in here`s discussion board and it sums up like higher than one month. Is it norm for Polish holidaymakers? And where do you typically stay on holidays? What is best option in Poland? I mean not too costly but quite confortable still? Hotels, private houses or flats, campings?

pardon me sir if I am too interested. My hope is you do not get offence. I wait on more relashons from you here.

Thanks. I suspected hardly anyone is interested in it. :):):):)


Of course. I love when my students ask me questions. It proves they try to think hard. :):):):)


As far as I know, the typical holiday is 25 days per year.


Yes, but as a teacher, I have 3 months holiday per year. :):):):)


Every trip is different. But we never stay at hotels. Come on, I prefer to have a longer holiday in basic conditions than to spend a week at a costly hotel and come back home. I do a lot of search on the net and when I find a nice offer, we go to guesthouses or wooden cabins. When offers are not favourable, we take our small caravan which contains my wife and 3 kids while I have to take a small tent for myself and we go to campsites. That`s all. Saving on accomodation allows us to spend over a month out of polluted Krakow in the summer.


You manners are really outstanding! :):):):):) Don`t change it and all girls/women in the forum will be yours! :):):):) Your handsome looks from your profile also play a role, of course............. :):):):):)

Abnormal Pawian......that's way too high!!!
Lovely photos though, makes me wish i had a spare couple years to tour Poland:(
I know you won't forget about the Gdańsk photos though:)

pawian: Hey, how do you call this hobby of having photos of yourself taken in incredibly high places?

it is called 'the mile high club' Pawian...:)

Yes!

Let`s start the friggin 2012 summer holiday series!!!! :):):):)

Actually, we went to the seaside, and Gdańsk was only a part of the trip.

We usually go to rural resorts between Hel Peninsula and £eba, the furthest to the north: Dębki, Karwia, Karwieńskie Błota, Białogóra, Jastrzębia Góra, £eba, Lubiatowo. They are at the open sea, far from harbours and estuaries. Wide, golden sandy beaches and clean water.



This year we went to Dębki. The distance from Krakow to Dębki is about 700 km. It took us 10.5 hours, as usual.

On the way to the seaside we saw:

Oriental houses near £ódź:
Nice towers of old castles
Ugly towers of modern churches
and plants
Monuments to miltary units
Good roads
but some in reconstruction
and unfortunately, most are only express ways, not highways, which makes your trip slow
unless you know how to overtake fast enough. :):):):):)
and then the road is all yours:
Do you know that many Polish plates are in English?:


Thanks. Once I saw this picture as decoration at a pizza bar and got immediately fascinated. I couldn`t believe such things were/are possible:

Lunch atop a Skyscraper" B
A work by Sergio Furnari on 6th Avenue, NY NY in 2007.
This work was based on the photograph "Lunch atop a Skyscraper" taken by Charles C Ebbets on 29th September 1936. The subject was a group of of construction workers taking lunch while sitting on an iron girder on the 69th floor of the, under construction, RCA Building.

PS1. I suffer from mild acrophobia. Put me on a high platform and I will do everything for you to take me down. :):):):):)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrophobia
Acrophobia (from the Greek: ἄ, ákron , meaning "peak, summit, edge" and , phóbos, "fear") is an extreme or irrational fear of heights. It belongs to a category of specific phobias, called space and motion discomfort that share both similar etiology and options for treatment.

PS2. However, when needed, I am able to overcome it.



Oh my God, are you really so cheap or only pretending?????

With the money spent on our month-plus holidays in various places in Poland we could go to a warm country in the south of Europe for 10 days (Greece, Croatia) or even 3 weeks (Bulgaria, Romania). But what for? Poland has everything what I/we need. The sea, mountains, forests, lakes, historical cities, picturesque landscape. Yes, it is true that the Polish sea is chilly in summer, but we don`t mind. :):):):):)


Of course, by cheap I mean:

3. (Informal) despicable, mean, low, base, vulgar, sordid, contemptible, scurvy, scungy (Austral. & N.Z.) That was a cheap trick to play on anyone.

thefreedictionary/cheap

The Polish seaside at last!

If you go to one of tourist resorts between £eba and Hel Peninsula, you will come across wonderful wide sandy beaches. Not even golden, but white. Empty, after you walk 500 meters from the main gate . The sea offers crystal clear water.

The only problem is the weather and the temperature of water- unpredictable despite the summer season. But we have never minded it - big deal!

What can you do at the seaside when the weather is dull?

post on pf? ohh sorry you do that all the time anyway. Rain, sun, what ever - even when youre on holiday...what a LOSER....

I can never get reception in the mountains - funny how he always seems to be able to! lol

Are you jealous? :):):)


Definitely. :):):):):)


Especially when you are staying in a little Kashubian village with 166 permanent population???? :):):):)

Our caravan


You can visit the village of Gniewino where Spanish team had their headquarters during EURO 2012:

The place also hosts a hydro power plant:

When your kids grow up, Pawian, they will love you for what you have shown them. Not so many of us visit PL as much as you do. And I think I may change my ways now :).

I have been wondering about it. We visit a lot of museums and galleries and most of them, being traditionally serious, are boring to my kids. I wonder if they might acquire a similar syndrome which I got as a child - today I don`t go to the theatre because our parents used to take us out to extremely deep and serious plays. I hated that and the solemn suit I had to wear. My psyche got warped and I am not ashamed to admit it - I hate theatre because all those dreadful recollections come to my mind when I have to go with school. .


Come on, it is not my merit, if not kids, I would rather stay at home, hanging around forums all day long. :):):) But I have to give them the same opportunities that I received as a kid - my mother was a teacher and we always went on long holidays. A month at the seaside was sth normal.


Poland has got a lot of fascinating places.

And if they aren`t after a close look, it isn`t a problem because you can pack up within minutes and leave for another.

The Nadole map looks quite similar to the Warsaw subway map ;)
Ulicówka, in the north of Poland? I thought this type of villages was more characteristic to central Poland. But apparently I was mistaken.

You see interesting stuff in those photos. Good. :):):):)


Counting?

Thanks Pawian, for putting me in holiday mode! Don't think it's going to be quite as sunny as in your photos, but i know i'll have a good time:):)

Sunny? :):):)

11 July
We drove through the city of Poland

to visit the Monument to 1970 Fallen Shipyard Workers

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_to_the_Fallen_Shipyard_Workers_of_1970

The Monument to the fallen Shipyard Workers 1970 (Polish: Pomnik Poległych Stoczniowców 1970) was unveiled on 16 December 1980 near the entrance to what was then the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk, Poland. It commemorates the 42 or more people killed during the Coastal cities events in December 1970. It was created in the aftermath of the Gdańsk Agreement and is the first monument to the victims of communist oppression to be erected in a communist country. It was designed by: Bogdan Pietruszka, Wiesław Szyślak, Wojciech Mokwiński and Jacek Krenz.

I had seen it in 1983 for the first time.

The gallery around the monument shows the history of Solidarity phenomenon.

Gdansk mayor, for historical reasons, brought back the old communist name for Gdańsk Shipyard - Lenin Shipyard. It caused huge controversy and protests.

1980 strike historical reminders.

with modern accents

Solidarity Center construction site


Everything I do, I do it for you. :):):)

I always work that way, leaving everything for the last minute. And I am always in time! :)

Gdansk Zoo. It is very big so plan half a day to see everything. We didn`t visit all places due to fatigue.

Rope Park is a must! My kids were enthralled.

Dino Park

Next, we went to see the EURO 2012 stadium. Pity, it was closed.

Hey, newly weds were allowed inside to take photos! It is unfair! Why on earth had I forgotten to take my VIP card?????

Driving through the city again:

Custom plates

In the early evening we went to the beach but the weather got dull. Water temperature - 16 degrees C.

Yet, there were a few kamikazes who went for a swim. We were tired so we didn`t. :):):):)

Cracovia colours! :):):):)
German family - tough guys. :):):)
Polish family - tough guys. :):):)
Watch out! Seals!
You can smoke here
Protect dunes!!!!

This is where i am staying:) Getting quite excited now!
I am worried i will run out of time........so much to see and do!
Probably won't have time for the Zoo, i have Museums, castles and monuments to see!

Quite probable. But everything is possible if you plan it wisely.


Which castle are you talking about? Malbork?

BTW, don`t forget churches, especially the biggest one which offers a great view.

After the war, a few rows of destroyed houses weren`t rebuilt to make more space in the cramped quarters of the Old Town.

Gdańsk is famous for amber jewellery:

Much more pics here: https://polishforums.com/food/poland-made-produce-recommend-62293/2/

More of the Old Town

Visible difference between communist reconstruction from post war time and modern times:

Today`s reconstruction

On sunny days we still tried to find time to check the beach.

Oops, time to go.

Harbour section

Museum - the first Polish ship built after WW2

As ardent Polish patriots, we didn`t forget about visiting such places as:

The pre-war Polish Post office, famous for its defence on 1 Sept 1939 and execution of Polish workers by Nazi Germans.

I read about it as a child and always wanted to see the site.

Famous wall
The shocking reenactment by my eldest son.
Life goes on thanks to heroic post office defenders.