BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture European Travel Beautiful travel to Poland

MRU Area is recomende for military-maniacks <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> If you have lucky, you can find old shell, helmet, grenade <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> uniform or rifle <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> In MRU Area you can find a lot of that maniacks looking for some German helmet or Russian shoes <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Oh, in whole Poland you can find ruins or individual bunkers in good condition <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> You now, fortress "Poland" <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Oh in Gda&#324;sk(Danzing) don't forget about Westerplatte!!! In Westerplatte WW2 was begin!(bunkers, ruins, holes and big monument)
I recomend www.tvp.pl/sensacjexxw/klub/galeria/home.asp
but you must be login and got account(absolute free)

Hey Guys - Lily here!

I recogonize many names from the Polish Culture web site....this is my first time here.

My husband and I just returned from Poland three weeks ago......we left on Sept. 1st and stayed through Oct. 20th.

THIS WAS ABSOLUTLY THE MOST WONDERFUL - DREAM OF A LIFE TIME VACATION YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE.....AND WHAT A FANTASTIC BUY. AVERAGED - 1US DOLLAR - 4 ZLOTY

My husband and I wanted to go slow....not be involved in a group......choose our choices....rented a car.....but, we decided, this being our first time, we would go 3 star hotels just to have a little more comfort. Now that we have gone, and know the lay of the land so to speak, we will go bed and breakfast or overnight home or farm lodging......no problem, and a big savings. Also, the pilgrim housing...wonderful and only $12 a night US.

I will point out up front - during the entire six weeks....we NEVER had even one bad meal, whether breakfast, lunch or dinner, although we rarely ate lunch...........the pastries were to die for!

The big cities of Warsaw - Krakow - Zakopan - Gydansk - we stayed four days and over......the others like Czestochowa, Bielska Biala, Olsztyn, Poznan, Torun, Zamosc, Wroclaw, and of course Malbork castle............we stayed two nights each.

My husband had heard all sorts of horror stories of driving...........no big thing........if your from Detroit or New York like we are.........Poland is a piece of cake. You go with the flow and stay out of way......if you want to compete with their drivers.....you die.
Mind you manners and you are fine, and what a wonderful way to see the back road country.....we saw as much as possible and are planning to go back this spring.

A few things we missed and are very sorry, but just didn't have the time since we were also looking for the birthplace of our grandparents, ..........was the pottery capital above and getting into the Mazurian Lake district.

Just prior to our going over on Sept. 1st, we had talked with many tourists who had returned, and they told us August was a cold month.... so we didn't feel the lake district was the way to go.
As it turned out...Sept was gorgeous...so beautiful, and when we got to Zakopane, I thought I died and went to heaven.

This first time around we learned so much....have so many new ideas.......and love the Polish people and the culture so much........but I will say a couple of things, and I mean no disrespect, but rather just to share some thoughts:
1. The spirituality of the Polish people makes me ashamed of being American..........their dedication to morals and values - family - God and Country is worth the entire trip. But, it is beginning to change, at least in Warsaw and I'm afraid, within a generatin or a generation and a half, there will be big changes.
2. We took the all day (NOT MINI FROM THE BUS) tour of Auschwitz and Birkenhaus....and paid the extra bucks for a top notch guide - and we walked the entire facility. My husband, who is a big tough guy.......cried like a baby. I threw up a coupld of times, especially when I saw all the collected hair from the head of the prisoners.
This place had a profound effect on the both of us and the many blessings and graces we have in this great country of America.

'HE WHO IGNORES HISTORY HAS TO LIVE THROUGH IT AGAIN."
3. The Polish people are hardened - after all, beside all the history of war and take over, then the Nazis and then the Communist (take your pick of who was worst)........it hasn't been that long since this oppression. But the people are survivors.....they take a city like Warsaw in 1945 which was leveled to the ground and completly rebuild the city.
4. The Polish people are for real......they get along with so little and yet they cherish the real things of life.

When you go there - you play by their rules, especially in the small villages.....if all the women are on the right side.....you go there as well if your a woman....etc......

I speak the language - my husband does not - but he got a long way with the people with a few words and staying humble and admitting that he didn't want to offend anyone. They understood and appreciated his honesty.

Visiting Poland will not be the same in a few years....many of you are talking about 2006....should still be OK...but don't be surprised if the money difference isn't what it is today......it's falling, and if you go to Italy, the Euro is worth .75 cents US.

If anyone out there has any information on absolutly the cheapest way to fly to Poland, I would appreciate hearing from you.

God Bless
lily
lzuchet@aol.com

Welcome home Lily!

I hope you had fun in Poland. It sounds like you had a blast. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Did you get to Italy too? I know Dick had mentioned in his previous post that you were planning a trip to Italy in October. Did you find my post about travel insurance. I just took over the site in July, so I posted a response as soon as I saw the question - I hope you saw it in time! Go to my Cheap Airfares topic if you missed it.

I really think you are right about how Europe is evolving. There are so many changes now. But change is, for better or worse, inevitable. This is why it is so important to experience as much as we can today! Just look at how Germany has changed in the last 60 years. It is astonishing. And eastern and central Europe has been dynamic for decades. Hopefully by the time Theo gets to visit in 2006 he will still have the same wonderful experience that you had!

Ogurek tells us that only the prices of sugar, meat and oil have increased so far (after EU membership) - so let's hope that stay the case.

Pieter also suggested the Mazury Lake district. So I think it is clear that this area should be on most people's to see list!

I agree that the camp tours can be profound. I would also suggest a side trip into Germany to visit Dachau (near Munich) next time you are in the area.

Krakow is just gorgeous isn't it!

Regarding faith in Poland. I hate to bring this up... but how do you think the Polish faithful will react when they lose the Pope. I wonder which country will take it harder - Italy or Poland. My bet is Poland.

Language issues. I think English or German will get you by in Poland just fine. Obviously a little bit of effort to learn some basics will go a long way... as in all countries. As you suggest, the Poles are such a gracious people - and most will appreciate any genuine effort you make to communicate (however poor it may actually be!).

I'm going to pop over to my Cheap Airfares topic now to post some more ideas for cheap tickets in reponse to your question. Welcome home again and thanks for sharing all your thoughts about the trip!

What should I take Dollers or Euros which one is better.

Marek -

Currency in Poland is still Zloty. Check this thread in the Polish Culture forum for some really helpful advice about travel to Poland.