admin, Author at Poland Unraveled

In Food

The top 10 foods you have to eat in Poland

3 Mins Read

#1 Bigos (hunter’s stew)

With no doubt Bigos is the king of Polish cuisine. This unique combination of cabbage, different meats, sausages, mushrooms and spices cooked for hours (and sometimes even days) is very delicious and filling. You really need to taste it!

Bigos - Polish Hunter's Stew — Bigos – Polish Hunter’s Stew

#2 Pierogi (dumplings)

No comment required, you know the deal (and if not, you probably wasted your life as you have never tested this amazing dish).

Pierogi is one of the most traditional Polish dishes

#3 Ogórki kwaszone (pickled cucumbers)

Prepare yourself for the taste revolution as those little odd looking cucumbers are going to blow your mind. The taste is quite strong and particular, but if you like pickled vegs in general, you are going to love those pickled cucumbers. Snack them, cook them or mix with other vegs as they always bring another level of excitement to any dish. And if you are feeling adventurous look for the cucumber soup (zupa ogórkowa) which is made of the pickled cucumbers themselves.

#4 Żurek (Sour Rye Soup)

Outstanding combination of flavours, this traditional soup is usually served with egg and white sausage. Żurek very often is served during Easter but can be eaten on any normal day. Lots of believe also believe that it can cure the hangover.

Sour rye soup (source: en.wikipedia.org) — Sour rye soup

#5 Twaróg ze szczypiorkiem (Cottage cheese with spring onion)

Fresh, creamy with a secret ingredient of spring onion, this Polish speciality will change the way you see the white cheese forever. It is great for breakfast, especially when served with fresh Polish bread.

Cottage cheese with spring onion (source: foodmag.pl)

#6 Śledzie w śmietanie (Herrings in cream)

Usually Śledzie w śmietanie are served during Christmas Eve in almost every Polish house. It may seem like a very bizarre combination (perhaps only not to Nordic countries that have a similar dish in their menus) but it works! If you like fish and strong flavours go for it!

Herrings in cream (source: kuchniaagaty.pl)

#7 Polish bread

Is there anything better than freshly-baked, warm Polish bread? Probably not. Well, maybe dumplings, but they’ve already been included in the list.

Polish bread comes in many shapes and forms

#8 Smalec (Lard)

This can be a bit extreme to some people but one of the most traditional Polish things to eat is bread with some lard on it. Smalec is made of pig fat with crispy pieces of pork skin and seasoning. In traditional Polish restaurants Smalec is very often served as a starter or a free snack before the main food arrives.

Lard (source: gotujemy.smaczne-blogowanie.pl)

#9 Oscypek (Sheep Cheese)

Oscypek is a traditional smoked cheese made of sheep milk. It’s made in Polish mountains but nowadays it can be bought in most of big supermarkets just about anywhere in Poland. Try it grilled with some blackcurrant jam.

Sheep cheese (source: wikipedia.org) — Oscypek – sheep cheese

#10 Kiełbasa (Sausage)

Traditional Polish kiełbasa is made of pork, beef or veal meet and there are so many types of sausages in Poland that you may not manage to try all of them even if you really try.

Polish sausage is famous in the world and known as 'kielbasa' — Polish sausage is famous in the world and known as ‘kielbasa’

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In Food

Traditional Polish food

4 Mins Read

Food takes a pretty special place in people’s lives. And that applies to everyone, not just Poles. In this section, we will describe a few well-known dishes to give you an idea of what you can (and should) try while visiting or living in Poland.

PIEROGI

We will start our little journey with one of the most famous polish dishes – pierogi. It seems like they are better known around the world than the location of Poland itself (they are stuffed dumplings if you didn\’t already know!). Pierogi are served in a variety of flavours thanks to different kinds of filling inside the dough. The most common ones are the ones with cabbage & wild mushroom, meat and potato & white cheese filling. As well as in some regions of Poland you can try pierogi with fruits like forest fruits, strawberries or cherries served with cream and sugar. It is no exaggeration to say that when it comes to pierogi the limits are where your imagination finishes. In some modern restaurants, pierogi are taken to the next level and filled with truffles or caviar. It is just up to you which ones you are going to try.

POLISH SOUPS

In Poland, traditionally, the soup was served as a first dish before the main. Polish soups are very filling and substantial so you can easily have them on their own and feel full most of the day. We suggest you definitely try żurek – a popular sour soup with pieces of sausage, potatoes and eggs served in a bread bowl that you can eat as well. It doesn’t get more environmentally friendly than that!

Another interesting soup is barsh, soup made from beetroots. There are a few different types of barsh, but the most popular are two types: beetroot soup as a bullion and barsh with plenty of vegetables, potatoes and beans. Both are great and very healthy. If you want to, you can try to cook one at home – here you can find a recipe for real polish beetroot soup.

POLISH MAIN DISHES

One of the most surprising dishes for foreigners is bigos (hunter\’s stew). It is made from cabbage, sauerkraut and meat, and anything else that you can find in the fridge like the leftovers after roast dinner, sausages and ham. Depending on the region different vegetables are added, sometimes wine. It should be cooked for hours and it tastes even better the next day. Some really old recipes suggest to cook it for 7 days before eating. The idea of bigos may sound pretty off-putting to you but any polish person will tell you that it is extremely delicious and we think it is worthy of listening to them (in this case!).

Another interesting dish is called gołąbki. Literally, the name means pigeons but don’t worry, it doesn’t have any pigeon in it! Gołąbki (pronounced gowambkee) are made with pork or beef mince and rice wrapped in cabbage leaves. They are served with potatoes and a tomato sauce. There are a few vegetarian variations of this dish that instead of meat use bulgur and wild mushroom or potatoes and white cheese (yes, that is a polish favourite, something like baked beans for Brits).

The most typical Sunday dinner consists of a pork chop (called schabowy), potatoes and some salad. It is great because making pork chops requires hitting the meat and that allows polish people to take out all the anger they have and as well do some exercise. And after all that it tastes great.

There are many ways of exploring other countries, but one of the most pleasant ways is to eat the traditional food. You can try to make dishes we described at home with help of our recipes section or go out and enjoy what restaurants have to offer. One thing we can tell you for sure, Polish cuisine is pretty much like pierogi – at first, it doesn’t seem very special but when you try it you can’t get enough.

In Studying

Top Polish universities – 2020 ranking

2 Mins Read

Thousands of foreign students choose to study in Poland every year and for many of them, it’s not a short Erasmus adventure but a long-term decision to study and complete the Bachelor and or Master degree abroad. Thanks to relatively low university fees, low cost of living and the young and vibrant student life that Poland has to offer, the country has become one of the most popular destinations in Europe. Most of the universities offer courses in English, and sometimes other languages, and provide support and help for foreign students to adapt to the new and unknown environment.

The best Polish universities in 2018

Studying in Poland can be a great experience and a good investment in the future, as long as you choose the right university. Here is the ranking of the top universities in Poland in 2018.

1. University of Warsaw (Uniwersytet Warszawski)
2. Jagiellonian University (Uniwersytet Jagielloński)
3. AGH University of Science and Technology (Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza)
4. Adam Mickiewicz University (Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza)
5. Warsaw University of Technology (Politechnika Warszawska)
6. University of Silesia in Katowice (Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach)
7. Nicolaus Copernicus University (Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu)
8. Cracow University of Technology (Politechnika Krakowska im. Tadeusza Kosciuszki)
9. University of Lodz (Uniwersytet Łódzki)
10. Silesian University of Technology (Politechnika Śląska w Gliwicach)
11. University of Gdansk (Uniwersytet Gdański)
12. University of Warmia and Mazury (Uniwersytet Warmińsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie)
13. Warsaw University of Life Sciences (Szkoła Główna Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego w Warszawie)
14. Lublin University of Technology (Politechnika Lubelska)
15. The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II)

Once you make a decision where to study, you may want to check what the recruitment procedure is for foreign students and how much it would cost. Don’t forget that students in Poland get lots of discounts and of course before you apply you should read our guide to studying in Poland so you know what to expect of studying in Poland!

In Business & Startups

EU aid spent on Fake Entrepreneurs

4 Mins Read

This Article is not a follow-up to my previous articles, it’s an independent post.

The other day, while on the road, I spotted an old man pointing / asking me to stop.
I pulled over, and invited him in. He was going to a place not far from my destination, so we had the time to chit chat a bit (even though my polish is pretty bad).

So this guy, starts telling me that in the morning, he had to wait for 40 min in the rain for a car to bring him here, he came because someone offered him a task-job to paint a house. This guy started enumerating his relatives working in Germany, Norway, Austria, and telling me he’s too old to go work in a foreign country.

One discussion led to another, and we started talking about politics, him telling me that the politicians are useless, and I had to agree with him … as I always said that “if you replace politicians with businessmen and entrepreneurs any country in the world would prosper”.
So I naively told him, check the EU funds they might have some money allocated to help seniors with opening a business. I used the term naively because, maybe I knew he had no chance, he deserved a chance to get a EU aid, but he had no chance!

Why wouldn’t he have any chance?

Because the part of the budget allocated for continual development and for business development is not spent where it should be.
Lately, Poland have been getting around 15 billion Euro per year, in the form of European aid, of course a big part goes to infrastructure, but a part of it goes to develop the economy and help businesses.

The aid system is so stupid that it invites people to abuse it:

Business wise: They offer a certain amount of money for certain business projects, but most of those who apply are somehow connected to politicians or to the employees working with the EU funds (brother, sister, uncle, father, mother …). The people getting the grants are not entrepreneurs, and some cash will not by miracle transform them to entrepreneurs (Entrepreneurs are born or made debate). These people through their connections know exactly what should be presented to get the EU funds. These people are here for the money, and once the EU money dries, they will close their businesses as if nothing have happened. They may have gained a couple thousand euros from this, even if they failed the business (and they almost always do), but the country has lost a lot more, because when the grant money goes to one of these fake entrepreneurs, it means a real one did not get it. If it was given to a real entrepreneur instead, it would help the business grow (which leads to hiring and creating opportunities) and creating riches to the country .

People development wise: the programs try to teach people some stuff in hope they will learn a thing or two and help them create a better living, (without entering in the corruption details related to this section), private companies are getting this money to execute these programs. Let me point out that even if this was executed with the utmost honest intentions, it does not work!

You cannot put an ad in the newspaper or on facebook, offering English courses or any type of courses, and then expect this to have any result whatsoever! People will come but not the right people. Money is spent but not the right way! This money should be spent through standard educational and business public institutions not given to private companies just to get it done.

At the end of the day, this money should be spent, so why not spend it in a smart way, a way that would actually increase the standard of living of the entire country, and not only skyrocket the standard of living of some corrupt individuals.

In Business & Startups

Polish startups need lots of luck

3 Mins Read

As a result of running Startupz (a networking group for startups & founders), I was exposed to the fears and worries of startup founders worldwide, and more precisely Polish ones.

In my previous article I said:
“ In addition to all the difficulties a standard startup faces, the Polish start-ups have one more heavy stone to carry, it is called ZUS”

To start, you should know that startups face a lot of difficulties, it is a tough mission that requires hard work, and at the end it is like a lottery ticket, more chances to fail than to succeed.

In Silicon Valley, the optimal environment for start-ups, it is believed that 9 out of 10 start-up’s fail.

In Poland, you have very qualified programmers and developers, thus expanding a tech company to Poland is a very good idea because you will be able to tap into the relatively cheap and qualified talent, but if you are a young Polish entrepreneur launching your business, even if you are the only person involved, you will have to pay something called ZUS (Insurance+ Social security …). Luckily when it’s your first business you’ll pay half the ZUS sum for 2 years (then after that, the normal rate) , even though it seems as a good deal (for an outsider), in reality it’s a bit tricky for the young Polish entrepreneur, and here’s why:

1- The best way to learn how to do business, is to do business. This means you should be ready to fail once, twice or even more, Paypal cofounder launched 4 failed companies before hitting the jackpot with Paypal (which was his 5th company).
The ZUS system, is giving you 1 chance only, the next company you establish, gloves off!

2- Many tech startups need time before launching a product, and more time before generating any revenue, and need even more time before reaching profitability. In Poland, ZUS is forcing these tech startups to work unofficially till the product is ready, to avoid having to pay a large sum monthly (usually several founders involved in a startup), especially that this money is most needed to advertise the product once ready, in doing so, they are missing on much international opportunities that are usually open for official startups (raising funds).

3- Tech founders are usually young, and the median salary in Poland is around 2500 PLN, thus the idea of having to pay 750 PLN instead of making 2500 PLN, leads to terminating many startups even before they had the chance to be prove themselves.

If we take the 9/10 success rate then add the stressful conditions created by ZUS, Polish startups will need lots of luck to succeed, especially if we take in consideration the tech investments in Poland or in Europe, but this you’ll read in my next article!

You can find me on Twitter & Google + & follow my blog for silly stuff!

In Business & Startups

Launching a start-up in Poland

3 Mins Read

Launching a start-up or business in Poland is simple but not easy!

What !!! … simple but not easy, isn’t this contradicting?!

What is this, a fortune cookie advise?

To answer this question, I’ll ask you to have a little bit of patience, and read the story below …

It all started 7 or 8 years ago, at that time I was getting my master’s degree in Genomics – in Paris. I was spending way too much time online, and having had previous experience in creating websites, I decided to launch a dating/ games/ entertainment website. Less than 6 months later the website was a success, and thus I started thinking of transforming it into a real business. In the next 3 months, I tried to get all the required paperwork, to be able to open a business. The needed documents and details were so absurd and complex business wise, that the procedure itself is enough to put to rest any unsure decision to jump into the entrepreneurial world!

To keep the story short, after providing insane details, and wasting a lot of time, my application got rejected. It wasn’t about the capital, for I had enough to start the business I wanted. The reason was more absurd than the details required. It was something in the spirit of “foreign students can’t launch startups”. If this rule was to be applied in Silicon valley, half the companies & startups wouldn’t have existed.

Fast forward, after moving to Poland (for personal reasons), I said to myself “now that I’m basically stuck here, why not try to launch my startup here!” So I went to the gmina office, I was given a document to fill, I took it home the next day brought it filled, and was informed that now I had a company, shocked, I asked “shouldn’t they make a decision on whether I can open this company or not”, the answer was “No”, they don’t have the right, unless they have a specific reason to reject it, by default you are authorised to have any business you want! The simplicity of the Polish process compared to the complexity of the French one was astonishing!

Now that we established simplicity, what is the “not easy” part?

Few months ago, i founded a startup networking group: Startupz.org , it is basically a virtual space where startup founders can connect, talk and share expertise face to face through online conferences, it is great for founders to help them establish local and international connections, but it’s also a way to share info and … complain!

Polish startups wise, In addition to all the difficulties a standard startup face, the polish start-ups have one more heavy stone to carry, it is called ZUS, and if I’m not mistaken it is the most hated establishment in Poland!

ZUS limits the age of most startups to 2 years, and prevents the rise of serial entrepreneurs …
First things first, for those who don’t know what ZUS is, it is a combination of social security + retirement plan, it costs you around 100 EUR/month the first 2 years on your first company and then double the amount.

So how does ZUS cripple Start-ups? You’ll read it in my next article!

You can find me on Twitter & Google + & follow my blog for silly stuff!

In City guides

Things to do and see in Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot (Trojmiasto – Tricity)

11 Mins Read

Trojmiasto (Tricity) is actually an urban area consisting of three big cities in Pomerania (Pomorze): Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot. They are located next to each other, in a row, on the coast of the Baltic Sea. All the three cities together have a population of over 1 million people.

Before 2007, the name ‘Trojmiasto’ wasn’t official, however after 28 march 2007, when the ‘Karta Trójmiasta (in English – Tricity Charter) was signed as a declaration of the cooperation between all three cities. Except, the great coastline there are many things to see in Trojmiasto, making it one of the ‘must-see’ places in Poland. If you don’t believe us – just go there and see it for yourself!

Active exploring in Gdansk, Gdynia & Sopot

Address: Sopot, ul. Bohaterów Monte Cassino 3
Opening hours: bars and pubs are open till late night
Length of visiting: depending on you
Price: depending how much you want spend

Have fun in Monciak

If there is a place when fun lasts 24h it must be Sopot. Monciak – a street filled with bars, clubs and restaurants, is the place to go for any outgoing person. It’s busy, vibrant and crowded so don’t go there if you are looking for peace and quiet. The name ‘Monciak’ is short for Bohaterów Monte Cassino (a little bit too long, isn’t it?).

Address: Gdańsk, ul. Spacerowa
Length of visiting: about 2 hours

Climb Pachołek Hill in Gdansk

Gdansk has a hill (or even called by many a mountain) named Pacholek, where it’s possible to see Tricity, Baltic Sea and even Hel peninsula on the horizon. Pacholek Hill has a special steel platform to let people see above the tops of trees (the whole area is rather forested). Obviously, enjoying the view is free but be ready for a little bit of trekking in a forest so remember to wear good shoes! Your efforts will be rewarded generously.

Address: Gdańsk, ul. Pokoleń Lechii Gdansk 1
Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 10 – 16 for tours with guide(tour starts every full hour)
Length of visiting: 3 hours
Price: 15 PLN, reduced: 10 PLN for tours with guide; Museum: normal: 5 PLN, reduced: 3 PLN

Visit the PGE Arena – Official Euro 2012 stadium

This is probably the best-known place in Gdansk due to Euro 2012 matches. The PGE Arena was one of the stadia for the European Championship matches played in June in Poland and Ukraine. Now, it’s the home stadium for Lechia Gdansk and many music events. If it’s not a matchday you can take part in a guided tour to see every hidden corner of the stadium or get a lesson about Lechia Gdansk’s history in a new museum.

Address: Gdańsk, ul. Plac Karwienska 3
Length of visiting: a few hours
Opening hours: summer: 9-19; April and October: 9-17; Winter: 9-15
Price: 18 PLN; reduced: 9 PLN

Visit Gdansk’s ZOO

One of the biggest ZOOs in Poland gives you a chance to meet over one thousand animals. The ZOO in Gdansk gathers 139 different species. The biggest stars in the ZOO are pumas and elephants. A trip to the ZOO is a great idea for Saturday or Sunday as it’s situated right next to Tricity Landscape Park, so why not spend a free day in the wild?

Address: Gdańsk, ul. Plac Dwóch Miast 1
Opening hours: for guide tours: Mondays(15pm) and Thursday(11am);
Length of visiting: guided tours: 50 min
Price: guided tours: normal: 10 PLN, reduced 6 PLN

Take a tour of the Ergo Arena

Ergo Arena, located between Gdansk and Sopot, is the perfect space for any pop or rock concert. It’s definitely made life easier for Tricity citizens because no one has to travel to Warsaw or Katowice to see the biggest stars of world pop culture. Every Monday and Thursday it’s open for tourists wanting to see the Arena backstage.

Sopot Aquapark - fot. www.aquaparksopot.pl — Sopot Aquapark – fot. www.aquaparksopot.pl

Address: Sopot, ul. Zamkowa Góra 3-5
Opening hours: 8 – 22
Price: 1 hour: normal: 23 PLN, reduced:18 PLN + 25gr every next minute; 3 hours: normal: 45 PLN, reduced: 39 PLN + 25 gr every next minute

Splish and splash in the aquapark in Sopot

Weather in Poland is rather unpredictable. When it’s raining cats and dogs however, you can still play in the water. Maybe the sea is not an option, but thankfully, Aquapark in Sopot is weatherproof. Waterslides, saunas and “wild rivers” are waiting for bathers from the early morning till evening.

Culture hotspots in Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot

Adress: Gdańsk, ul Długie Pobrzeże
Opening hours: for Museum: summer: 10-18, autumn: 10-16, winter: 10-15
Length of visiting: 3 hours
Price: for Museum: normal: 8 PLN, reduced: 5 PLN

Take a walk along Długie Pobrzeże

Gdansk is not only surrounded by the Baltic Sea, but also the river Motlawa, which flows right through the city. Thanks to this, Gdansk has one of the best riverfronts in Poland. Along with the river fringes Dlugie Pobrzeze – a long street with cafes and restaurants. Come along for a drink and some nice food and when you get bored with it (if it’s possible!) you can visit the Museum of the Sea which is next door.

Type: historical
Address: Gdańsk, ul Mjr. Henryka Sucharskiego
Opening hours: 9- 18
Length of visiting: 1 hour
Price: 3 PLN, reduced: 2 PLN

Discover history in Westerplatte

Westerplatte is the place where World War II began and as well as a symbol of bravery and heroism of Polish soldiers fighting against the much bigger German army in September 1939. In 1966 the Monument of Coast Defenders was erected to honor those who had died for Poland and its freedom. This place is definitely a must-see to better understand Polish history as it’s something Poles are proud of.

Type: tourist attraction
Address: Gdańsk, ul. Podkramarska 5
Opening hours: for guided tours: summer: 9-18.30, spring: 9-17.30, autumn: 9-17:00
Length of visiting: guided tours: 1 hour

St. Mary’s Basilica in Gdansk

The most impressive building of Gdańsk, it’s often called ‘ the krone of city of Gdańsk’ because it dominates strongly the city’s panorama. The construction of the basilica started in 1343 and lasted for…159 years! Now, over 600 years later it’s one of the most important buildings, truly a landmark for Gdansk. It’s recommended to take guided tours to avoid overlooking anything. Don’t forget to also check out the tower as views from up there are simply splendid.

Type: church
Address: Gdańsk, ul. Profesorska 6a
Length of visiting: 1 hour

St. Catherine’s Church in Gdańsk

The church is best known for a big fire in 2006 when nearly all the tower was destroyed. People all over Poland held their breath and watched an unbalanced fight with flames. Damages were very severe but after a few years, in 2008, the roof and tower were rebuilt and restored. St. Catherine’s church is situated in a small marketplace, in the Old City, so it’s always good to see it when you have some spare time.

Museums & monuments

Type: monumental/attraction
Address: Gdańsk, Długi Targ
Length of visiting: unrestricted

Neptune’s Fountain

The Fountain of Neptune is one of the oldest buildings in the Tricity. That half-naked guy on the top is the Roman god of seas. It was built between 1606 and 1634. Right now it’s a very popular point for trips in Gdansk and photo opportunity for all school trips. Neptune is part of the Old City, with charming tenements, cobblestones, and narrow alleys. This fountain fits ideally to the historical atmosphere of the city so don’t hesitate to soak in the climate of the old part of Gdansk.

Address: Gdynia, al. Jana Pawła II
Opening hours: summer: 9- 20, April May, September: 9-19, winter: 10-17
Price: normal: 24 PLN, reduced:16 PLN

See the fish in Gdynia’s Aquarium

Still not tired of water? That’s good because another water attraction awaits. But this time it’s not about people in the water, but about animals: fishes and reptiles. Oceanarium consists of 4 exhibitions-environments: Baltic Sea, coral reef, Amazonia and ocean depths. Overall, there are about 1,500 different sea micro-organisms and 250 species on 3 storeys, so the Aquarium will keep you busy for a long time.

Type: tourist attraction
Address: Gdańsk, ul. Przemysłowa 6a
Opening hours: 10 – 18 in the summer
Length of visiting: 1 hour
Price: 8 PLN, reduced: 5 PLN

Visit the Lighthouse in Gdańsk

There’s always something mysterious and eerie about lighthouses, especially unoccupied ones. This one on Przemyslowa street is out of service and has been for a long time. It’s opened for visitors curious about the lighthouse’s history. It was built in 1893 and was the first lighthouse to use electrical lights on the Baltic Sea. An interesting fact is that it was built as a twin of the lighthouse in Cleveland, USA(which doesn’t exist anymore).

Type: tourist attraction
Address: Sopot, ul. Haffnera 6
Opening hours: 8 – 23
Length of visiting: 30 mins
Price: free

Take a picture of Crooked House

One of the buildings in Sopot is crooked, totally asymmetrical and it was made on purpose! Since the moment the project began it was meant to be one of the main landmarks of the city. It’s the kind of the building that everyone knows where it is. Nowadays this is one of these places where you have to take a picture of yourself for your family photo album (or Facebook photo album). There’s not much to see inside through, just offices and shops.

Chilling out in Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot

Address: coast
Opening hours: 24/7
Length of visiting: as long as you are having fun
Price: free

Life is a beach especially in Trójmiasto

Not only you can choose from beaches in Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia but as well surrounding area. Once you find your perfect spot you can just chill out and sunbathe or play some beach games and even build a sand castle. Don’t forget to bring food and drinks with you!

Address: Gdańsk, opata Jacka Rybińskiego
Opening hours: summer: 5 – 23; winter: 5 – 20
Length of visiting: unrestricted

Chill out at Oliwski Park Gdańsk

If you are looking for some nature time and you are fed up with the city you should definitely go to Oliwski Park in Gdańsk. One of the attractions in the park is the Grotto of Whispering. If you stand there and whisper something a person standing on the opposite side of the alley will hear you loud and clearly. So don’t whisper anything offensive!

Address: Gdynia, between ul. Świętojańska and ul. Nabrzeże Młodych Polaków
Opening hours: 24/7

Take a break at Kosciuszki Square in Gdynia

Kościuszki Square is a pretty nice piece of public space! It’s perfect for a short break between some more hardcore sightseeing. It’s located very close to the Oceanarium and embankment. From this green area, you can observe ships maneuvering on Gdansk Bay or wet your feet in the fountain which was designed in prewar times. It is said that Kościuszki square is the best showcase for Gdynia so why not check this out by yourself?

Address: Sopot, Plac Zdrojowy
Price: during summer: normal: 7 PLN, reduced:3,5 PLN
Length of visiting: about 2 hours

Stroll along the Pier in Sopot

The longest pier in Poland (511 meters long) is one of the biggest attractions in Sopot. Every year thousands of people come to walk it and breathe fresh sea air. It was built in 1928 and it’s made of wood –it does look rather charming. The pier also has a new feature –a yacht marina built a few years ago. It’s much easier now to park your yacht (Ok, you maybe don’t have your own yacht yet, but the marina looks cool anyway). One bad thing about it is the entrance – you have to pay for it. Thankfully, only in the summer time though. During winter and spring, it’s free and still worth visiting.

Trójmiasto Landscape Park — Trojmiasto Landscape Park

Address: Kościerska, Gdańsk – Oliwa
Length of visiting: unrestricted
Price: free

Enjoy the nature in Trojmiasto Landscape Park

The whole Trójmiasto is surrounded by forests on hills, slopes and some little lakes between. Most of it is part of the huge Landscape Park. This characteristic landform is an effect of an ice age and glacier movement, nowadays it’s great place for being active. But if you prefer relaxing in nature, don’t worry, it’s quite easy to spot birds or other forest animals. Since the park area is vast and includes many trails, being all alone and not disturbed by anyone is very probable.

In Blogs

A sentimental journey through Poland

8 Mins Read

Blog post by Erik Witsoe – a photographer living in Poznan

It seems that in the very recent weeks, the topic of conversation tends to be one of nostalgia. Exactly that, actually. The term nostalgia describes a sentimentality for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. And that seems to be the accurate description for a lot of the thoughts that I hear spoken by those surrounding me. Perhaps it is the Holiday season that spurs most of it on….or perhaps I have developed a better listening ear for it. Either way it has been nothing but interesting.

I run a small coffee shop in the Pasaz Apollo here in Poznan. Probably the greatest “job” that I could ever ask for. I get to spend my day chatting with all kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds and from all over the world (literally). When I am not busy chatting and making coffee I also wander through the city streets photographing the beauty of Poznan and Poland. And in so doing I have the opportunity to try to connect with how I see the city that I now call home, how it makes me feel, the deep sense of history that presents itself to me and ultimately present the image, hopefully with some of those feelings conveying to you, the viewer.

The thoughts of nostalgia have been creeping into the conversations and emails that I receive for some time now and although I too have a proclivity towards being nostalgic, I wasn’t really fully understanding how it works here nor of the importance of sentimentality or nostalgia as a part of the culture. Some of the emails describe my photographic work as “you have managed to capture how I see and think of Poznan” or “your images bring me back to my childhood, thank you” or from afar “I miss my Poznan and thank you for capturing it in a way that matches my memory of it”…and more.

The conversations that occur in Bigfoot Coffee Shop (my little store) on a regular basis also carry the tone of nostalgia or are sometimes just heavily laced with it. Sometimes it comes out as a deep longing for the familiar past, a past that was more familiar and easier than the fast pace of today’s world. Sometimes it is a story, romanticizing a particular place, time, feeling or occurrence in ones past. Either way, or however it emerges it is always with sincerity and conviction. I am told more about the History of Poland and Europe on a daily basis than one could possibly imagine (don’t worry, I love it). Or sometimes it emerges as the un-acceptance of a particular newness that has emerged conflicting with how the new doesn’t quite measure up to the past. Case in point: the new MM Gallery is a hot topic among many. There seems to be a general thought that it doesn’t quite look right on St. Marcin street, that it doesn’t match the “vibe” or “feel” or “memory” of the street and so it becomes monstrous in how it appears and ultimately has soiled and tainted the feel of the area. I listen to it all. And absorb what I can.

As I stated before, I have a natural draw to nostalgia. I frequently will reread books that I have enjoyed, watch movies that I have seen and daydream about places, people and times in my past. And, for some reason I do it even more here…..I often find myself with thoughts of almost déjà vu like occurrence happening, like I have been here before, or a street with certain light will spur a memory long forgotten from a much earlier time and a comfort begins to blanket me. I allow these thoughts, welcome them in fact, as I am walking these streets photographing what presents itself to me. I do not “set up” my shots, but more try to let the feelings guide me when I am in a particular area. I often chase light and allow it to lead me to the beauty it exposes and reveals. Fleeting thoughts guided by inner voices.

There are many differences between our two cultures and also many similarities. For now, the main thought that has crossed my mind is of nostalgia and how it plays such an important role here in Poland. Where someone may be thought of as “negative” here and is bemoaning today while romanticizing the past because the past offers comfort for being already known, we Americans tend to do the same but look to the future for comfort. We tend to glamorize the future and try to mould it to fit our needs. The past here is very much alive in the present, it is orated to others by storytelling to the young, family histories, personal histories are often spoken of with a little glimmer in the eye and as they are being told a portion of life is again relived. In the states, we do very similar things, but when describing the past it also becomes about the future….and the future is what drives us. There are so many sayings that reflect this, things that I have heard my entire life and at some point no longer hear because they have been engrained into my being. Sayings like “Keep your eye on the horizon” “tell me your 3, 5 and 10 year plans” “what do you see yourself doing in the future” “don’t look back” “move on and pick up” etc, etc, etc.

In my work as a photographer and artist, I find myself drawn to these ideas of nostalgia and how I can incorporate them into my work. What began as an unintentional progression has become the idea behind a lot of my work lately. I often incorporate the lone figure walking, going about their business and somehow it becomes a reflection of how I see myself here wandering these streets. I am far from alone, but often when I am going to work I am alone, going about my business and sorting the thoughts that begin the day. Not only do I have an affinity for nostalgia, I actually deeply appreciate it and love how it displays itself here. Recently I have begun to think that I actually fit into life here more simply by the fact that I DO have an appreciation for nostalgia and sentimentality, something that I never quite had time to really explore in the States.

It is now Christmas time and this is my favorite time of the year here in Poland. I have always loved this holiday in the States, but in recent years have not enjoyed it as much as I had in the past. It has become far too busy, too much consumerism and not enough tradition. Now that I am in Poland, I again find myself truly loving and enjoying the essence of the Holidays and look forward to the time of gathering because it reminds me of when I grew up and brings back memories of childhood magic and the love everyone had time for. And for me, the past has become the present and I still look forward to the future while enjoying each and every moment that passes.

I really love being here in Poznan and I am constantly reminded by how remarkable, challenging, beautiful, invigorating and inspiring it truly is. In the last two years I have learned more about myself than in the last 10 in the States. Thank you all for the amazing welcome.

About the author

Name: Erik Witsoe
Place of stay: Poznań
Nationality: American
Reason for being in Poland: Fiancée
Main focus of the blog: My life in Poland
The most liked thing in Poland: Life
Websites: Erik Witsoe photography
About: Born and raised in Seattle, Washington and currently living in Poznan, Poland with my fiancée. My background is in Fine Arts, specializing in Graphite work. Several years ago I picked up the camera with the intent of learning how to use the DSLR….I haven’t looked back. Photography, for me, has been a gift since day one. It has allowed me to express how I see the world through my own perspective while utilizing everything that I have been taught as an artist. Everyday I find new sources for inspiration all around me while wandering the streets of Poznan or throughout this beautiful country….. my visual sense has never felt so alive! When I am not out capturing all of the beauty that I see everyday, I also run a small coffee shop in the Pasaz Apollo here in Poznan (Bigfoot Coffee Shop). and get the opportunity to meet incredible people who constantly impress and inspire me everyday….

In Museums & Exhibitions

Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw

2 Mins Read

The Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw is a new venue on the map of cultural attractions in Poland’s capital. It is located in the very centre of Warsaw (a short walking distance from the Central Railway Station), in a modernist pavilion from the 60’s, a former furniture store “Emilia” – you can feel the history flowing through your body. The Museum offers an opportunity to explore Polish and foreign, modern and contemporary art in a scale unusual for East-European institutions. Unconventional, interesting and full of surprises – like modern artistic visions, this place is full of surprises and is a must-see exhibition.

A must see

The current exhibition “In the Heart of the Country” shows over 150 exhibits from the Museum’s collection, covering themes such as the globalization of art history. There are also bits about links between cities and contemporary art and much more. Do you feel the thrill? It’s surely one of the most unique places in the whole city, where the “stiff-museum” rules are not followed and visitors can enjoy fresh design and the work of famous artists from our times. Unlike the most known interpretation of the word “museum”, this place is more than a room full of sculptures, paintings etc. Feel free to go there and see everything with your own eyes!

More than just a museum

The Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw has also a wide evening program filled with lectures, performances and film screenings. Furthermore, they offer free guided tours for organised groups – also in English, French, German and Russian. For guided, tours you need to register at zapisy@artmuseum.pl

After the visit, you can relax over a delicious cup of coffee at the Museum’s café and bakery eMeSeN and search for treasures on the shelves of the bookstore BOOKOFF. What else do you need to feel the artistic, bohemian spirit?

Practical information

Website
Facebook

Address: Emilii Plater 51
00-124 Warsaw, Poland

Visit museum for free!

Warsaw’s Museum of Modern Art organizes free entries for all English-speaking visitors every Thursday at 6pm and Saturday at 2pm!

In Tips on learning Polish

Things to know before you start learning Polish

2 Mins Read

Learning Polish is easy as ABC

For sure you have heard that Polish is pretty hard to learn and we can assure you that It’s not just an urban legend. That said, we are here to help you and therefore going to challenge this statement. In this article we will show you the easy aspects of learning Polish that will encourage you to take that step to learn the language yourself!

Alphabet

First good news – the Polish alphabet is very similar to most of the European alphabets, with the exception of some of the Polish letters like ó, ż, ź, ą and ę. However, the really good news is that the Polish alphabet is phonetic. It means that once you learn how to pronounce each letter, you will be able to read almost any unknown Polish word correctly.

Articles

In Polish there are no articles. It means that you don’t have to learn awkward rules of using ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ (of course in a Polish version). Even better when you consider German with all the ‘der’ ‘die’ ‘das’ drama. Your memory can be free from this concept and be used for better things.

Tenses

There is nothing complicated about Polish when it comes down to tenses. There are only 3 options: present, future and past. It’s not so bad, is it? Just compare it to Latin or English and you will feel much better about learning Polish than you could ever think you would.

As you can see it’s not so bad after all. Of course there will be times you will ask yourself why you decided to learn this language but we hope there will be much less of those moments than the fun times. To make sure that will happen watch our videos with Polish lessons!