Belgian moving to Krakow, need practical info

krysia:

I'm serious. My friends in Kraków bought a brand new Fiat 126p. They had it parked in front of their apartment. One night it got stolen and my friend has to go to work, and can't find his car anywhere. This is true. I have another friend who is a taxi driver in warsaw. He tells me all kinds of stories how cars get stolen. Even his own Syrena got swiped away one night!

dxxThreads: 17 Posts: 118 Joined: Jul 22, 08	Jul 24, 08, 13:41 / #
Hi All, Let me introduce myself, I am 26 yrs old and will move to Krakow in September this year. I used to work in Ireland and am now working & living back in Belgium for 2 years, but I want this feeling of "adventure" again, so I decided to take up a job in Krakow. Is there any advice you can give me? Like should I bring a car, are flats furnished and easy to find, is Krakow a nice place to live, which are the best areas to go live etc... Basicaly any practical info would be more then welcome :) Thanks in advance!

krysiaThreads: 26 Posts: 3,604 Joined: Aug 10, 06	Edited by: krysia Jul 24, 08, 13:43 / #
You can bring your car but it might get stolen. Even if you lock the doors, and take the steering wheel out. And the way some people drive it might get smashed. So if you value your car, I would leave it at home and rent one, if you can afford it, or use the public transportation, which is very good.

polishgirltx	Edited by: polishgirltx Jul 24, 08, 13:45 / #
dxx: Krakow great choice!! dxx: should I bring a car nah, tramwaj and bus will do the work... dxx: are flats furnished and easy to find some of them yes, and yes... dxx: is Krakow a nice place to live very nice!!!! dxx: which are the best areas to go live etc... Śródmieście, Krowodrza... welcome and have fun... krysia: You can bring your car but it might get stolen. Even if you lock the doors, and take the steering wheel out. omg...krysia...

krysiaThreads: 26 Posts: 3,604 Joined: Aug 10, 06	Edited by: krysia Jul 24, 08, 13:48 / #
polishgirltx: omg...krysia... I'm serious. My friends in Kraków bought a brand new Fiat 126p. They had it parked in front of their apartment. One night it got stolen and my friend has to go to work, and can't find his car anywhere. This is true. I have another friend who is a taxi driver in warsaw. He tells me all kinds of stories how cars get stolen. Even his own Syrena got swiped away one night!

polishgirltx	Jul 24, 08, 13:51 / #
krysia: cars get stolen. krysia, cars get stolen everywhere...

miranda	Jul 24, 08, 13:52 / #
krysia: I'm serious. My friends in Kraków bought a brand new Fiat 126p. They had it parked in front of their apartment. One night it got stolen and my friend has to go to work, and can't find his car anywhere. This is true. I have another friend who is a taxi driver in warsaw. He tells me all kinds of stories how cars get stolen. Even his own Syrena got swiped away one night! that was 20 years ago judging by the car make. LOL

krysiaThreads: 26 Posts: 3,604 Joined: Aug 10, 06	Jul 24, 08, 13:55 / #
True. My friend's radio just got stolen a few months ago. Some black guys moved in the neighborhood and they go after radios. I wish someone would steal my car, it's 10 years old.

polishgirltx	Edited by: polishgirltx Jul 24, 08, 14:10 / #
krysia: I wish someone would steal my car you got it....

dxxThreads: 17 Posts: 118 Joined: Jul 22, 08	Jul 25, 08, 02:45 / #
polishgirltx: Śródmieście, Krowodrza... welcome and have fun... Thanks! I would be going to work for IBM so would prefer to live in the neighbourhood there! So I'll sell my car and buy a fiat 126p instead? ;-)

davidpeakeThreads: 18 Posts: 515 Joined: Nov 7, 06	Jul 25, 08, 02:48 / #
a cheap fiat, with a worked motor so it goes faster than walking pace would be good.

zionThreads: 20 Posts: 180 Joined: Dec 21, 07	Jul 25, 08, 03:06 / #
the pay is crap and the hours are long

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,726 Joined: Mar 10, 08	Edited by: SeanBM Jul 25, 08, 03:06 / #
Hello dxx And welcome to Polish Forum. Krakow is a great city, you will love it. 1. Krakow is a university city, a huge amount of students, therefore I strongly recommend getting sorted with an apartment before September or else you could find it difficult to get a flat especially a nice one that is handy for going to work. 2. My advice is to take what you read about Poland with a pinch of salt (especially if the poster does not live here) things have changed dramatically, you can easily bring your car here, it will make orientation and life easier, the car crime here is not high, it is in some respects just another city. I'll put it this way if you survived Ireland you'll survive here, lol, I'm Irish. 3. Krakow is wonderful, it is a medieval city (look at a map of the centre of Krakow) The castle on the hill with a river meandering around it and an old wall and mote encompassing a really beautiful market square, you will not be let down by the architecture. But I recommend living close to your work place for obvious reasons. 4. I think Krakow is a very safe city but like anywhere you go in life keep your wits about you and you will be fine. Best regards,

dxxThreads: 17 Posts: 118 Joined: Jul 22, 08	Edited by: dxx Jul 25, 08, 03:08 / #
SeanBM: I'll put it this way if you survived Ireland you'll survive here, lol, I'm Irish. Hehe, thanks Sean, also for the welcoming! I lived in Dublin not far away from Finglas and after that close to Corduff, so I did survive, or was just lucky :) Do you live in Krakow too? Or the region? What made you move to Poland? Kind regards

dxxThreads: 17 Posts: 118 Joined: Jul 22, 08	Jul 25, 08, 03:53 / #
andy b: Alternatively, we can find you something else if you get in touch and let us know your criteria Ideal would be close to IBM a 3-bedroom flat with a garage or parking space, since we will probably share it with 2 other people...

dxxThreads: 17 Posts: 118 Joined: Jul 22, 08	Jul 25, 08, 03:01 / #
davidpeake: a cheap fiat, with a worked motor so it goes faster than walking pace would be good. I currently have a Volkswagen bora sportline from 2005, so best not to take that one? Maybe I could sell it here, buy an older volkswagen golf and take it, or something like that... Also, can I drive with Belgian plates there?

zionThreads: 20 Posts: 180 Joined: Dec 21, 07	Jul 25, 08, 03:03 / #
Thanks! I would be going to work for IBM bad job

dxxThreads: 17 Posts: 118 Joined: Jul 22, 08	Jul 25, 08, 03:05 / #
zion: bad job Why is that?

andy bThreads: 7 Posts: 195 Joined: Nov 26, 07	Jul 25, 08, 03:50 / #
Thanks! I would be going to work for IBM so would prefer to live in the neighbourhood there! We have a nice flat to rent very close to the IBM office, just a few minutes walk http://www.property-krakow.com/search.php?action=property&propID=387&p art=1 Alternatively, we can find you something else if you get in touch and let us know your criteria

andy bThreads: 7 Posts: 195 Joined: Nov 26, 07	Jul 25, 08, 03:58 / #
Ideal would be close to IBM a 3-bedroom flat with a garage or parking space, since we will probably share it with 2 other people... We do currently have some 3-bedroom flats at the moment, though in general, large flats are not common in Krakow and hard to find. Also hard to find 3-bedrooms AND a garage. Please send an email to offfice AT property-krakow.com and we will send you some details.

ShelleySThreads: 18 Posts: 3,647 Joined: Jun 26, 07	Jul 25, 08, 04:03 / #
try this company I have used them a couple of times when staying in Krakow - they may do longer lets. Have fun it's a lovely 'safe' city. sodispar.com

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,726 Joined: Mar 10, 08	Jul 25, 08, 04:20 / #
dxx: Do you live in Krakow too? Or the region? What made you move to Poland? Hi, again, yes I live south of Krakow up the mountains, you must come and see the mountains, it is only about an hour and a half drive from Krakow and you can get a bus for a couple of Euro. I used to live in Krakow for two years 6 years ago and I still work here now and again. I came here the first time, quite by chance. I basically did a teaching English course in Dublin on my way to Japan and a Polish lady asked me to come work for her here in Krakow, she paid for my flights, hooked me up with accommodation the lot really, I never did make it to Japan..... yet..... ha ha ha

dxxThreads: 17 Posts: 118 Joined: Jul 22, 08	Jul 25, 08, 05:04 / #
polishgirltx: Śródmieście, Krowodrza... welcome and have fun... Thanks Polishgirl, nice thing to say :-)

zionThreads: 20 Posts: 180 Joined: Dec 21, 07	Edited by: zion Jul 25, 08, 08:21 / #
How much is IBM paying this days ? and what will you do there?

dxxThreads: 17 Posts: 118 Joined: Jul 22, 08	Jul 25, 08, 11:29 / #
zion: How much is IBM paying this days ? and what will you do there? Zion, I will be responsible for disputes, and won't reveal salary but it's 5000pln + nett a month, so could be worse...

zionThreads: 20 Posts: 180 Joined: Dec 21, 07	Jul 26, 08, 03:58 / #
dxx: 5000pln + nett a month, that is alright are they pay for your housing or not ? anyway good look in krakow I live here also and I am looking for flat mates so if you fancy sharing let me know

dxxThreads: 17 Posts: 118 Joined: Jul 22, 08	Jul 26, 08, 04:41 / #
I wouldn't mind sharing at all... Told my parents yesterday the decision was final and they did not support it at all and told me it was a bad idea etc... An extra thing to get over :)

Wroclaw Boy	Jul 26, 08, 04:47 / #
dxx: I will be responsible for disputes Youre going to be a very very busy boy then.

dxxThreads: 17 Posts: 118 Joined: Jul 22, 08	Jul 26, 08, 04:50 / #
Wroclaw Boy: Youre going to be a very very busy boy then. I wouldn't mind being busy, but it's for dutch customers, they don't complain that much ;)

Wroclaw Boy	Jul 26, 08, 04:53 / #
dxx: they don't complain that much Happy days

dxxThreads: 17 Posts: 118 Joined: Jul 22, 08	Edited by: dxx Jul 26, 08, 09:52 / #
Another question I had, where somebody can maybe help me with: If I bring my car: - Do I need to register it to Polish plates? - If yes, howlong can I drive with my Belgian plates? - Do I have to insure it in Poland? - Howmuch are insurances in Poland (1.9 TDI engine) Thanks!