Poland - a foreigner and a native Pole - different point of view...?

Sabala:

I am not from Poland, but I have seen pictures and I think Krakow is beautiful. I would like to go there sometime. I do not understand the hatred for Gorals by other Polish people. It's my understanding that Krakow is a Goral city, and other Poles say that Gorals are backwards and stupid?

pgtxThreads: 49 Posts: 6,327 Joined: Feb 14, 09 MEMBER	Apr 30, 09, 05:47 / #
i was born and raised in Krakow... my family used to live in Krowodrza (by Al. Slowackiego) and then moved slightly East... to Nowa Huta (center) haha... i know Krakow really well and i love it... i love every bit of it... and to the point.... i read a lot what's going on in Krakow, what's new, what's old... and i am proud of my city... but some info is just jaw dropping... i tend to constantly ask myself 'really??? really??? wtf!'... ahhh.... i guess not everybody see my beloved city the same way i do... (i appreciate to know others point of view)... but WTF?!! REALLY?? REALLY? NO WAY!.... hahaha.... ;(

pawianThreads: 90 Posts: 5,387 Joined: May 30, 08	Apr 30, 09, 08:49 / #
pgtx: ahhh.... i guess not everybody see my beloved city the same way i do... (i appreciate to know others point of view)... but You are right. Not everybody. I live here and am planning to leave it as soon as kids finish their education. WHy? It is a very dirty claustrophobic place. :):)

ShelleySThreads: 18 Posts: 3,647 Joined: Jun 26, 07	Apr 30, 09, 12:10 / #
pgtx: ahhh.... i guess not everybody see my beloved city the same way i do... (i appreciate to know others point of view)... but Beautiful safe place with fantastic architecture, and the men weren't bad either ;0)

cjjcThreads: 37 Posts: 463 Joined: Jul 26, 08	Apr 30, 09, 13:36 / #
I've never been so theres the start of my opinion... I always look at Krakow as Polands most beautiful city with all those church spires and the town square sticking into my mind oh and also the castle and the river that flows through it. I'm going to visit one day for sure! :) I heard from a friend that the prettiest Polkas come from Krakow... I'll be the judge of that! ;P

MaxChinThreads: - Posts: 15 Joined: Apr 26, 09	Apr 30, 09, 13:44 / #
Hahhaha u r funny, i like it. Im currently planing to go to Krakow for travel, i think it is a good place right??

hairballThreads: 37 Posts: 787 Joined: Dec 16, 07	Apr 30, 09, 17:09 / #
pgtx: Krakow It's too expensive....if you go to the main square area. A recent article on the news said it was the most expensive city in Europe. But I do like the old Jewish town. A lot of nice pubs and restaurants there and it's a little bit cheaper.

ShelleySThreads: 18 Posts: 3,647 Joined: Jun 26, 07	Apr 30, 09, 17:20 / #
hairball: A recent article on the news said it was the most expensive city in Europe. With all due respect, 8 zloty is not expensive for a beer - I paid nearly £5.00 (£4.60 to the precise) in Manchester the other week. I do agree that there are nice bars around the Jewish district that are cheaper and in all honesty nicer and more friendly with better service.

okgirl66Threads: 3 Posts: 103 Joined: Feb 28, 08	Apr 30, 09, 17:38 / #
pgtx: i appreciate to know others point of view I went to Krakow last year and loved it - the city, the people. The weather was beautiful too really hot and sunny. I'm going again this year to explore more of Krakow + Zakopane and the mountain region. I hope to move and live there next year so I agree with your view. :-))

DaveyThreads: 17 Posts: 436 Joined: Jun 29, 07	Apr 30, 09, 18:00 / #
Kraków is beautiful but there are far too many pidgeons/tourists

hairballThreads: 37 Posts: 787 Joined: Dec 16, 07	Apr 30, 09, 21:00 / #
ShelleyS: 8 zloty is not expensive for a beer It is when you compare the wage of miss/mister average un-skilled worker here in Poland....6/7zł....but I agree £4.60 is too much.

SashaThreads: 2 Posts: 1,597 Joined: Apr 19, 08	Apr 30, 09, 23:20 / #
pawian: pawian Doesn't look bad after some Moscow views. Where would move to, if not a secret? I assume that will be somewhere in Poland, right?

pawianThreads: 90 Posts: 5,387 Joined: May 30, 08	Apr 30, 09, 23:35 / #
Sasha: Where would move to, if not a secret? I assume that will be somewhere in Poland, right? To the Polish countryside. Some wilderness, without any people withing the perimeter of about 10 kilometers. :):):):) More from Krakow: Eins, zwei, Polizei, drei, vier, Offizier, fünf, sechs, alte Hex, sieben, acht, gute Nacht, neun, zehn, auf Wiedersehn, elf, zwölf, böse Wölf, dreizehn, vierzehn, kleine Maus, ich bin drin, und du bist raus! :):):):) Sasha: Doesn't look bad after some Moscow views. What about tanks? How many have you got in Moscow?

SashaThreads: 2 Posts: 1,597 Joined: Apr 19, 08	Apr 30, 09, 23:40 / #
pawian: What about tanks? How many have you got in Moscow? This is quite normal for towns and actually for cities as well. Although I can't remember any in Moscow. Big city usually sucks. Almost everywhere. I don't like Moscow either.

pgtxThreads: 49 Posts: 6,327 Joined: Feb 14, 09 MEMBER	Apr 30, 09, 23:59 / #
the topic here is about about POLAND, not only Krakow.... :) pawian: pawian don't you dare talk badly about Krakow! ;P

pawianThreads: 90 Posts: 5,387 Joined: May 30, 08	Apr 30, 09, 22:45 / #
No, Krakow is horrible. The tenement houses in the market square are awful. The area around the center isn`t much better

pawianThreads: 90 Posts: 5,387 Joined: May 30, 08	May 1, 09, 00:05 / #
pgtx: don't you dare talk badly about Krakow! I don`t talk. I just show pictures. :):):):):) But there is nice Krakow too.

Pani_PolskaThreads: - Posts: 94 Joined: Apr 27, 09	May 1, 09, 00:29 / #
Davey: Kraków is beautiful but there are far too many pidgeons/tourists Dont know about the tourists but they are taking care of the pigeon "problem": http://www.krakowpost.com/article/1250 And yes, Kraków is beautiful!

Mr GrunwaldThreads: 34 Posts: 2,358 Joined: Dec 16, 08	May 1, 09, 00:31 / #
I love Warszawa :) I like Krakow I find Gdansk exotic (Been there only once) I find Zakopane perfect for mountain terrain (I am Norwegian I know everything about it!)

SabalaThreads: 1 Posts: 8 Joined: Mar 3, 09	May 15, 09, 19:31 / #
I am not from Poland, but I have seen pictures and I think Krakow is beautiful. I would like to go there sometime. I do not understand the hatred for Gorals by other Polish people. It's my understanding that Krakow is a Goral city, and other Poles say that Gorals are backwards and stupid?

Mr GrunwaldThreads: 34 Posts: 2,358 Joined: Dec 16, 08	May 19, 09, 14:52 / #
Sabala: I am not from Poland, but I have seen pictures and I think Krakow is beautiful. I would like to go there sometime. I do not understand the hatred for Gorals by other Polish people. It's my understanding that Krakow is a Goral city, and other Poles say that Gorals are backwards and stupid? Well if Krakow is Goral area then VERY much has changed since I last visited it! :S

George8600Threads: 20 Posts: 1,114 Joined: Feb 19, 09	Jul 11, 09, 18:57 / #
I KNOW what you mean! It's the same exact thing with me an Wroclaw.

mazzastaffordshThreads: 3 Posts: 100 Joined: Oct 8, 08	Jul 11, 09, 21:54 / #
Went to Krakow last October, the weather was fantastic, the food and hotel was too. The people were a delight, particularly in the restaurants. The supermarket check out girl was a little grim faced but she did smile at our attempts to pay with the currency that we were not very familiar with. We went into a charming bookstall and the staff were very helpful. Don't knock Krakow, from a tourist point of view it is charming. Now then what about those beautiful horse drawn carriages and not a bit of manure on the road - has anyone been to Blackpool? Now that is a filthy place to go.They also have horse drawn carriages and lots of manure, it stinks. Has anyone been to Stoke on Trent? On our doorstep near to where I live we have the beautiful Peak District but oh dear 30 minutes the other side of the city is like Beirut! How run down has a city got to go until it is called a slum - well Stoke on Trent is getting there. So you see whether it be London, Manchester, Birmingham, Stoke or Krakow and other Polish cities they all have their own "run down" areas. Could the people that live in these poor parts of the cities be given more resources, assistance and encouragement then they could perhaps strive to improve their own streets?

BondiThreads: 4 Posts: 148 Joined: Sep 11, 07	Edited by: Bondi Jul 17, 09, 20:56 / #
mazzastaffordsh: Could the people that live in these poor parts of the cities be given more resources, assistance and encouragement then they could perhaps strive to improve their own streets? Sorry, but... Sod that! I live in Brum, not even close to the shittiest, hmm, third-world parts, and the tenant downstairs can't even take care of his own flat. And I'm not being racist here, the bloke is full-bred English. Lack of education and a proper family background, and the lack of common sense, I'd say. That's what most people are famous of in big cities -- probably anywhere in the world. When I was in Cracow, the huge number of homeless bums was a shock. They are a problem in Budapest as well... (Hmm, for everyone but the head-mayor.)

mazzastaffordshThreads: 3 Posts: 100 Joined: Oct 8, 08	Jul 19, 09, 22:45 / #
Hi Bondi have read your comment and agree maybe lack of education etc is the reason for some of life's homeless people, maybe I just feel lucky to have been able to make a good happy life for myself and my family and other people do not have this opportunity. We do really live in world full of opportunity for some and others not so lucky. I must say that when I was in Krakow we just thoroughly enjoyed it and the people were most welcoming.