Being English in Krakow

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Sep 23, 11, 14:20 #1

Czesc!!

I am returning to what I refer to as my second home, Krakow, in November with one male friend.

I started visiting Krakow 7 years ago and then changed to visit Sopot (during Summer months) to avoid to groups of English guys and so would only visit Krakow during winter months.

I haven't been to Krakow for 4 years (last time I was attacked by a Polish man who attacked me with pepperspray in an attempted mugging) and I have heard that the groups of English guys have, as I expected, ruined the reputation of English men once again and that some bars have signs up stating "No English".

What I would like to know is how difficult it would be for myself and my friend to get into clubs such as Cien (where I had no problem getting in before as I used to go there regularly and got to know the girl who ran the door policy)?

Thanking you in advance.

Mar(e)k

dtaylor5632Threads: 49 Posts: 4,459 Joined: May 2, 09 ♂	Sep 23, 11, 14:24 #2
There is no difficulty for any English getting into any pubs or clubs in krk as long as u r not part of a large group. Simples.

Mark BThreads: 1 Posts: 10 Joined: Sep 23, 11 ♂	Sep 23, 11, 14:28 #3
Thank you That's what I was hoping to hear, which is why there are only 2 of us going. I did see two Italian tourists turned away from Cien one night for no other reason than "members only". I know Cien is a small club and tourists seemed to be accepted more freely on days other than Friday and Saturday when it was less busy.

OlafThreads: 8 Posts: 1,369 Joined: Oct 29, 09 ♂	Sep 23, 11, 15:59 #4
Don't worry, you'll get in everywhere unless you'd be drunk or looking for trouble;)

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Sep 23, 11, 16:06 #5
Just say you are Scottish. They will love you then ;)

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Sep 23, 11, 17:13 #6

Don't worry, you'll get in everywhere unless you'd be drunk or looking for trouble;)

I can't promise we may not be a little drunk at the end of the night, but we certainly wont be looking for trouble.

I was unfortunate to be attacked in Krakow previously, but sadly there are bad people all over the world. I read on the internet of an identical attack to mine which occured within a few weeks where the English guy was also sprayed with pepperspray and mugged in an apartment stairwell, as I was. It was a sad end to a wonderful day as I had been to a friend's wedding in Bielsko-Biała earlier that day. Polish weddings are awesome!!!!!! :)

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Sep 23, 11, 17:16 #7
I think Poles just don't like boorishness from others. If people are sitting and minding their own business without being intrusive, all should be well :) There are some that don't like English spoken here but that's not a problem in Kraków.

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Edited by: Mark B Sep 23, 11, 17:36 #8

I think Poles just don't like boorishness from others. If people are sitting and minding their own business without being intrusive, all should be well :) There are some that don't like English spoken here but that's not a problem in Kraków.

I found Wroclaw to be unfriendly when I visited there about 6 years ago. The majority of people ignored me when I asked for directions and they ignored me if i asked in Polski or in English. The polish guys in Wroclaw were a bit aggressive, barging into me in clubs, staring in cafes and one asked me where I was from and then "what do you want?" As I was at a bar at the time I replied "Ocacim" :) I put the whole experience down to the fact that tourism had not really taken off in Wroclaw at the time and therefore we were looked upon as aliens.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Sep 23, 11, 17:50 #9
Maybe if you had asked for 'Okocim', you might have got it ;) ;) Kidding aside, I didn't really notice that in Wrocław 7 years ago. A little bit after alcohol, yes, but that's normal. That's when the meatheads here start throwing their weight around. Krakowian Poles are mixed like anywhere but you can see a few classy folk around :)

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Sep 23, 11, 21:08 #10

Hi Mark

I was in a small bar(only one in village) about 40mins outside Katowice, when the biggest polish guy i ever saw started to ask where i was from when he heard me speak polish(in a bad way). I just had a bit of banter with him and he was fine. He kept asking thinks in english, i think he just wanted to learn a few new words. It turned out that my polish wife knew him from school, he was in the army and being to afgan. I think, if you treat people with respect and a certain degree of common sense you will get on fine

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Sep 23, 11, 21:41 #11
The golden rule is to look for commonalities and not differences :)

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Sep 23, 11, 21:58 #12

Cien one night for no other reason than "members only".

Yeah from time to time they have parties for guests only. But rarely so you shouldn't any bother. To be honest for the 6 years I lived in the Krak I never once went to Cien (maybe once when I think about it). It was too snobby for me, girls out with their daddies credit cards ect. Easiest place in the world to pull though. Rdza and Błędne Koło were my kinda places, you can wubu dubu to that list as well.

LwowskaKrakowThreads: 49 Posts: 504 Joined: Mar 9, 07 MEMBER ♀	Sep 24, 11, 08:42 #13
What's the age range for members/guests at Cien ? What's the price for drinks in there?

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Sep 24, 11, 09:30 #14

I was in a small bar(only one in village) about 40mins outside Katowice, when the biggest polish guy i ever saw started to ask where i was from when he heard me speak polish(in a bad way). I just had a bit of banter with him and he was fine. He kept asking thinks in english, i think he just wanted to learn a few new words. It turned out that my polish wife knew him from school, he was in the army and being to afgan. I think, if you treat people with respect and a certain degree of common sense you will get on fine

Oh yeah, definitely - in my opinion, these kinds of places often have the scariest looking, but friendliest people.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Sep 25, 11, 20:13 #15
I can't say the nightlife was impressive at all. Floriańska and Sw Jana were hyped up but were sh*t. It's call commercial BS like when I was in Berlin. Posers and losers!

dtaylor5632Threads: 49 Posts: 4,459 Joined: May 2, 09 ♂	Sep 25, 11, 20:21 #16
Sw Jana were hyped up but were sh*t There isn't a night club on that street...? Floriańska You obviously just went to the touristy places, try futher afield next time ;) What's the age range for members/guests at Cien ? No members, just guests. Last time I went was on my friends leaving party. Drinks range like, think it was a bit over the top, something around 12z a beer.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Sep 25, 11, 20:22 #17
Cien is on Sw Jana. All around the rynek was pretty rank.

dtaylor5632Threads: 49 Posts: 4,459 Joined: May 2, 09 ♂	Sep 25, 11, 20:25 #18
Cien is on Sw Jana. Aye and that's about it. Just that and a fake Irish bar. All around the rynek was pretty rank. And you're comparing it to???

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Sep 25, 11, 20:29 #19
The Irish bar was awful. The Polish barman had a long face that would make most funeral goers appear positively jovial. Irish stuff on the wall? (I read) Eh, not really from what I saw. More Scottish music was playing. Comparing it to many other European cities I've been to. I'd MUCH rather drink in Belgrade.

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Sep 26, 11, 10:33 #20

Cien is on Sw Jana.

Aye and that's about it. Just that and a fake Irish bar.

All around the rynek was pretty rank.

And you're comparing it to???

Is Magnolie still there? (next to Cien on SW Jana)

I used to chill out in Boogie bar (on ul. Szpitalna) , Metropolitan Bar (on ul. Sławkowska) or Pauza (ul. Floriańska).

I'm suprised at what you wrote re the bars in Krakow, but I guess we all have different tastes and I prefer to pay more for drinks in a bars that are to a decent standard than say Wetherspoons in the UK. Horses for courses I guess.

Wedle	Sep 26, 11, 15:03 #21
Aye and that's about it. Just that and a fake Irish bar. This Irish bar on the next street seems to get a good write up cracow-life.com/drink/pubs_cafes_details/17-Irish_Arms

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Sep 26, 11, 23:46 #22
I guess my mood was just a little off. Happens when you have a narky wife.

dtaylor5632Threads: 49 Posts: 4,459 Joined: May 2, 09 ♂	Edited by: dtaylor5632 Sep 27, 11, 00:01 #23
Happens when you have a narky wife. You have lost all Scottish ways of dealing with narky women mate, shush her up! ;)

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Sep 27, 11, 00:14 #24
They will witness a return, mark my words :)

dtaylor5632Threads: 49 Posts: 4,459 Joined: May 2, 09 ♂	Sep 27, 11, 00:30 #25
They will witness a return, mark my words :) Did u sort out the car business? Good to stick to ur guns with narky women. Give em and inch and they will take a mile! ;)

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Sep 27, 11, 09:26 #26
Precisely! Car business, what do you mean?

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