Memories of Poland -1978! Not been to Poland since there was a dirty big Wall

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Oct 22, 11, 22:00 #1

Hi
Recently following the thread 'Going back to the Old Country after more than 25 years' encouraged me to post similar here.

Every year we used to go on holiday to Poland and 1978 was the last time I was there!

I know a lot has changed and it has been interesting reading the other thread on this subject.
I was born in the UK but parents both Polish. Brought up as Polish and consider myself Polish. I speak Polish, Polish customs , cook Polish etc. I am rusty on written Polish but living in the UK there has not been much need for that.

Last thing I remember Warszawa Garbus taxis, Jelcz Ogorek buses, rickety old 1930's trams with wooden floors and seats, sunshine and lots of it, concrete flats, steam trains, a new car called Polonez, fantastic icecream, people selling soda drinks on street corners with pipes connected to water mains and CO2 cylinders - the tight gits only ever gave you a teeny amount of cordial so it lasted them all day.........well I was only a boy then and mad on cars and trains!

We used to get the overnight steam train from Hook of Holland to Warsaw stopping at Berlin and having the train inspection by the military Police with dogs before crossing over to the East! Then car or train to Lodz.

Happy days and very much looking back with rose coloured glasses I know.

I always intended to go back but lack of cash, then work and life seem to get in the way. Last year I had the opportunity through work to go back for a week or two but turned it down. Mad I know. People I work with have spent more time there recently me. They say the same think - place is full of bars and lots of tourists getting drunk Krakow in particular is the new Prague. What a shame.

So now I have my own family its time I took that step, show my daughter her family roots.

Ironically now I am searching for a Warszawa Garbus (as posted in my other thread) and suppose using this as an icebreaker to get over to Poland. Its more than a crappy old banger to me its everything I remember about Poland in those days and set my interest in classic cars! Crazy I know.

Its quite interesting to see that ex pats from Poland continued with their customs etc as before in the UK (time stopped for them), yet Poland itself has moved with the times which is of course the way of things.
I see them playing catch up very quickly but I also feel the mass commercialisation from other countries will spoil Poland's rich heritage. I hope I am wrong? In 1978 all I remember were Thompson tape recorders and Pepsi cola!!

Oh well enough ramblings I am sure there are plenty of people have similar memories also?

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Edited by: hague1cmaeron Oct 23, 11, 00:05 #2

stash1:

I see them playing catch up very quickly but I also feel the mass commercialisation from other countries will spoil Poland's rich heritage. I hope I am wrong? In 1978 all I remember were Thompson tape recorders and Pepsi cola!!

Thanks for sharing your experiences, a very interesting insight. In regards to heritage, I believe that what is worth preserving will survive what is not is likely to fade away. In a way that is the natural order of things because societies constantly change. So what time frame are you putting on your next trip, or perhaps as yet you might not have anything concrete in mind.

♂

Oct 23, 11, 18:58 #3

hague1cmaeron:

Thanks for sharing your experiences, a very interesting insight. In regards to heritage, I believe that what is worth preserving will survive what is not is likely to fade away. In a way that is the natural order of things because societies constantly change. So what time frame are you putting on your next trip, or perhaps as yet you might not have anything concrete in mind.

Hi i am not sure at the moment a lot depends on how quuckly i can find that Garbus but there is no rush, hopefully next year unless something comes up in the next few weeks?
Your correct of course societies change not always for the best though. I just hope Poland retains its identity and preserves its own culture rather than turning into yet another Americanised retail outlet like the rest of us!! Hahahaha!

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