Is Poland worth visiting?

bilbek66

Mar 20, 11, 13:11 #31

Wroclaw Boy:

You failed to mention some negatives: rude people, hardly anybody out of the cities speak English, horrific driving conditions, povewrty stircken areas, no real exclusive holiday areas. Have you ever been abroad?

OK, only my friends was abroad, I wasn't :)
You are right in some questions as bad roads condition. But people aren't rude - I'm certain. I think that Poles overall are not better or worse than people in other countries.
Worse infrastructure and lack of luxuries - okay. But we have something that compensates drawbacks. on the other hand:

Wroclaw Boy:

"not france, not russia, not holland" man thats in my head.

This phrase was improvised during first take :)))))

♀

Mar 20, 11, 13:45 #32

In all fairness to the song, how many songs do you know that include negatives about a place? Usually when we sing about something, we extol the virtues. So, I think the song is great just as it is. :-)

I grew up in the USA, but I enjoyed every minute in Poland. The roads, everything. If I wanted to see lots of interstate highways, I would stay home. Instead, I traveled down some dirt roads in the countryside (thank goodness for GPS), that looked a bit like the dirt road in the video that turns to a snow covered scene.

Being from the north in the USA, I am used to people being a little distant in public till you get to know them. I did not find anyone rude in Poland. Once three years ago, in Gdańsk, I was lost walking and noticed a reluctance to help me, but it was more like people were busy during rush hour and had other things on their mind.

bilbek66

Mar 20, 11, 15:56 #33

Softsong:

how many songs do you know that include negatives about a place? Usually when we sing about something, we extol the virtues.

That's the point. I think the important thing is if the song (or book, film...) was made for your countrymen or for foreigners. There are some Polish songs, sang in Polish and for Poles. They say bitter things about our reality. "Warszawa" by T-Love, "Mój dom" by Ira, "I to jest mój kraj" by Krzysztof Daukszewicz. It's easy to find more examples. But very few people want to present their country as an unpleasant place to foreigners.
"Born In Poland" is like a mirror of Springsteen's "Born In the U.S.A". Bruce's says about taugh life in his country and casualties of The Vietnam War. But he sings it to Americans. I am not sure if Springsteen wanted to sing such things about the USA in Polish or in Russian :))) "Hey, Russians, USA is the best country in the world!" :) It's more probable version.
So we did the same, singing good things about Poland in English. Not perfect English, I know! :) Sorry! :)

Monia

Mar 20, 11, 16:20 #34

Wroclaw Boy:

"not france, not russia, not holland" man thats in my head.

So don`t come in here , we don`t want you . If you just look for sun and the pool go to Egypt or Spain . Poland has something more to offer that just that . Personally I hate such places , faceless , boring, full of cheap tourists . By the way for many people who visited Poland it is a surprise how divisive holidays we can offer. Depends on what a person is interested in . The climate is very beautiful and thanks God that we have 4 seasons . I wouldn`t stand sun all year around . I can recommend vacations for: lovers of mountain hiking , back horse ridding , visiting palaces and castles or churches . wild life watchers , theme park lovers , visiting oldest villages (Gniezno , Biskupin ) , architecture admirers ( Kraków, Toruń ,Wrocław and Gdańsk ) . If you want only sun and a pool in Poland just visit in the summer Warsaw hotels : Hilton, Hyatt, Westin, Marriott , Sheraton , Intercontinental and hundreds more .They will serve you with anything you want or go to Sopot - famous luxury holiday resort place .

♀

Mar 20, 11, 16:20 #35

bilbek66:

I think the important thing is if the song (or book, film...) was made for your countrymen or for foreigners.

I had not thought of it that way, but yes. That makes sense. Now you have me curious and I will probably look up those other songs. However, I'll never know what it is they said. I only know a few words in Polish.

As for your English....it is very good. Any little imperfection adds charm. I love accents. And I especially love Polish accents. How cool that you want to share your country and life with English-speaking people and have made a song in our language. And it is nice for us to hear that you are Polish, not English, not American. :-D

I sent the video to many of my friends and everyone was very positive. In fact, a sociology professor with a PhD from Alabama who is also a musician enjoyed the slide guitar. He has also expressed the thought that maybe he will visit Poland one day. See? It has had a good effect.

bilbek66

Mar 20, 11, 20:30 #36

Softsong:

I will probably look up those other songs. However, I'll never know what it is they said.

I know quite a lot of people who are really good in English, and maybe we try together to translate few songs into English :) They are often bittersweet. For example the famous phrase from "Warsaw" is: "Green Żoliborz, fu**** Żoliborz (let's say "bloody" :)) is blossoming on the trees and bushes" - as a confession of love to the hometown. Żoliborz is a quarter of Warsaw.
It could be good exercise to do such translation :)

Softsong:

And I especially love Polish accents.

That's great for me what you say. I never expected that my faults could have any charm :D Thank you!!!
If somebody of your friend arrive to Poland because of Mateo's slide guitar, it would be something :) They are welcome, I hope they will not be disappointed with Poland!
PS. Almost 15 years ago an Englishman - friend of my relative living in England - visited us. Dave was abroad only once in life - in Egypt. Poland was his second experience of such kind. And I think it was stronger :) But positive too. He was shocked that he could see many stars - it was impossible in industried central England.
I'll try to write more tomorrow. Have a good day!
Lech

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