Check out this fantastic essay about Warsaw (pemalinks are broken fixed, so this may break at some point).
Almost makes me want to go to Poland.
Check out this fantastic essay about Warsaw (pemalinks are broken fixed, so this may break at some point).
Almost makes me want to go to Poland.
I've been to Poland several times, and will be back there again this summer, for my sister-in-law's sister's wedding. I like it a lot. Warsaw is fascinating - with it's amazing re-built old town and the remnants of Soviet-style architecture. Kracow is simply beautiful. And the ski resort down in the south, Zakopane is utterly charming, even if it does have a MacDonalds.
The only problem I had was that most people didn't speak any English. Or French. If you don't speak Polish, Russian or German would be ok, but I don't speak either of them. Which is why I now know how to order five beers in Polish, and request an ashtray.
Would that be five beers at once or five different kinds of beer?
Just fixed the permalink - I moved a directory and forgot to update some pointers to it; thanks for pointing out the breakage. The post should be permanently available at http://www.idlewords.com/2004/03/warszawa.htm.
Five at once. I'm not THAT sophisticated. But I can make them "large" or "small". And I can get in a cab and say: "Airport please", too.
Is is true that "Airport please" is the first phrase that you learn in any foreign language?
i am headed to warsaw on holiday next friday. i was there in september, and was disappointed it wasn't as 'cold war' as i was hoping for... guess i should have visited 10 years ago. my fiance has been living there since july, and apparently there are some serious language snobs there [he only studied polish about 2 years]. i'm excited for this return trip, because this time we're going to krakow [which was foiled last time by an emergency trip to prague for visa purposes]. oh yeah, people in poland don't wait in line. they cut in line.
You can also buy a soft drink called "Fart" in Poland. I bought a bottle in Warsaw. Never drank it, of course. I just liked the name.