Hi Sarah, I'm a swiss guy; I used to work in the Swiss Embassy in 88' just before the end of comunism. Since then, I use to go quite often to Poland; indeed, I got the virus....a good virus, this time : the more I visited Poland, the more I fell in love with it ! Poland is just an amazing country. Anyway, considering here in Switherland that out of 10 persons, 8-9 will go to a southern destination, the last 1 or 2 people will take another option. People generally are not curious at all, and it is a mistery for me that after over 30 years after the fall of the iron curtain, people still go on thinking with all those overpassed "clichés"; in the same meaning, I still often read that Poland is continuing to be an underrated country....after some years, I could understand it, but after over 3 decades..........people still prefer to pill up (? sorry, in french it would be "s'entasser") in the Ramblas or under the Eiffel tower than discovering a fascinating destination, a fascinating city, like many, many ones in Poland. Anyway, just to speak about Warsaw : there is no other capital in the UE so dynamic as Warsaw; it is changing in such a hight tempo, and they are rehabilitating (renewing) a lot of old and abandoned industries (these last 5 years,... of them have been completed in an amazing way, conservering the old parts, and modernizing the rest of it); all the center of Warsaw is currently in renovation (it will last some more years). Fascinating country, great people, great (and tragical o.c.) History, so tasty food, country full of traditions............
I am Polish and I am writing from Poland. I read your comment with a smile, because for the first time someone from the so-called The West gave a cold analysis of the ignorance of people from their part of Europe, and even the world. I like watching RUclipsrs from the West and people coming to Poland in general when they are shocked as if they are on Mars. Then I laugh out loud. It turns out that Poland is not Sibria, there are no -50C frosts, there are no white bears running around the streets, people eat with a knife and fork and there is civilization. I think I'll never stop laughing at it.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@Euphicessw if you leave your car open anywhere on this planet someone might steal it and you have only yourself to blame. Cannot really see the point of you're trying to make here.
I was born in Poland but moved to the US as a young child in the 1980's. I spent almost my entire life thinking I was an American. I visited Poland a couple years ago and realized that I was merely cosplaying an American for the last 35 years and that my heart and soul are back in Poland. I'm planning on moving back to my home country as soon as possible. I'm terrified because I barely know the language but I can't stop that nagging feeling that it is where I belong.
Hello Sarah, I am an American of Polish descent. I started getting interested in my ancestors and learning the polish language in prep for a month-long trip I recently took to Poland. Like you, I immediately fell in love with the country. I felt so comfortable when I was there, even though I was alone, in a foreign country, with only a basic understanding of the language I never felt alone or lonely. I traveled to five different cities and honestly loved them all. I really enjoyed Wrocław the most. I will be returning in February and spending more concentrated time in Wrocław for the two weeks. I have also decided to emigrate to Poland. I found your channel and watched it before I visited, but it has become much more meaningful since I have been there. Now when I watch your videos, I can use them to confirm what I saw in Poland. Anyway, take care and enjoy your days in Poland. Rick
Some prefer beer, some does vodka... thing is our brew when tasted at October fest has totally different quality - every single brand that goes there tastes way better than the typical brewery u can buy at local stores. And that is DISGUSTING AS FU***K. kurła ;p
Whenever Americans complain about the Polish language, I am reminded of the opening paragraphs of the fourth chapter of Henry Miller's book Sexus😹😹 "There is one thing I like about the Poles - their language. Polish, when it is spoken by intelligent people, puts me in ecstasy. The sound of the language evokes strange images in which there is always a greensward of fine spiked grass in which hornets and snakes play a great part. I remember days long back when Stanley would invite me to visit his relatives; he used to make me carry a roll of music because he wanted to show me off to these rich relatives. I remember this atmosphere well because in the presence of these smooth-tongued, overly polite, pretentious and thoroughly false Poles I felt miserably uncomfortable. But when they spoke to one another, sometimes in French, sometimes in Polish, I sat back and watched them fascinatedly. They made strange Polish grimaces, altogether unlike our relatives, who were stupid barbarians at bottom. The Poles were like standing snakes fitted up with collars of hornets. I never knew what they were talking about but it always seemed to me as if they were politely assassinating someone. They were all fitted up with sabers and broadswords which they held in their teeth or brandished fiercely in a thundering charge. They never swerved from the path but rode roughshod over women and children, spiking them with long spikes beribboned with blood-red pennants. All this, of course, in the drawing room over a glass of strong tea, the men in butter-colored gloves, the women dangling their silly lorgnettes. The women were always ravishingly beautiful, the blond houri type garnered centuries ago during the Crusades. They hissed their long polychromatic words through tiny, sensual mouths whose lips were soft as geraniums. These furious sorties with adders and rose petals made an intoxicating sort of music, a steel-gibber which could also register anomalous sounds like sobs and falling jets of water." I don't think I need to add that Miller is an American writer, but perhaps not everyone remembers that he was born into a family of German immigrants, which particularly amuses me as a Pole. Well, dear Americans, learn Polish, arm your mouths with snakes and hornets, and you won't need pistols and rifles.😁😁
What I'm about to say is perhaps historical, I'm wondering whether this extent of ignorance still exists? I once read an article in some magazine from the 1990s, wherein foreign diplomats freshly arrived in Warsaw were interviewed about their first impressions. The Spanish ambassador was very surprised to see the trees and greenery, because he expected a tundra (yes, that's what he said). The Indian diplomat was surprised to see "solid buildings" like in the West. And everyone was shocked by the warm summer weather.
this is what russia made with us and their propaganda (just 40 years and world forgot about that is something like Poland). Poland has much more over 1000 years of history as a western civilization. for few hundred years was even a biggest empire in Europe. Poland hasn't even a bit worse history, castles, tourist and cultural potential than other western countries and im very glad that people again starting to realize how nice and cozy this european country is ;)
Poland has changed so much its similar in a lot of ways to western countries. It sure is different to when I was a kid and was in Poland in 1988 and the city would turn off the water regularly to save water and when my mother was talking to family in 1986 about Chernobyl and the phone was tapped by the government and they interrupted the conversation. Now there is modern stores, food is fresh, etc.
Hi! I'm Polish and my favourite city is Toruń also! So underrated - even among Polish ppl! It's ellegant, medieval and not packed with many tourists! (It's not a tourist trap).
Some of the things you have to consider when you think of mid Europe (old eastern Europe) is that yes, we have started to change when "western" countries were at their best BUT... when we started to change we could use all of the newest tech and make it our basic structure. When in the "western" countries, they already had full infrastructure build up and making a change to it, upgrading it would cost bilions upon bilions of $. That's why when I visit western Europe, they have MUCH worse internet connections, much worse public transport etc..
Polish beaches and "not very warm" Baltic Sea - one of the quirks of the Baltic Sea is that when the southern wind blows and the weather gets really warm, even hot, taking a dip in Baltic in Poland might feel like diving in an ice hole. The thing is, strong southern winds pushes away warm(ish) surface water toward Sweden, and this causes upwelling of colder water from underneath - and the result is a strange mix where air temperature is around 30+°C/ 90-ish °F while water temperature could be as low as 8-10°C/ 46-50°F.
@@alh6255 Might be so, but anyway the main "holiday seaside" (i.e. one occupied by holidaymakers) is the north shore, going from Świnoujście to Władysławowo, and at any rate Baltic Sea can be seen as "warmish" only by Norwegians or Scotts ;-)
@@MrKotBonifacy Sometimes I spend my holidays on a beautiful beach near Darłowo ("main seaside") and the relatively cool water temperature suits me. I also experienced an interesting adventure in Finland, in the northern part of the Baltic Sea, on the Gulf of Bothnia (more or less at the height of Oulu), where there is a warm sea current. The water was warm as soup and I didn't like it. I also missed beautiful Polish beaches.
@@alh6255 That "warm water in Finland" thing might be the direct result of the aforementioned "southern wind" phenomenon. And whether one likes it warm (or cold), "the warmth is in the pants of beholder", to paraphrase that popular saying. Still, having spent '90s in tropics (and frequently scuba diving there) I'can't be really convinced that Baltic is a warm sea and I doubt it would suit my temperature preferences. But yes, its beaches, with their really soft sand are beautiful. Cheers!
I know (I'm interested in geography). You don't have to repeat all of that so many times :) - in addition, including wrong generalizations. I don't really know why you do it. And remember: an interesting experience doesn't mean "surprising."
It's sooooo interesting to watch your vids and listen to your perspective. I'm Polish but living in USA, just visited Poland a few months ago and loved it. I used to live in Cracow also....I miss that city. 🙂
I'll share what i LOVE about Warszawa. I live next door to Varso and work at Wawrzyszew. I always go out 2 hours earlier to have a stroll through a forest to clear my mind and have an energy to share with clients. I love mondays, because i can get to work and meet new ppl. After work i can take a free ferry to other side of Wisła and take a hike up the river or take out out my fishing gear and git good. XD it is so good to have a smile when u go out to work, just being happy about everything that surrounds you. I love my city, though my every encounter with boars for the last30 years were a bit dodgy
All ritht, I rarely ever comment but I am half-German (Berlin) and half-American (Utah), yet somehow I moved here to Poland, Warsaw (long story) and I am never, ever moving out again. Has to do with my experiences and pretty much what you say, RUclips Creator username Sarah Achleithner. Thank you for all your videos, they are more accurate than I dare to admit.
Short list of quite interesting polish food: Żurek (Soup eaten during Easter) Bigos Kapusta kiszona Rosół (zupa na bazie gotowanego kurczaka) krokiety (idealne do barszczu czerwonego na święta) Uszka Karp (fish eaten during Christmas) Susz (kompot z wędzonych śliwek) Kotlet schabowy Kotlet mielony
40 years were enough under russian occupation and it is amazing how quickly the world forgot about a country that has over 1000 years of history and was one of the largest European empires for several hundred years. Poland existed here when the russians were not even in the plans of the mages who created these orcs.
Thank you for the video. Made me think about some things. The fact that anyone who would be interested could easily check the statistics which are done in the whole EU. Alcohol consumption is very similar to the average for the whole EU. Dominate beer consumption. Like... Very dominant. There are 286 breweries in Poland. There are big brands (like Tyskie, which is very popular in Germany) and plenty of small local breweries. Huge diversity. The oldest one is from 1553. So yeah, I would say that beer traditions are older and more common. Some people like to drink vodka on occasions (like weddings or birthdays). When comes to architecture - in many older cities and smaller towns, it is similar to German. Gdansk (Danzig) is an old Hanseatic City (you will see the resemblance to Hamburg). Beaches... Plenty of them, but water rarely has a comfortable temperature. But if you are into sailing - Poland has its traditions. Mazury, Kaszuby for internal sailing and the whole coast for sea sailing (there is plenty of sailing schools in Gdynia). When it comes to industry... Polish furniture is everywhere in Europe. Next time you buy something from Ikea (a Swedish company), please check where the factory is ;) There is one thing which is unique compared to western Europe. Wilde nature. Wild forests (you cannot experience this in Germany or western Europe). Aurochs (Zubr), wolfs, birds and mammals that barely exist in the West. I have lived in Germany for years and regularly visited Tirol (Austria). I love it. But sometimes I miss wild nature. I got used to this as a kid in Poland and didn't find it here (West). And Malbork Castle. With the biggest land area in the world. And the biggest brick castle. The ones in Salzburg or Windsor are 3 times smaller. Tour guides at Malbork Castle speak multiple languages. Or you can use electronic tour guides. And Warsaw is almost overwhelming with its tall and modern buildings. Monday to Saturday, life there is very intense. So, let's summarize: Hundreds of local beers. Polish and Germans are alike. Schnitzel, Sauerkraut und Bier. Sailing areas and traditions. And lots of rivers for kayaking. Probably polish furniture in your flat if you are living in Europe. You still can find amber on the coast if you are lucky (close to Danzig, Roman ships around 2000 years ago were even coming here to trade for amber). The biggest castle on this planet. I suggest some medieval cosplay events and LARPS. Aurochs, wolfs and other wild nature. And experienced hunters from Europe know about this. And still a little bit cheaper to enjoy holidays than in western Europe. For beaches with warm water, go to the Mediterranean sea. Beaches yes. Warm water, rarely (summer has to be really warm). Oh, and Salsa fans. Plus, other clubs. There are places to party. Warsaw and Wroclaw (Breslau) are on the top. Torun and Krakow very beautiful. Some Viking burials in Wielkopolska and the Viking King Bluetooth (yes, after his name, you have technology in your smartphone) outpost was on Wolin island. And events.
By the way, the Vikings and the Poles mixed willingly and traded together very harmoniously. They founded and lived together in common trading posts on the Baltic coast. The famous Danish Viking king Canute, conqueror of the British Isles, was the son of a Polish princess and a Danish king. On the island of Rugia (Rügen - near the island of Wolin) - today in Germany, there were the largest temples of the Western Slavs, also willingly visited by the Vikings as part of their pilgrimages.
I would be very cautious about larger animals. Generally if you can take it one your hands or on your lap there shouldn't be a problem but I don't think people would be happy to have a dog walking in their store. Often times there is a place where you can leave your dog outside and there even might be a bowl with water for it, but in general I would expect a larger animal to be an obstacle in travel. One thing I can say for certain is that dogs aren't seen everyday everywhere inside mass transit, long range transit, hotels or shops. There is a great chance you will be accommodated somehow and people do transport larger pets in mass transit and usually people are very friendly towards them, but it's not like everyone has a dog on a bus. It's a rare enough sight that it still breeds curiosity.
In Poland, basically we have almost everything, wanna sea? you got it, dunes? you got it, maybe a desert ? Yeep you got it, mountains ? of course! Big lakes? Sure, wild forests? We have plenty. Wanna see aurora borealis, well not that common, but it is possible. Glacier, yes, glacier is a thing we do not have :D But we had ... :D
Wódka wasn't even the most popular alcohol for a long time, mead and beer were. Mead is getting more popular again and it's a good thing since it have a very long tradition of brewing.
I’m polish and i visited many european countries. So people constantly asked me are You drinking vodka Everly day, is Poland so cold, and do You have access to the sea
I'm Pole. I'm appreciated this video. It's it nice to hear that Americans like Poland. It's huge difference if you notice that during many years Poles left Poland and escape to US because it was poor and sad. Many of them were lived there illegally. Now it's changed and I'm really happy that foreigner like to visit and stay in Poland. If you like some nice place to visit I recommend Międzyrzecki Rejon Umocniony.
Speaking of desserts, have you heard of Rogal Świętomarciński (St. Martins croissant)? You can buy it only in Wielkopolska, especially Poznań but it's worth the trip. Now it can be quite hard to find, but on 11 November (St. Martins day) it is literally everywhere in and near Poznań. And it's way better than pączki.
Sarah, it is always so refreshing watching your videos. I did not comment, but I did watch your ICE-landic escapade. Brrr.. looked cold! Pączki are good, but did you ever tried white pączki? My mom used to make them. Instead of deep frying she steamed them, taste so different. When I moved from Europe to NA I was almost shocked of the technological difference, and I don't mean computers, just everyday exposure. It didn't change much here since that day, not that I mind considering where I come from.
Nice vid! I guess an interesting topic for your vid could be "drinking & beverages PL vs US" - comparing drinking coffee culture US & PL, tea in PL (variety, role in PL day-to-day), how people drink spirits in US & PL, sodas, juices and smoothies and of course water (tap, bottled) :)
@@SarahAchleithner Spring or autumn are much better option. Last summer there was so many tourists climbing Śnieżka, that the authorities of Karkonoski Park Narodowy (Karkonoski National Park) due to safety reasons made some paths as one way only to limit wide flow of tourists going in opposite direcitions on narrow and steep mountain rocky paths. Also, to preserve the environment of national park.
I was born in Poland, but I moved to states, and I am living here more than 30 years and I am so scared to go back to Poland because I don’t know if I can find myself there again 🤐 And I know Poland change so much now Hello from Florida 🤙
Why do you want to return anyway? Fulfil your destiny and stay. Succumb to destruction in one hour along with Babylon the Great. This was the fate that was written for you. Besides, Poland, too, may be razed to the ground like most of the world. And soon. So why change location?
I came back to Poland two years ago after living in the United States for 36 years. Trust me. Poland is much, much better in every way. Besides, the United States does not exist anymore.
Cześć Sarah, cieszy mnie to, że lubisz Polskę. Moim ulubionym miastem w Polsce jest: Gdynia, Sopot oraz Gdańsk. 💋 Życzę miłego dnia dla wszystkich co to czytają!
About Polish food being bland. Misconception come from fact that during Communism (what BTW was enforced by occupants) it was hard to get even basic ingredients of decent quality. Especially the spices. But in reality Polish kitchen is in fact quite complex and rich. Though people need relearn using spices and some ingredients when then become available again.
Świetny materiał! Na szczęście już nowe pokolenie nie myśli stereotypowo o Polsce dzięki dobie social mediów , Erasmusa itd ,ale ze starszym jest faktycznie problem. Pozdrawiam .
Poland was a big reason why the Wall fell in the early 90's. Poland was the first Eastern Bloc country to give the finger to the Kremlin. My grandparents being Poles and the sole survivors of their families after WWII, we cheered the Polish backbone standing up to Mother Russia.
I am Polish, thank you for your video. That is true, Poland is changing very quickly after the fall of communism, which it contributed to. I'm 60 years old and it's a completely different country from the one I grew up in. Speaking about tourism - the best tourist attraction is our nature - quiet and peaceful. My favorite place is Beskid Niski, range of low mountains, where you can spend all day wandering through beautiful forests and meadows, meeting very few people.
Hi! Im from Kraków and Im also amazed how dog friendly this city became. You can take you dog even to the changing room and every shop in Bonarka (one of the malls here). There are even restaurants which gives you special discount if you take your dog with you (Akita ramen - I can highly recommend if you like asian options). Parks everywhere, lots of dog parks and sometimes special events for dogs and dogs lovers. Oh and I personally hate vodka and don't drink it even on wedding and in my opinion most of my friends also.
Yes, I love that it's so dog-friendly here! I didn't know about Akita ramen giving a discount if you take your dog--looks like I'll need to check that out because we love ramen!
The Polish soup "żurek/zurek" is included in various world rankings among the best soups in the world. It usually takes the first or second place (after the Japanese "ramen" soup).
Pączki are already plural You don't have to say "pączkis" One "pączek" More "pączki" The same with pierogi Pierogi is plural One "pieróg" More "pierogi" I always wonder why english native speakers sound like they're trying to sounds russian when they speak polish I mean, the polish accent is totally different and the whole language is different. Polish is smoother, not that harsh for example But thank you for your kind words about the country, I hope you'll be happy here
You mean that Polish accent in English is smoother than Russian accent? That might be the case, but Russian language is definitely softer than Polish. ;)
@@marek9081 All I hear so far was russian says polish is smoother, But the opinion depends on native language Dla rosjan słyszałem ,że polski jest dużo delikatniejszy. Tą samą opinię słyszałem od kilku innych przedstawicieli różnych narodowości. Gdy próbuję "nie rozumieć" polskiego tylko słyszeć jego dźwięk też zauważyłem/odczułem ,że polski brzmi łagodnie w porównaniu z innymi językami słowiańskimi. Zwłaszcza ,że polski to język zachodniosłowiański.
@@krewetkashrimp Takie pojęcia jak delikatny i łagodny są nieprecyzyjne, mogą oznaczać różne rzeczy dla różnych ludzi. Znam rosyjski i zdecydowanie jest to najbardziej miękki język słowiański. W sensie, że np. nie ma tam twardego 'cz' i 'szcz', jak w polskim; w wielu słowach 'ż' wmawia się bardziej miękko niż w polskim. Myślę, że dla kogoś, kto zna polski, rosyjski i jeszcze ma porównanie z ukraińskim, język rosyjski wydaje się zdecydowanie najbardziej miękki i szeleszczący (taki wręcz sieleściący ;P).
wszystko zależy od słów jedne słowa są twarde inne miękkie zazwyczaj nie zawsze chyba słowa które mają R wydają się twardsze przez to w jaki sposób wymawiamy i akcentujemy R ale słowa które mają CH nie H bo zauważmy że słowa gdzie jest samo H są troszkę twardsze niż te które mają CH :D
Thanks. You're doing a very good job. It is a pity that knowledge about Poland is actually scarce in the world and is based mainly on incorrect stereotypes. There are countless videos on youtube, mostly of Americans who have moved to Poland, and the message is pretty much always the same. "Oh boy, Poland is completely different than I thought, it's modern, safe, fast developing and full of beautiful monuments and nature and the food is second to none" I wonder how many years it will take for this knowledge to become commonplace.
1:25 The Berlin Wall fell 1989, pretty late, not only because of German Volk, but principally because of Polish "Solidarity" 1980/81 (also: John Paul II, Zbigniew Brzeziński, Lech Wałęsa, Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbatshov) , not the other way round.
If you are in Kraków and like pączki and other sweets than Starowicz sweetery have simply incredible stuff. No, this is not an advertisement - just go and try ;)
Mamy niefortunną nazwę kraju w języku angielskim, która kojarzy się z zimną krainą , coś w stylu ziemia bieguna północnego czy jakoś tak bo pol identycznie brzmi jak biegun .... tak mi to kiedyś obcokrajowcy tłumaczyli
A także dziczyznę czy zająca z buraczkami, krupnik i zrazy zawijane. Polska kuchnia jest przebogata i przepyszna, czerpala z wielu tradycji w czasach Rzeczpospolitej.
Gdansk-Sopot-Gdynia is more like a bay area of the Baltic sea. I highly recommend visiting places like Jastrzebia Gora or Hel where the beaches are beautiful and more open-sea like ps. Speaking of drinking vodka: the mistake that most tourists make is that they drink vodka like it was a wine. One should never taste vodka ! We drink vodka for its strength (40% of pure alcohol or more) not for its taste (that's what wine is for) Polish vodkas like Chopin vodka or Belvedere vodka re the best cheers !
1:10 : In fact, modern Poland reviles Communism nearly as much as it does Nazism, to the point of outlawing promoting either of them. 4:40 : It's worth noting that before the Partitions, our nobility used to season their dishes with so much spices that there's an anecdote about a visiting French dignitary choosing to go hungry rather than touch a so intensely flavored meal 5:40: "Pączki" is already plural same as "Pierogi" . Don't forget to give Oscypki/Redykołki a go - they're a type of cheese made from a mixture of sheep and cow milk, brined and smoked. We also have a couple foods that are rather known for their strong taste: ogórki kiszone (fermented pickles) and kapusta kiszona (fermented sauerkraut, basically) being very common, and the latter being used in Bigos. And of course the infamous Żurek. 9:50: A somewhat but more traditional (but not so popular these days) alcohol for us is mead, which we call miód pitny - literally "drinkable honey"
Regarding Poland being communist country in the past or now Sarah, you should know that neither is true. We had a communist government imposed on us by bolshevik Russia with hundreds of thousands Red Army troops stationed throughout the land fore the sole purpose of maintaining status quo. Polish nation, the people, never bought or believed communist ideology or propaganda. To avoid a lengthy history lesson, I just want to remind everyone who shook off the communist shackles first in Eastern Europe. The rest of it followed. So Sarah, stating that Poland was communist in the past is a little bit insulting to us older generation Poles. What you see now in Poland and describe as modern happened in the last 30 years. One generation! Polak potrafi!!!
Weather-wise, I agree it's not that cold here, and not because I'm a cold-favoring guy (although I am), the country got a lot hotter since I was a little kid so everyone above 25yo knows how cold it CAN be, but we also know it's just not really that cold anymore, even in winter...
@@SarahAchleithner To be honest, Maam. It actually is not that very funny. Decrease of IQ is a global phenomena, but USA leads the way as always. ruclips.net/video/Ufmcubp2szg/видео.html
nie wiem jak w krakowie, ale my, na nizinach od wódki wolimy bimber, jest lepszy, zdrowszy, smaczniejszy, mocniejszy (niekiedy przeszło dwukrotnie), ale jak się zrobi coś samemu, to wie się z czego to zrobione:) pączki, też najlepsze na piwnym cieście z nadzieniem różanym, placki ziemniaczane, tylko same lub z kwaśną śmietaną, te na słodko to herezja:) co do reszty rzeczy, ludzie na świecie jeszcze wielu rzeczy na temat naszego kraju nie wiedzą, a jest na prawdę dużo do zobaczenia:) btw widziałem zdjęcie z łodzi (ec1 dokładnie). pozdrawiam z Łodzi;p
To prawda, złociste, kruche, chrupkie, wspaniale usmazone placki ziemniaczane najlepsze są z kwaśną śmietaną. Idealne połączenie - nasi przodkowie wiedzieli, co dobre, gdy to wymyślili. Na słodko -jakiś banał i nic w tym zachwycającego.
I think it's because people in the West don't learn about Poland or know much about it in general. It also seems to have a lot of stereotypes around it that people assume as truth!
@@SarahAchleithner it's sad that there are those negative stereotypes about Poland. Many western countries have better reputation. I wonder why is that, given that Polish influence in America is rather huge.
Poland🇵🇱, England🏴, Japan🇯🇵 were the only White-and-Red flag countries in NES Tecmo Soccer I used to play as a kid. But I like Poland🇵🇱 the most in Football Soccer only. I am not interested Japan and England for being too popular.
When I was a kid in the 70s in Poland, winters would definitely were very cold and it would stay between -20 to -30 most of the winter and snow was on the ground from November till april. Climate Change has had a huge effect on Polish winters... The one thing that is depressing about winter is how short the days are...
I once met an American couple in the Tatra Mountains (the approach to Hala Gąsienicowa). They told me how they presented their plans to travel to Poland to friends. They heard the question: are you going to Poland via Mexico? 😄
'Poland isn't dog friendly'. Lol, the Polish are OBSESSED with owning dogs. No matter in what kind of small flat someone lives in, there is most likely a very high chance they own the dog anyway. Heck, they own, if I remember the current count, it's around 9 million officially registered dog owners.
I'm an American living in Poland I think Poles love their dogs - but I personally, as a diner in a restaurant don't really want the person next to me with their dog inside. McD's has a bowl outside the store - where the pets can get a drink. I also think taking them on the trams and trains isn't necessarily a great idea. They aren't children - though we get attached to them that way, especially if we don't have children. At least that is how I was with our first dog after we got married. Once I had children, though, I refused to allow another pet to get that close. I thought you would mention szarlotka with desserts. For us the two main things to see in Poland that ALL tourists should take the time for are Malbork and Wieliczka. Both are amazing and unlike anything I've seen anywhere in the world - though I'll freely admit to not having seen all the castles and salt mines out there - these are amazing and we try to make sure tourists go even though they are on opposite ends of the country. Plus tourists have to see a concentration camp - that's part of history. The most funny question we are asked all the time is "What language to do they speak in Poland?" or "Where is Poland?" I think the reason everything seems to new to you is that if you've only been here for four years, then yes, the buildings are you are seeing are new. The buildings back home in Boise are old - or in average US city are older than the average high rise here. They've done so much building since we arrived in 1994 - that most places in the states seem old by comparison. I think of Poland as being bipolar--the new amazing looking malls and then the very poor who have almost no money and common bathrooms in public housing. I don't see how the average Pole even has the money to shop at the mall stores, actually. I do know they have less 'stuff' generally because the ones in the city centers live in small apartments.
Despite everything, the standard of living is increasing year by year. The standard of living today also cannot be compared to the 1990s. Poles go on holiday to Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Spain and recently more and more.
Poland was communist by not choosing it, but by Soviets (ethnically Russians) force and falsification elections and referendums in 1944-1950. Citizens was never accepted communist rule, but secret police (at start right after a IIWW lots of them was russians which have beeen changing surnames into Polish-sounding ones) was held us by the muzzle. I stricly recomend book "I saw Poland betrayed" by Arthur Bliss Lane, ambassador of USA in Poland.
What's the difference? Communism robs everything to the bone and socialism only a part? Communism murders the entire population and socialism only a part?
The problem with Poland is that it's full of Polish... Had a girlfriend once from Gdynia. Too puta unfortunately... But I'd say - in my experience - polish soups are the best. And I know a little about the subject. Worked in 5 forks restaurants in several countries around the globe. And yes that includes "5 stars" restaurants in the US. The shitest gastronomy food + service ever. But yes, polish soups are #1 in my book.
Hi Sarah, I'm a swiss guy; I used to work in the Swiss Embassy in 88' just before the end of comunism. Since then, I use to go quite often to Poland; indeed, I got the virus....a good virus, this time : the more I visited Poland, the more I fell in love with it ! Poland is just an amazing country. Anyway, considering here in Switherland that out of 10 persons, 8-9 will go to a southern destination, the last 1 or 2 people will take another option. People generally are not curious at all, and it is a mistery for me that after over 30 years after the fall of the iron curtain, people still go on thinking with all those overpassed "clichés"; in the same meaning, I still often read that Poland is continuing to be an underrated country....after some years, I could understand it, but after over 3 decades..........people still prefer to pill up (? sorry, in french it would be "s'entasser") in the Ramblas or under the Eiffel tower than discovering a fascinating destination, a fascinating city, like many, many ones in Poland. Anyway, just to speak about Warsaw : there is no other capital in the UE so dynamic as Warsaw; it is changing in such a hight tempo, and they are rehabilitating (renewing) a lot of old and abandoned industries (these last 5 years,... of them have been completed in an amazing way, conservering the old parts, and modernizing the rest of it); all the center of Warsaw is currently in renovation (it will last some more years). Fascinating country, great people, great (and tragical o.c.) History, so tasty food, country full of traditions............
I am Polish and I am writing from Poland. I read your comment with a smile, because for the first time someone from the so-called The West gave a cold analysis of the ignorance of people from their part of Europe, and even the world. I like watching RUclipsrs from the West and people coming to Poland in general when they are shocked as if they are on Mars. Then I laugh out loud. It turns out that Poland is not Sibria, there are no -50C frosts, there are no white bears running around the streets, people eat with a knife and fork and there is civilization. I think I'll never stop laughing at it.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment 💕 Poland is really an amazing country!
Poland is a surprising country, that's for sure!
@@SarahAchleithner deffo, you might think people r friendly and youll Leave ur car open and ppl r gonna steal ur car⍢⃝
@@Euphicessw if you leave your car open anywhere on this planet someone might steal it and you have only yourself to blame. Cannot really see the point of you're trying to make here.
I was born in Poland but moved to the US as a young child in the 1980's. I spent almost my entire life thinking I was an American. I visited Poland a couple years ago and realized that I was merely cosplaying an American for the last 35 years and that my heart and soul are back in Poland. I'm planning on moving back to my home country as soon as possible. I'm terrified because I barely know the language but I can't stop that nagging feeling that it is where I belong.
I hope you can make it back! Poland is wonderful!
come back, bro! we’re waiting for ya
yeah, do it. my friend from Canada is doing similar move and he will stay in Poland for a month trial :)
Hello Sarah, I am an American of Polish descent. I started getting interested in my ancestors and learning the polish language in prep for a month-long trip I recently took to Poland. Like you, I immediately fell in love with the country. I felt so comfortable when I was there, even though I was alone, in a foreign country, with only a basic understanding of the language I never felt alone or lonely. I traveled to five different cities and honestly loved them all. I really enjoyed Wrocław the most. I will be returning in February and spending more concentrated time in Wrocław for the two weeks. I have also decided to emigrate to Poland.
I found your channel and watched it before I visited, but it has become much more meaningful since I have been there. Now when I watch your videos, I can use them to confirm what I saw in Poland.
Anyway, take care and enjoy your days in Poland.
Rick
Thanks so much for your kind words! I'm so glad to hear you love Poland and are wanting to live here. Wroclaw is a beautiful place!
I'm from Poland and i as a Polish guy can tell that in Poland beer is more popular than vodka
Some prefer beer, some does vodka... thing is our brew when tasted at October fest has totally different quality - every single brand that goes there tastes way better than the typical brewery u can buy at local stores. And that is DISGUSTING AS FU***K. kurła ;p
@@UszatyCDF prawda
So true... much, much more popular
@@UszatyCDF We don't know what it's about. Read it and write it again
Whenever Americans complain about the Polish language, I am reminded of the opening paragraphs of the fourth chapter of Henry Miller's book Sexus😹😹
"There is one thing I like about the Poles - their language. Polish, when it is spoken by intelligent people, puts me in ecstasy. The sound of the language evokes strange images in which there is always a greensward of fine spiked grass in which hornets and snakes play a great part. I remember days long back when Stanley would invite me to visit his relatives; he used to make me carry a roll of music because he wanted to show me off to these rich relatives. I remember this atmosphere well because in the presence of these smooth-tongued, overly polite, pretentious and thoroughly false Poles I felt miserably uncomfortable. But when they spoke to one another, sometimes in French, sometimes in Polish, I sat back and watched them fascinatedly. They made strange Polish grimaces, altogether unlike our relatives, who were stupid barbarians at bottom. The Poles were like standing snakes fitted up with collars of hornets. I never knew what they were talking about but it always seemed to me as if they were politely assassinating someone. They were all fitted up with sabers and broadswords which they held in their teeth or brandished fiercely in a thundering charge. They never swerved from the path but rode roughshod over women and children, spiking them with long spikes beribboned with blood-red pennants. All this, of course, in the drawing room over a glass of strong tea, the men in butter-colored gloves, the women dangling their silly lorgnettes. The women were always ravishingly beautiful, the blond houri type garnered centuries ago during the Crusades. They hissed their long polychromatic words through tiny, sensual mouths whose lips were soft as geraniums. These furious sorties with adders and rose petals made an intoxicating sort of music, a steel-gibber which could also register anomalous sounds like sobs and falling jets of water."
I don't think I need to add that Miller is an American writer, but perhaps not everyone remembers that he was born into a family of German immigrants, which particularly amuses me as a Pole.
Well, dear Americans, learn Polish, arm your mouths with snakes and hornets, and you won't need pistols and rifles.😁😁
What I'm about to say is perhaps historical, I'm wondering whether this extent of ignorance still exists? I once read an article in some magazine from the 1990s, wherein foreign diplomats freshly arrived in Warsaw were interviewed about their first impressions. The Spanish ambassador was very surprised to see the trees and greenery, because he expected a tundra (yes, that's what he said). The Indian diplomat was surprised to see "solid buildings" like in the West. And everyone was shocked by the warm summer weather.
They were diplomats and they didn't know they're going to a normal European country? That's kinda sad... or maybe they were joking?
this is what russia made with us and their propaganda (just 40 years and world forgot about that is something like Poland). Poland has much more over 1000 years of history as a western civilization. for few hundred years was even a biggest empire in Europe. Poland hasn't even a bit worse history, castles, tourist and cultural potential than other western countries and im very glad that people again starting to realize how nice and cozy this european country is ;)
Poland has changed so much its similar in a lot of ways to western countries. It sure is different to when I was a kid and was in Poland in 1988 and the city would turn off the water regularly to save water and when my mother was talking to family in 1986 about Chernobyl and the phone was tapped by the government and they interrupted the conversation. Now there is modern stores, food is fresh, etc.
I can't even imagine how much different it is compared to 40 years ago!
Cześć fajnie że dewastujesz stereotypy o Polsce. Pozdrawiam i suba zostawiam :)
Hi! I'm Polish and my favourite city is Toruń also! So underrated - even among Polish ppl! It's ellegant, medieval and not packed with many tourists! (It's not a tourist trap).
Yes, it's such a great place!
Some of the things you have to consider when you think of mid Europe (old eastern Europe) is that yes, we have started to change when "western" countries were at their best BUT... when we started to change we could use all of the newest tech and make it our basic structure. When in the "western" countries, they already had full infrastructure build up and making a change to it, upgrading it would cost bilions upon bilions of $. That's why when I visit western Europe, they have MUCH worse internet connections, much worse public transport etc..
Polish beaches and "not very warm" Baltic Sea - one of the quirks of the Baltic Sea is that when the southern wind blows and the weather gets really warm, even hot, taking a dip in Baltic in Poland might feel like diving in an ice hole. The thing is, strong southern winds pushes away warm(ish) surface water toward Sweden, and this causes upwelling of colder water from underneath - and the result is a strange mix where air temperature is around 30+°C/ 90-ish °F while water temperature could be as low as 8-10°C/ 46-50°F.
This phenomenon does not exist in the Gulf of Gdańsk. The water is warm there.
@@alh6255 Might be so, but anyway the main "holiday seaside" (i.e. one occupied by holidaymakers) is the north shore, going from Świnoujście to Władysławowo, and at any rate Baltic Sea can be seen as "warmish" only by Norwegians or Scotts ;-)
@@MrKotBonifacy Sometimes I spend my holidays on a beautiful beach near Darłowo ("main seaside") and the relatively cool water temperature suits me. I also experienced an interesting adventure in Finland, in the northern part of the Baltic Sea, on the Gulf of Bothnia (more or less at the height of Oulu), where there is a warm sea current. The water was warm as soup and I didn't like it. I also missed beautiful Polish beaches.
@@alh6255 That "warm water in Finland" thing might be the direct result of the aforementioned "southern wind" phenomenon. And whether one likes it warm (or cold), "the warmth is in the pants of beholder", to paraphrase that popular saying. Still, having spent '90s in tropics (and frequently scuba diving there) I'can't be really convinced that Baltic is a warm sea and I doubt it would suit my temperature preferences. But yes, its beaches, with their really soft sand are beautiful. Cheers!
I know (I'm interested in geography). You don't have to repeat all of that so many times :) - in addition, including wrong generalizations. I don't really know why you do it. And remember: an interesting experience doesn't mean "surprising."
Ja lubię tradycyjne pączki różane 😁
It's sooooo interesting to watch your vids and listen to your perspective. I'm Polish but living in USA, just visited Poland a few months ago and loved it. I used to live in Cracow also....I miss that city. 🙂
Thanks for watching! It's always fun to hear other people's perspectives!
it's great that you share your thoughts with us!
Thanks for watching!
I'll share what i LOVE about Warszawa. I live next door to Varso and work at Wawrzyszew. I always go out 2 hours earlier to have a stroll through a forest to clear my mind and have an energy to share with clients. I love mondays, because i can get to work and meet new ppl. After work i can take a free ferry to other side of Wisła and take a hike up the river or take out out my fishing gear and git good. XD it is so good to have a smile when u go out to work, just being happy about everything that surrounds you. I love my city, though my every encounter with boars for the last30 years were a bit dodgy
All ritht, I rarely ever comment but I am half-German (Berlin) and half-American (Utah), yet somehow I moved here to Poland, Warsaw (long story) and I am never, ever moving out again. Has to do with my experiences and pretty much what you say, RUclips Creator username Sarah Achleithner. Thank you for all your videos, they are more accurate than I dare to admit.
So glad you enjoy being in Poland! Such a wonderful and under-rated country!
Short list of quite interesting polish food:
Żurek (Soup eaten during Easter)
Bigos
Kapusta kiszona
Rosół (zupa na bazie gotowanego kurczaka)
krokiety (idealne do barszczu czerwonego na święta)
Uszka
Karp (fish eaten during Christmas)
Susz (kompot z wędzonych śliwek)
Kotlet schabowy
Kotlet mielony
yummmmm 😋
There is also a desert near Kraków :) nice to visit too :)
pustynia błędowska
Hi. Great material. 'Pączki' is also plural, that's another trap. Have a good time in Poland. Take care.
thanks!
Poland was communist country, but not from choice.
40 years were enough under russian occupation and it is amazing how quickly the world forgot about a country that has over 1000 years of history and was one of the largest European empires for several hundred years. Poland existed here when the russians were not even in the plans of the mages who created these orcs.
from choice >>> by choice
Thank you for the video. Made me think about some things. The fact that anyone who would be interested could easily check the statistics which are done in the whole EU. Alcohol consumption is very similar to the average for the whole EU. Dominate beer consumption. Like... Very dominant. There are 286 breweries in Poland. There are big brands (like Tyskie, which is very popular in Germany) and plenty of small local breweries. Huge diversity. The oldest one is from 1553. So yeah, I would say that beer traditions are older and more common. Some people like to drink vodka on occasions (like weddings or birthdays).
When comes to architecture - in many older cities and smaller towns, it is similar to German. Gdansk (Danzig) is an old Hanseatic City (you will see the resemblance to Hamburg). Beaches... Plenty of them, but water rarely has a comfortable temperature. But if you are into sailing - Poland has its traditions. Mazury, Kaszuby for internal sailing and the whole coast for sea sailing (there is plenty of sailing schools in Gdynia). When it comes to industry... Polish furniture is everywhere in Europe. Next time you buy something from Ikea (a Swedish company), please check where the factory is ;) There is one thing which is unique compared to western Europe. Wilde nature. Wild forests (you cannot experience this in Germany or western Europe). Aurochs (Zubr), wolfs, birds and mammals that barely exist in the West. I have lived in Germany for years and regularly visited Tirol (Austria). I love it. But sometimes I miss wild nature. I got used to this as a kid in Poland and didn't find it here (West). And Malbork Castle. With the biggest land area in the world. And the biggest brick castle. The ones in Salzburg or Windsor are 3 times smaller. Tour guides at Malbork Castle speak multiple languages. Or you can use electronic tour guides. And Warsaw is almost overwhelming with its tall and modern buildings. Monday to Saturday, life there is very intense.
So, let's summarize:
Hundreds of local beers. Polish and Germans are alike. Schnitzel, Sauerkraut und Bier.
Sailing areas and traditions. And lots of rivers for kayaking.
Probably polish furniture in your flat if you are living in Europe.
You still can find amber on the coast if you are lucky (close to Danzig, Roman ships around 2000 years ago were even coming here to trade for amber).
The biggest castle on this planet. I suggest some medieval cosplay events and LARPS.
Aurochs, wolfs and other wild nature. And experienced hunters from Europe know about this.
And still a little bit cheaper to enjoy holidays than in western Europe.
For beaches with warm water, go to the Mediterranean sea. Beaches yes. Warm water, rarely (summer has to be really warm).
Oh, and Salsa fans. Plus, other clubs. There are places to party. Warsaw and Wroclaw (Breslau) are on the top.
Torun and Krakow very beautiful.
Some Viking burials in Wielkopolska and the Viking King Bluetooth (yes, after his name, you have technology in your smartphone) outpost was on Wolin island. And events.
I just cannot ignore this post. I testify all of this is true .
Thanks for your awesome comment! So much good info here!
By the way, the Vikings and the Poles mixed willingly and traded together very harmoniously. They founded and lived together in common trading posts on the Baltic coast. The famous Danish Viking king Canute, conqueror of the British Isles, was the son of a Polish princess and a Danish king. On the island of Rugia (Rügen - near the island of Wolin) - today in Germany, there were the largest temples of the Western Slavs, also willingly visited by the Vikings as part of their pilgrimages.
I would be very cautious about larger animals. Generally if you can take it one your hands or on your lap there shouldn't be a problem but I don't think people would be happy to have a dog walking in their store. Often times there is a place where you can leave your dog outside and there even might be a bowl with water for it, but in general I would expect a larger animal to be an obstacle in travel. One thing I can say for certain is that dogs aren't seen everyday everywhere inside mass transit, long range transit, hotels or shops. There is a great chance you will be accommodated somehow and people do transport larger pets in mass transit and usually people are very friendly towards them, but it's not like everyone has a dog on a bus. It's a rare enough sight that it still breeds curiosity.
In Poland, basically we have almost everything, wanna sea? you got it, dunes? you got it, maybe a desert ? Yeep you got it, mountains ? of course! Big lakes? Sure, wild forests? We have plenty. Wanna see aurora borealis, well not that common, but it is possible. Glacier, yes, glacier is a thing we do not have :D But we had ... :D
haha yes such a great country!
I wanna see. I want to swim in the sea. :)
@@robertkukuczka9469 No you do not want to swim in the baltik sea :D its always cold
Wódka wasn't even the most popular alcohol for a long time, mead and beer were. Mead is getting more popular again and it's a good thing since it have a very long tradition of brewing.
I’m polish and i visited many european countries. So people constantly asked me are You drinking vodka Everly day, is Poland so cold, and do You have access to the sea
Yes, it's crazy to find out that people don't know much about Poland!
I am a Pole and never drink vodka, and beer - I drink sometimes (3 per year about) martini or vine and know a lot of people like that here
I'm Pole. I'm appreciated this video. It's it nice to hear that Americans like Poland. It's huge difference if you notice that during many years Poles left Poland and escape to US because it was poor and sad. Many of them were lived there illegally. Now it's changed and I'm really happy that foreigner like to visit and stay in Poland. If you like some nice place to visit I recommend Międzyrzecki Rejon Umocniony.
Thanks! I'll have to check it out!
Speaking of desserts, have you heard of Rogal Świętomarciński (St. Martins croissant)? You can buy it only in Wielkopolska, especially Poznań but it's worth the trip. Now it can be quite hard to find, but on 11 November (St. Martins day) it is literally everywhere in and near Poznań. And it's way better than pączki.
Sarah, it is always so refreshing watching your videos. I did not comment, but I did watch your ICE-landic escapade. Brrr.. looked cold! Pączki are good, but did you ever tried white pączki? My mom used to make them. Instead of deep frying she steamed them, taste so different. When I moved from Europe to NA I was almost shocked of the technological difference, and I don't mean computers, just everyday exposure. It didn't change much here since that day, not that I mind considering where I come from.
thanks for watching!
Nice vid! I guess an interesting topic for your vid could be "drinking & beverages PL vs US" - comparing drinking coffee culture US & PL, tea in PL (variety, role in PL day-to-day), how people drink spirits in US & PL, sodas, juices and smoothies and of course water (tap, bottled) :)
Great idea! I will definitely add this to my list of video ideas. Thanks for the suggestion!
The best pączki are in “Polish Pączki Cafe” in the biggest Polish City - Chicago 😀😉
yummm!
If you like hiking then one day you should go and try Śnieżka mountain its beautiful especially In the summer
Thanks for the recommendation--I'll have to check it out next summer!
@@SarahAchleithner Spring or autumn are much better option. Last summer there was so many tourists climbing Śnieżka, that the authorities of Karkonoski Park Narodowy (Karkonoski National Park) due to safety reasons made some paths as one way only to limit wide flow of tourists going in opposite direcitions on narrow and steep mountain rocky paths. Also, to preserve the environment of national park.
I was born in Poland, but I moved to states, and I am living here more than 30 years and I am so scared to go back to Poland because I don’t know if I can find myself there again 🤐
And I know Poland change so much now
Hello from Florida 🤙
Why do you want to return anyway? Fulfil your destiny and stay. Succumb to destruction in one hour along with Babylon the Great. This was the fate that was written for you. Besides, Poland, too, may be razed to the ground like most of the world. And soon. So why change location?
Comparing Poland from the 1990s to the present one, it can be said that it is a completely different country.
...first of all you will be always feel safe in Poland, and second, finally you will be between own ppl.
I came back to Poland two years ago after living in the United States for 36 years. Trust me. Poland is much, much better in every way. Besides, the United States does not exist anymore.
Poland is muuuch more safe than the United States, and that's a fact 😉 don't be scared, book your flight, visit and you'll be coming back every year 😀
Cześć Sarah, cieszy mnie to, że lubisz Polskę. Moim ulubionym miastem w Polsce jest: Gdynia, Sopot oraz Gdańsk. 💋 Życzę miłego dnia dla wszystkich co to czytają!
Thank you , You are so positive about my old country, Thank you so much for so much positive attitude. we love you
💕💕
About Polish food being bland. Misconception come from fact that during Communism (what BTW was enforced by occupants) it was hard to get even basic ingredients of decent quality. Especially the spices. But in reality Polish kitchen is in fact quite complex and rich. Though people need relearn using spices and some ingredients when then become available again.
This is great insight!
Zapomniano wspomnieć, że w Polsce białe niedzwiedzie chodzą po ulicach...
😂😂😂😂😂😂
subscribed after watching just 2 videos! :)
thanks so much! Glad to have you here!
@@SarahAchleithner :)
Hello, if you live in Poland and are not afraid of the depths, visit the salt mines in Bochnia and Wieliczka.
We have been there! Super cool place.
7:10 were you been to the dessert(Pustynia Błędwska)? pretty nice place and not a lot of ppl know it exist
I'm from poland and I'm welcoming you to Katowice old tawn in Śląsk but this is a lot to visit
Jesteś z Polski i piszesz 'poland', ale przy okazji piszesz poprawnie "Katowice" i 'Śląsk"? Co z tobą?
Świetny materiał! Na szczęście już nowe pokolenie nie myśli stereotypowo o Polsce dzięki dobie social mediów , Erasmusa itd ,ale ze starszym jest faktycznie problem. Pozdrawiam .
💕
Mysli mysli, na pewno zalezy od kraju.
To tylko dlatego dobrze tam o Polsce mysla, ze Rozia WON... jeszcze tam sie nie PO-kazala z judaszowym ozorem.
Pączek... classic one, powder sugar on top (don't like glaze), with rose stuffing.
yummm that's so good!
jak pączki, to tylko z adwokatem! :D
Czyli masz coś na sumieniu hehe :) A weź to przetłumacz haha : "Donuts with a lawyer" :)
Poland was a big reason why the Wall fell in the early 90's. Poland was the first Eastern Bloc country to give the finger to the Kremlin. My grandparents being Poles and the sole survivors of their families after WWII, we cheered the Polish backbone standing up to Mother Russia.
I am Polish, thank you for your video. That is true, Poland is changing very quickly after the fall of communism, which it contributed to. I'm 60 years old and it's a completely different country from the one I grew up in. Speaking about tourism - the best tourist attraction is our nature - quiet and peaceful. My favorite place is Beskid Niski, range of low mountains, where you can spend all day wandering through beautiful forests and meadows, meeting very few people.
Well said! Yes, the nature here is great!
Hi! Im from Kraków and Im also amazed how dog friendly this city became. You can take you dog even to the changing room and every shop in Bonarka (one of the malls here). There are even restaurants which gives you special discount if you take your dog with you (Akita ramen - I can highly recommend if you like asian options). Parks everywhere, lots of dog parks and sometimes special events for dogs and dogs lovers. Oh and I personally hate vodka and don't drink it even on wedding and in my opinion most of my friends also.
Yes, I love that it's so dog-friendly here! I didn't know about Akita ramen giving a discount if you take your dog--looks like I'll need to check that out because we love ramen!
A fresh Advocat paczki is my all time favorite. But can be elusive to find
Will have to keep my eyes peeled!
The Polish soup "żurek/zurek" is included in various world rankings among the best soups in the world. It usually takes the first or second place (after the Japanese "ramen" soup).
Pączek only with rose petal jam - the classic one.
yes that is so gooooood!
That thing with the cold weather in Poland depends how good you'll prepare to IT :)
Oh yes!
Which paczki I like ? Doubles with cofee or glas of milk :))
hahahaha yes that's the best!
the Berlin Wall fell AFTER Poland defeated the communists. not the other way around.
Pączki are already plural
You don't have to say "pączkis"
One "pączek"
More "pączki"
The same with pierogi
Pierogi is plural
One "pieróg"
More "pierogi"
I always wonder why english native speakers sound like they're trying to sounds russian when they speak polish
I mean, the polish accent is totally different and the whole language is different. Polish is smoother, not that harsh for example
But thank you for your kind words about the country, I hope you'll be happy here
You mean that Polish accent in English is smoother than Russian accent? That might be the case, but Russian language is definitely softer than Polish. ;)
@@marek9081 All I hear so far was russian says polish is smoother,
But the opinion depends on native language
Dla rosjan słyszałem ,że polski jest dużo delikatniejszy. Tą samą opinię słyszałem od kilku innych przedstawicieli różnych narodowości.
Gdy próbuję "nie rozumieć" polskiego tylko słyszeć jego dźwięk też zauważyłem/odczułem ,że polski brzmi łagodnie w porównaniu z innymi językami słowiańskimi.
Zwłaszcza ,że polski to język zachodniosłowiański.
@@krewetkashrimp Takie pojęcia jak delikatny i łagodny są nieprecyzyjne, mogą oznaczać różne rzeczy dla różnych ludzi. Znam rosyjski i zdecydowanie jest to najbardziej miękki język słowiański. W sensie, że np. nie ma tam twardego 'cz' i 'szcz', jak w polskim; w wielu słowach 'ż' wmawia się bardziej miękko niż w polskim. Myślę, że dla kogoś, kto zna polski, rosyjski i jeszcze ma porównanie z ukraińskim, język rosyjski wydaje się zdecydowanie najbardziej miękki i szeleszczący (taki wręcz sieleściący ;P).
@@marek9081 Ile ludzi tyle opinii
Ja rosyjskiego też się uczyłem i dla mnie brzmi twardo
wszystko zależy od słów jedne słowa są twarde inne miękkie zazwyczaj nie zawsze chyba słowa które mają R wydają się twardsze przez to w jaki sposób wymawiamy i akcentujemy R ale słowa które mają CH nie H bo zauważmy że słowa gdzie jest samo H są troszkę twardsze niż te które mają CH :D
Thanks. You're doing a very good job. It is a pity that knowledge about Poland is actually scarce in the world and is based mainly on incorrect stereotypes. There are countless videos on youtube, mostly of Americans who have moved to Poland, and the message is pretty much always the same. "Oh boy, Poland is completely different than I thought, it's modern, safe, fast developing and full of beautiful monuments and nature and the food is second to none"
I wonder how many years it will take for this knowledge to become commonplace.
Thank you!
My favorite pączek is with marmalade and chocolate coating
Have a nice day
Yum sounds amazing!
1:25 The Berlin Wall fell 1989, pretty late, not only because of German Volk, but principally because of Polish "Solidarity" 1980/81 (also: John Paul II, Zbigniew Brzeziński, Lech Wałęsa, Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbatshov) , not the other way round.
Tak, a walesa byl kobieta
@@woyte69sz33 Nie wiem, Danuśki spytaj!
@@swetoniuszkorda5737 ale napewno nie uratowal Nas od komuny, o to chodzilo,millego dnia
@@woyte69sz33 Różne są opinie. Miłego!
PLUS Margaret Thatcher, the iron lady. She was great!
If you are in Kraków and like pączki and other sweets than Starowicz sweetery have simply incredible stuff. No, this is not an advertisement - just go and try ;)
I'll have to check it out! Thanks for the recommendation!
❤ślicznotka
💕💕
Poland is typical four seasons country, so why would enyone think it's freezing cold?
Mamy niefortunną nazwę kraju w języku angielskim, która kojarzy się z zimną krainą , coś w stylu ziemia bieguna północnego czy jakoś tak bo pol identycznie brzmi jak biegun .... tak mi to kiedyś obcokrajowcy tłumaczyli
From food you should try Żurek, Barszcz, Gołąbki and Flaczki po Zamojsku.
A także dziczyznę czy zająca z buraczkami, krupnik i zrazy zawijane. Polska kuchnia jest przebogata i przepyszna, czerpala z wielu tradycji w czasach Rzeczpospolitej.
Gdansk-Sopot-Gdynia is more like a bay area of the Baltic sea. I highly recommend visiting places like Jastrzebia Gora or Hel where the beaches are beautiful and more open-sea like ps. Speaking of drinking vodka: the mistake that most tourists make is that they drink vodka like it was a wine. One should never taste vodka ! We drink vodka for its strength (40% of pure alcohol or more) not for its taste (that's what wine is for) Polish vodkas like Chopin vodka or Belvedere vodka re the best cheers !
1:10 : In fact, modern Poland reviles Communism nearly as much as it does Nazism, to the point of outlawing promoting either of them.
4:40 : It's worth noting that before the Partitions, our nobility used to season their dishes with so much spices that there's an anecdote about a visiting French dignitary choosing to go hungry rather than touch a so intensely flavored meal
5:40: "Pączki" is already plural same as "Pierogi" .
Don't forget to give Oscypki/Redykołki a go - they're a type of cheese made from a mixture of sheep and cow milk, brined and smoked.
We also have a couple foods that are rather known for their strong taste: ogórki kiszone (fermented pickles) and kapusta kiszona (fermented sauerkraut, basically) being very common, and the latter being used in Bigos. And of course the infamous Żurek.
9:50: A somewhat but more traditional (but not so popular these days) alcohol for us is mead, which we call miód pitny - literally "drinkable honey"
Regarding Poland being communist country in the past or now Sarah, you should know that neither is true. We had a communist government imposed on us by bolshevik Russia with hundreds of thousands Red Army troops stationed throughout the land fore the sole purpose of maintaining status quo. Polish nation, the people,
never bought or believed communist ideology or propaganda. To avoid a lengthy history lesson, I just want to remind everyone who shook off the communist shackles
first in Eastern Europe. The rest of it followed. So Sarah, stating that Poland was communist in the past is a little bit insulting to us older generation Poles.
What you see now in Poland and describe as modern happened in the last 30 years. One generation! Polak potrafi!!!
Weather-wise, I agree it's not that cold here, and not because I'm a cold-favoring guy (although I am), the country got a lot hotter since I was a little kid so everyone above 25yo knows how cold it CAN be, but we also know it's just not really that cold anymore, even in winter...
My dad doesn't even care for locking his car - that says a lot about safety in PL . XD
You are beautiful and charismatic and seems nice. I am jalouse. Finger crossed for your youtube channel!
thanks so much! You're too kind. Thanks for watching!
Same clock 😅
Have you already tried tatar? 😅
did your family visit you in Poland? if not what would you like to show in Poland
Yes, my family has visited us a few times in Poland! We took them to Gdansk, Sopot, Wroclaw, Lublin, Torun, Warsaw, Zakopane, and Krakow.
@@SarahAchleithner it's time for Poznań 🙂
Poland were never comunist, we were just under soviet occupation, when wor the rest world world war 2 ends in 1945 for us it ends in 1989
I cannot get the name of the city, Min 7:24
In Poland we say cgest as hi/hello
cgest >>> cześć // Naszego 'cześć' nie da się przestawić literami tak, aby cudzoziemiec odczytał to słowo dość zrozumiale.
Vodka is more and more replaced by beer in everyday life.
Well, some people in USA think that Ohio is the capital city of the state of Chicago...
😅😅😅
@@SarahAchleithner To be honest, Maam. It actually is not that very funny. Decrease of IQ is a global phenomena, but USA leads the way as always.
ruclips.net/video/Ufmcubp2szg/видео.html
What city do u live
Czy byłaś w Bydgoszczy
nie wiem jak w krakowie, ale my, na nizinach od wódki wolimy bimber, jest lepszy, zdrowszy, smaczniejszy, mocniejszy (niekiedy przeszło dwukrotnie), ale jak się zrobi coś samemu, to wie się z czego to zrobione:) pączki, też najlepsze na piwnym cieście z nadzieniem różanym, placki ziemniaczane, tylko same lub z kwaśną śmietaną, te na słodko to herezja:) co do reszty rzeczy, ludzie na świecie jeszcze wielu rzeczy na temat naszego kraju nie wiedzą, a jest na prawdę dużo do zobaczenia:) btw widziałem zdjęcie z łodzi (ec1 dokładnie). pozdrawiam z Łodzi;p
To prawda, złociste, kruche, chrupkie, wspaniale usmazone placki ziemniaczane najlepsze są z kwaśną śmietaną. Idealne połączenie - nasi przodkowie wiedzieli, co dobre, gdy to wymyślili. Na słodko -jakiś banał i nic w tym zachwycającego.
Seriously? Are these stereotypes about Poland common in the West? It is quite sad. I wonder why is that?
I think it's because people in the West don't learn about Poland or know much about it in general. It also seems to have a lot of stereotypes around it that people assume as truth!
@@SarahAchleithner it's sad that there are those negative stereotypes about Poland. Many western countries have better reputation. I wonder why is that, given that Polish influence in America is rather huge.
I took the wock to poland
What the hell is "wock"?
Poland🇵🇱, England🏴, Japan🇯🇵 were the only White-and-Red flag countries in NES Tecmo Soccer I used to play as a kid. But I like Poland🇵🇱 the most in Football Soccer only. I am not interested Japan and England for being too popular.
They got wok
When I was a kid in the 70s in Poland, winters would definitely were very cold and it would stay between -20 to -30 most of the winter and snow was on the ground from November till april. Climate Change has had a huge effect on Polish winters... The one thing that is depressing about winter is how short the days are...
Yes, I agree-the darkness and short days make winter really hard here!
I once met an American couple in the Tatra Mountains (the approach to Hala Gąsienicowa). They told me how they presented their plans to travel to Poland to friends. They heard the question: are you going to Poland via Mexico? 😄
'Poland isn't dog friendly'. Lol, the Polish are OBSESSED with owning dogs. No matter in what kind of small flat someone lives in, there is most likely a very high chance they own the dog anyway. Heck, they own, if I remember the current count, it's around 9 million officially registered dog owners.
I'm an American living in Poland I think Poles love their dogs - but I personally, as a diner in a restaurant don't really want the person next to me with their dog inside. McD's has a bowl outside the store - where the pets can get a drink. I also think taking them on the trams and trains isn't necessarily a great idea. They aren't children - though we get attached to them that way, especially if we don't have children. At least that is how I was with our first dog after we got married. Once I had children, though, I refused to allow another pet to get that close.
I thought you would mention szarlotka with desserts. For us the two main things to see in Poland that ALL tourists should take the time for are Malbork and Wieliczka. Both are amazing and unlike anything I've seen anywhere in the world - though I'll freely admit to not having seen all the castles and salt mines out there - these are amazing and we try to make sure tourists go even though they are on opposite ends of the country. Plus tourists have to see a concentration camp - that's part of history. The most funny question we are asked all the time is "What language to do they speak in Poland?" or "Where is Poland?"
I think the reason everything seems to new to you is that if you've only been here for four years, then yes, the buildings are you are seeing are new. The buildings back home in Boise are old - or in average US city are older than the average high rise here. They've done so much building since we arrived in 1994 - that most places in the states seem old by comparison.
I think of Poland as being bipolar--the new amazing looking malls and then the very poor who have almost no money and common bathrooms in public housing. I don't see how the average Pole even has the money to shop at the mall stores, actually. I do know they have less 'stuff' generally because the ones in the city centers live in small apartments.
Despite everything, the standard of living is increasing year by year. The standard of living today also cannot be compared to the 1990s. Poles go on holiday to Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Spain and recently more and more.
Reaction To 7 Misconceptions About Poland
ruclips.net/video/KLSQiTvzr9g/видео.html
thanks for featuring my video!
Reaction To 7 Misconceptions About Poland
ruclips.net/video/M_GehEppUD4/видео.html
Poland was communist by not choosing it, but by Soviets (ethnically Russians) force and falsification elections and referendums in 1944-1950. Citizens was never accepted communist rule, but secret police (at start right after a IIWW lots of them was russians which have beeen changing surnames into Polish-sounding ones) was held us by the muzzle. I stricly recomend book "I saw Poland betrayed" by Arthur Bliss Lane, ambassador of USA in Poland.
...nie wyglądasz na kogoś kto lubi pączki :)
Jak lubi wodke, to juz wystarczy!🤣
@0:05 Who thinks so? The average American? 😱
Most Americans know nothing about Poland, and what they do know is mainly based on misconceptions.
Vodka is hideous. I like Czech beer.
Really, People think that things about Poland...?
I don't think anything is wrong but you know its trash to me anyways even if i'm from Poland
Try to express yourself in REAL English, not in your mambo-jumbo.
@@markmal8479 no thanks but i agree that my english is really bad
Not communist but socialist country
What's the difference? Communism robs everything to the bone and socialism only a part? Communism murders the entire population and socialism only a part?
Hello i am from Poland Prof: ż ź ó ę ą ś ć ń ł
I can see you’re American.
I think that only real poles can say how it is to leave here
nah ;)
leave >>> LIVE
I mean, Poland isn't communist but our goverment is pretty much comming back to it. I can confirm that myself
Nie rozumiem angielskiego
to sie naucz . Angielski jest prosty
The problem with Poland is that it's full of Polish...
Had a girlfriend once from Gdynia. Too puta unfortunately...
But I'd say - in my experience - polish soups are the best.
And I know a little about the subject. Worked in 5 forks restaurants in several countries around the globe. And yes that includes "5 stars" restaurants in the US. The shitest gastronomy food + service ever.
But yes, polish soups are #1 in my book.
the soups here are soooo good!
Problem with Poland is that it's full of Polish? WTf is this supposed to mean?
You're judging entire nation basing on one girl? It says more about you than the nation, dude.
@@rafadydkiemmacha7543
And where exactly you got that from, "Einstein?"
@@johnnymentero6313 when you said the worst food and service, you meant Polish or American?
In Poland communism has not end I was just rebranded
Who invented this 7 Misconceptions ? Its totally bullshit and i never heard that someone accused us for this.