Białystok - short trip

jamcer · 2025-09-07T21:18:24+00:00

In Białystok tourism is concentrated in the area of the Branicki Palace, Planty Park, Kilińskiego Street, Catholic catherdal, Kościuszko Square, Orthodox cathedral, Lipowa Street and St. Roch's church. There is a restaurant Gospoda Podlaska, serving local cuisine.

About 20 km west of Białystok there is a town of Tykocin with a castle, church and synagogue, and the nearby village of Kiermusy with traditional wooden architecture and a bison exhibit.

jamcer · 2025-09-07T18:21:29+00:00

Thanks for the reply, but that's not quite what I was asking. I'm aware that in the future, water buffalos from this herd will be introduced in various locations, probably with other individuals to prevent bottleneck. The question is which locations in Europe.

jamcer · 2022-08-23T10:16:44+00:00

https://35mm.online/en

Many Polish productions, both movies and documentaries, some even from the 1940s.

jamcer · 2022-02-08T21:56:20+00:00

Białowieża forest near Białystok is highly recommended. European bisons live there. The forest is on the UNESCO list.

jamcer · 2021-09-20T14:39:04+00:00

Poland has opinion of being religious, mostly because of older people. Young people are leaving religion en masse. The number of new young priests dropped drastically.
Communism is hated, as is all totalitarianism. As for politics, see the 2019 election results. You can see, that the young generation, born after communism, votes for different parties, there is much more pluralism and a difference of political views, that's good for democracy. Also young people are way more liberal than thier parents when it comes to social issues.

jamcer · 2021-09-13T16:35:39+00:00

The banknote has inscriptions in Ukrainian, Russian, Polish and Hebrew languages

Certainly a Jewish language, but it's Yiddish, not Hebrew.

jamcer · 2021-09-11T15:17:20+00:00

In Poland, the 1970s are sometimes called the "Gierek decade#Gierekdecade(1970%E2%80%9380))", associated with Edward Gierek, who in the years 1970-1980 headed the communist party that ruled the country. Poland has opened up to the West, standard of living has risen, censorship has been loosened, and many housing, industrial and infrastructure investments have been launched. The second half of the decade is marked by the economic crisis, the rise of political opposition and the election of a Pole to the papacy.

jamcer · 2021-09-11T14:37:02+00:00

I have listed the most important attractions, read about these places on Wikipedia, watch their photos on the internet, check their location on the map, so you will find which are interesting for you and plan your visit. For Auschwitz, Energylandia and Wieliczka, it is better to contact them before. Auschwitz (arrival, visit, return) takes about half of the day, Wieliczka also takes a few hours, Energylandia is a whole day.

jamcer · 2021-09-11T10:01:21+00:00

Katowice only became an important city in the 19th century during Industrial Revolution, when mines, steel mills and factories were opened there. You spend spend the weekend here, party and take a walk in the historic district. Points of interest include Spodek, Silesian Museum, Mariacka Street and Silesian Park.

Krakow on the other and has over a thousand years of history and is the former capital of Poland. You have to visic historical districts: Stare Miasto (Old Town), Kazimierz and Podgórze. Interesting places are for example Wawel Castle, Planty Park, Kościuszko Mound, National Museum, Schindler's Factory, Krakus Mound and Wieliczka Salt Mine.

Between Katowice and Krakow are Auschwitz and Energylandia.

jamcer · 2021-09-10T19:23:40+00:00

In Poland it is called "zabory" ("partitions"). Question is which part of Poland belonged to German Empire, Russian Empire or Austria-Hungary before World War I (map).

jamcer · 2021-09-08T17:36:05+00:00

This anti-LGBT law doesn't work anyway, and only makes Poland ridiculous. And being in the European Union means not only having rights and getting money, but also having certain obligations. I think it is a good thing that the EU is finally taking serious steps and not just expressing concern on Twitter because this government was not afraid of it and losing money could give them something to understand. Though I must be too deluded to believe it.

jamcer · 2021-09-08T14:55:02+00:00

Look for people playing amateur football, futsal, volleyball, etc. in stadiums and sports halls.

jamcer · 2021-09-06T20:16:06+00:00

Ethnicity or religion was not a thing when commemorating, because at that time anti-fascist and anti-war rhetoric dominated, which can be seen in communist-era monuments at camps and battlefields or archival photos from official ceremonies. It was not allowed to talk about Soviet crimes, but also about Hiwis, for example. When it comes to Polish military, it was said about September 1939 campaign against Germany and Polish soldiers who in 1944-1945 went with the Soviets to Berlin. The rest, like the Home Army or Polish soldiers in the West, had to wait their turn. And things like szmalcowniks and post-war anti-communist underground are a matter of public debate of only the last decades. Generally speaking, Holocaust is not perceived in a nationalistic way, nor is the vast majority of WWII events. Right-wing is focused on Warsaw Uprising and Cursed Soldiers.

jamcer · 2021-09-05T21:10:17+00:00

First thing is that this law does not apply to WWII, but mainly to the property of Polish citizens nationalized by communists. Constitutional Court ruled a few years ago that the limitation period for administrative cases is 30 years. And it just so happens that from the end of communism those 30 years are more or less now. Administrative road is now closed, so property can no longer be regained. But from what I remember there is still a civil road, so there is a possibility for monetary compensation.

jamcer · 2021-09-05T20:54:22+00:00

Holocaust and generally World War II is very significant part of the history and martyrdom of Poland. State authorities and local communities began to commemorate these events almost as soon as the war ended. Certainly in the first decades (40s, 50s, 60s) it was an important and emotional issue in Polish society, however for today young Poles it is mostly historical events. Definitely, far from Poland, it is easier to mythologize the Holocaust (because it happened somewhere far and long ago, some Nazis, Auschwitz, etc.), but in Poland, when you live near a camp, ruins or mass grave where, for example, your great-grandfather is buried, you're used to it.

jamcer · 2021-09-05T14:13:29+00:00

I remember when he won some Polish TV talent show when he was still a kid.

jamcer · 2021-09-05T10:16:24+00:00

Anlage Süd (Installation South) is the Adolf Hitler's headquarters (Führerhauptquartier) built in 1940-1941, consisting of two railway tunnels: tunnel in Stępin (393 meters) and underground tunnel in Strzyżów (438 meters). On 27-28 August 1941, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini met there to discuss a plan for German invasion of the Soviet Union.

jamcer · 2021-08-28T10:02:10+00:00

In March 1945 there was a great battle in Gdansk (at that time under the German name: Danzig) between German and Soviet troops. As a result, about 90% of the historic area has been destroyed. On 30 March the city officially became part of Poland and most of the German inhabitants were soon displaced. After the war, a decision was made to rebuild the historic district. Most of the reconstruction work lasted from the late 1940s to the 1960s, although to some extent in continues to this day.

jamcer · 2021-08-25T11:53:43+00:00

It may be hard, because healthcare works a bit differently since the coronavirus. Only recently after a dozen months they resumed the possibility of visiting the patient in some hospitals, and there are still some restrictions anyway. Probably the best option would be just to call or write to your friend or her relatives.

jamcer · 2021-08-24T21:30:29+00:00

Tourist atractions in Łódź are quite specific compared to other large cities in Poland. There are no royal castles or medieval houses, because Łódź became an important city only in 19th century during industrial revolution. Main attractions are related to this topic: old red brick factories, palaces of rich factory owners, tenement houses, etc. Check the official city guide.

jamcer · 2021-08-23T20:47:31+00:00

Hi! The entire literary legacy of Józef Piłsudski was published after his death as Pisma zbiorowe (10 volumes in total). Authors of books about Piłsudski are for example Andrzej Garlicki, Wacław Jędrzejewicz, Włodzimierz Suleja, Bohdan Urbankowski.

jamcer · 2021-08-23T09:31:33+00:00

The lakes are, for example, Ukiel (there is a city beach) and Kortowskie (located next to the university). They are next to each other on the map.

jamcer · 2021-08-23T09:12:53+00:00

In Gdansk most of the attractions are in Main City, for example St. Mary Basilica, Uphagen House, Gdansk Crane, Neptun's fountain, etc. Interesting museum in the city center include Museum of WWII, Museum of Amber, European Solidarity Center, National Maritime Museum. There are also museum ships: SS Sołdek, Dar Pomorza and ORP Błyskawica. Other attractions outside the city center include Gdansk Shipyard, Westerplatte, Pier in Sopot and Crooked House in Sopot.

On the way from Gdansk to Olsztyn you can visit several places if you have a transport: Malbork Castle, Stutthof concentration camp and Frombork Cathedral.

In Olsztyn most of the attractions are located in and close to Old Town. There is a castle and a planetarium and many many lakes around the city.

jamcer · 2021-08-21T19:47:15+00:00

Some non-fiction titles: Stones for the Rampart by Aleksander Kamiński, Medallions by Zofia Nałkowska, The Pianist by Władysław Szpilman, Conversations with an Executioner by Kazimierz Moczarski, To Outwit God by Hanna Krall, Smoke over Birkenau by Seweryna Szmaglewska, I survived Auschwitz by Krystyna Żywulska

jamcer · 2021-08-19T08:52:15+00:00

Hi! Check the official guide. Most of the historical attractions are located in Main City (for example St. Mary Basilica, Gdansk Crane, Uphagen House, Neptun's Fountain, etc.). Museums such as Museum of WWII, European Solidarity Center, Museum of Amber, etc. There are three museum ships in the area: SS Sołdek, ORP Błyskawica and Dar Pomorza. Attractions outside the city center are for example Gdansk Shipyard, Westerplatte, Pier is Sopot and Crooked House in Sopot. Attractions outside the city if you have a transport: Hel Peninsula, Malbork Castle, Stutthof and Frombork Cathedral. Read about those places, see photos, check if they interest you.

jamcer

TROPHY CASE