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Post by jimpres on Nov 25, 2005 8:00:01 GMT -7
Rduwemir.
I would submit that judgement of a city should not be made from an experience in it's airport. Most people are running trying to get where they are going. It's a hectic place at best.
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Pawian
European
Have you seen my frog?
Posts: 3,266
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Post by Pawian on Nov 25, 2005 14:16:05 GMT -7
Rduwemir. I would submit that judgement of a city should not be made from an experience in it's airport. Most people are running trying to get where they are going. It's a hectic place at best. Ii can`t agree. They say the first impressions are the most lasting. I myself remember my return to Warsaw from the US in 1991. We landed at the old Okecie Airport. It was such an ugly place then, with dirty and broken windows, unpleasant customs officers, greyish everything. What is worse, the LOT airline lost my and some other passengers` luggage. And there was an importunate taxi driver who violently insisted on my choosing his taxi to go to the center. He didn`t believe me when I said I was waiting for my family, and he gave up only when I threatened to call the police. Unbelievable! Now imagine it all happens to a foreigner. I understand Rdy`s opinion.
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nancy
European
Posts: 2,144
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Post by nancy on Nov 25, 2005 19:11:21 GMT -7
I don't recall the Warsaw airport from my first trip in 1976, but in 2004 we flew into and out of the airport in Krakow.
Arriving was OK, but leaving was ...well. a big joke. The airport is so small that arriving and leaving are so close together that the lines for people flying on international flights and those looking for water or a taxi were all mixed together.
Fortunately, since I have acquired a certain distance from all such craziness, I am not bothered by it. Take a deep breath, say a mantra, and float gently to your next destination. Worked for me.
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Post by kaima on Nov 26, 2005 11:50:08 GMT -7
My first experience crossing into a communist country was in 1970 going from Vienna to Budapest, shortly after my army time. It was quite impressive to see the soldiers with tommy guns, run through the multiple ID checks and see the Yugoslav family sharing the train compartment smuggle their goods from west to east. That was my first experience with a police state.
Fast forward to 2004 and my return from Budapest to Seattle. I took the early morning subway and bus to the airport so I was able to travel with workers commuting to work. Most notable were the obviously beautiful women who were dressed in warm and utilitarian clothes for a cold day's work. I had grown accustomed to seeing these beauties dressed to kill around Budapest enjoying the town. It was a lesson in the need to earn a living, and most people most places must sell their time and skills to survive.
After a professional and thorough check-in and security check-in that was quite friendly in Budapest, we landed in Seattle and as we de-planed we were greeted by black uniformed wanna-be cops barking orders at us as if we were uninvited scum. "Up against the wall, single file!" was the barked order. Along with a uniform scowl to accompany the german shepard sniffers.
Welcome back to the land of the free was not the message I received. I do not believe the people who most often say "freedom is not free" realize that to keep our freedoms we must accept a degree of risk. But then that is completely separate from maintaining security in a professional and efficient manner without the attempt at intimidation. The Hungarians who grew up in a police state are much better at maintaining security in an efficient and hospitable manner than are the Americans. Perhaps the Poles need to learn from the Hungarians, not the Americans!
Kai
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aadam
Junior Pole
Posts: 130
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Post by aadam on Nov 26, 2005 12:28:20 GMT -7
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nancy
European
Posts: 2,144
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Post by nancy on Nov 26, 2005 12:35:23 GMT -7
Perhaps the Americans need to learn from the Hungarians!
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aadam
Junior Pole
Posts: 130
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Post by aadam on Nov 26, 2005 12:52:24 GMT -7
Sorry, I got the name wrong in my last posting; I mean Adam, but the message is still the same!!! And the person on the broomstick is now zooming in from the East of UK. HELPPPPPPPPPPPP Leslie Leslie! I maintain that Kraków is superior to visit than Warszawa, too. I never go to Warszawa for a holiday or a weekend, and often do so to Kraków. BTW. would a person from the west come on a broomstick would I have maintained that... Birmingham is superior to Sheffield as a place to visit??
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Post by rdywenur on Nov 26, 2005 13:29:46 GMT -7
Kaima..sorry about your experience. No one likes to be treated badly. I think this was from 911 after affect. Problem is that we to (US) get treated sometimes exactly as you did. We object as much as you. Traveling since then has not become a pleasure yet the destination is well worth it. As for my time in Warsaw I did not let it get to me. At the time I was thinking .......Hey lady I am Pole just like you and Us citizen also. Hmmm, maybe she wasn't.
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Post by kaima on Nov 26, 2005 18:48:33 GMT -7
Adam, I was only in Polnad once and had no difficulty. My comment was based on the reported experience of coldness in the Warsaw airport. The Hungarians were great.
Yes, as Nancy says, the Americans could learn from the Hungarians too! I am American and I hate to see my country shown in such a nasty light by a bunch of impolite neaderthals. As citizens we deserve to treat one another better, and we should certainly be more hospitable to visitors.
Kai
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Post by leslie on Nov 27, 2005 3:56:47 GMT -7
would a person from the west come on a broomstick would I have maintained that... Birmingham is superior to Sheffield as a place to visit?? Adam I have seen broomstick riders coming from all points of the compass - my son says they are helicopters, the long thin tail only looking like the stick and the bulbous cabin only looking like a person. What does he know - he's only 21 and works for the government!! Have you been to both Birmingham and Sheffield? If not you have butterflies in your head on the superiority of B'ham (they can't even talk intelligently!) Leslie
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piwo
Citizen of the World
Co Słychać?
Posts: 1,189
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Post by piwo on Nov 27, 2005 9:42:03 GMT -7
I've only been in a few airports outside of US airports, and airports are not traditionally friendly places. Most here have union staff and could care less about making any kind of impression. I know this will rile up the union crowd, but you'd be talking to the hand. Having been in one for 10 years, the mentality is predictable. Those that go out of their way to do good service are not well received by the whole body, who prefer to the minimum and still get paid the same. Pressure, and sometimes worse will be brought down on those not "getting over". It's a job, keep moving, and if you don't like it, the shop steward's got my back. The exception: small or regional airports. Cody WY, Burlington VT and others like it. Don't know why, but they've always been really pleasant experiences.
Overseas, I've only been to airports in Praha, Ostrava, Zurich, and Warszawa (Okecie). Most were courteous enough, Praha staff showed patience, and Zurich made me feel as negative about a people as I could possible feel (both times through it). Jims’ correct when he says we shouldn't let airport experiences form our judgment about a "people", so I will attempt to temper my animosity towards them until something else either confirms or refutes our "first (and 2nd) impression".
It’s probably just a matter that so many people push thru that it’s difficult to not to get aggravated with the collective throngs, many whom are not so pleasant themselves.
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aadam
Junior Pole
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Post by aadam on Nov 28, 2005 14:45:16 GMT -7
would a person from the west come on a broomstick would I have maintained that... Birmingham is superior to Sheffield as a place to visit?? Adam I have seen broomstick riders coming from all points of the compass - my son says they are helicopters, the long thin tail only looking like the stick and the bulbous cabin only looking like a person. What does he know - he's only 21 and works for the government!! Have you been to both Birmingham and Sheffield? If not you have butterflies in your head on the superiority of B'ham (they can't even talk intelligently!) Leslie Leslie, yes I've been to Birmingham I didn;t understand much, though so I can't say if they talk intelligently ar not. Well, nonetheless, I assumed that THIS comparison will do the work best for our usual way of conversation, Sir even if I haven't been to Shefflield (although, yes, I've heard about Red Tape Studios). Well - I was right, wasn't I? But, pleasssse, notice, notice, see, that I have used a conditional I said 'would I have maintained'. Well, i think that everyone is somehow emotionally conected with the place he lives, I think it is healthy, and I've noticed that you do agree with that. All the best, and keep your broomstick in good shape, you'll need it when I'll have some more time!
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Pawian
European
Have you seen my frog?
Posts: 3,266
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Post by Pawian on Nov 14, 2007 9:37:31 GMT -7
I haven`t visited this thread for a long time. As I want to continue it, I am going to collect mentioned idioms not to repeat them.
Zrobili mnie w konia - (I was made into a horse) - I was taken for a ride
Suszy mnie ( I am getting dry) - I have a cotton mouth
Zalany (Flooded) - stoned, tanked-up,
Na gazie (on gas) - gassed
Stary jak świat (as old as the world) - As old as the hills
Zimny jak głaz (as cold as a stone) - as cold as a cucumber
Spity jak bela (drunk as a log) Drunk as a skunk
Kto rano wstaje, temu pan Bóg daje -(God gives to the ones that get up early)- the early bird catches the worm
Spał twardo jak kamień (he slept soundly like a rock) - he slept like a log.
The same translation: behind bars – za kratkami better half – lepsza połowa big deal! – wielka sprawa, wielkie mi co! bite one`s tongue – ugryżć się w język black sheep – czarna owca break the ice – przełamać lody bury the hatchet – zakopać topór wojenny call somebody on the carpet – wezwać kogoś na dywanik clear out of – zmyć się, zwiać
Rome wasn't built in a day - Nie od razu Krakow zbudowano.
Owijać w bawełnę (to wrap in cotton) - to beat about the bush
Spłukany (flushed) - broke, penniless
Burza w szklance wody (a storm in a glass of water) - a storm in a teacup
Uparty jak osioł (as stubborn as a donkey) - as stubborn as a mule
Silny jak koń (as strong as a horse) - as strong as an ox
Nie wywołuj wilka z lasu (don`t call the wolf out of the forest) - let sleeping dogs lie
Ćwiczenie czyni mistrza (Practice creates a master) - Practice makes perfect
Złej baletnicy przeszkadza rąbek u spódnicy (A bad ballerina blames the hem of her skirt) - A bad workman blames his tools.
Gdzie kucharek sześć, tam nie ma co jeść (When there are 6 female cooks, there is nothing to eat)- Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Kiedy wejdziesz między wrony, musisz krakać jak i one (When you join a flock of crows, you must caw like they do) - When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Szata zdobi człowieka (The clothing graces the man) Clothes make the man
Podróże kształcą (Travels educate) - Travel broadens the mind
Tonący brzytwy się chwyta (a drowning man catches at a razor) A drowning man will clutch at a straw
Kombinujesz jak koń pod górę - You are screwing like a horse up the hill.
Żyć z dnia na dzień (To live from day to day) - To live from hand to mouth
Słomiany ogień (Straw fire) - A flash in the pan
Lepszy rydz niż nic (Better have a rydz* than nothing) - Better are small fish than an empty dish
Mądry Polak po szkodzie (A wise Pole after a damage) - Wise after the event
Skóra i kości (Skin and bones) A bag of bones, skinny
Kodżak (Cojak) - baldy, cueball
Jaja (Eggs) - balls, diamonds
Goły jak święty turecki (Naked as a Turkish saint) - naked as a jaybird, in one`s birthday suit
Laska (Walking stick) - chick, broad,
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Pawian
European
Have you seen my frog?
Posts: 3,266
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Post by Pawian on Nov 14, 2007 9:45:18 GMT -7
New
the armpit of - dziura zabita dechami ( a hole nailed all over with wooden planks)
hold all the aces - mieć asa w rękawie (have an ace in one`s sleeve).
blind alley - ślepa uliczka (street)
have sth down to a fine art - mieć coś obcykane (hardly translatable, have sth ticked)
Right, as if! - akurat
I ask you! - Wyobrażasz sobie? (can you imagine)
make an ass of oneself - zrobić z siebie barana/osła (make a ram/donkey of oneself)
dance attendance on sb - skakać wokół kogoś (hop/jump around sb)
the same: actions speak louder than words - słowa mówią głośniej niż czyny mutual admiration society - towarzystwo wzajemnej adoracji be sacrificed on the altar of - być poświęconym na ołtarzu fallen angel - upadły anioł welcome sb with open arms - powitać kogoś z otwartymi ramionami
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Post by leslie on Nov 14, 2007 13:01:29 GMT -7
Aadam I agree that peoples' views of towns and cities often depend on whether they live there or not! Given my real choice, I am basically a country boy (boy!) as my home area is Cumbria, the county of England to pass through last on the west side of the country, on the way to Scotland. In it is one of the UKs most beautiful National Park - the English Lake District. This is basically Scotland with its mountains and lakes, but all in a fairly compact area and seeming a little more civilised than the emptiness of much of Scotland.
If you haven't visited it but have some time if you holiday in England, go there - you will not be disappointed. Carlisle is the County Town and an interesting place in the south of the county is Kendal - a good base for exploring the district.
Some of the farmers there, in one part of the county, still count their sheep yan, twan, thethera, methera, dethera, and so on instead of one, two, three, four, five etc.
I think you will be able to read into my writing that I love and am proud of the Lake District, even though I have spent more time in my life away from it than in or near it!
Leslie
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