Travel in Poland by Wikitravel

[Jaga]

I found a very interesting Wikitravel website about travel to Poland.

It does not only talks strictly about travel but it talks about many issues while visiting Poland.

Please, check it here:
wikitravel.org/en/Poland

check for instance a part about Milk bars - I loved them!

Unique places: Milk bars
If you want to eat cheaply, you should visit a milk bar (bar mleczny). A milk bar is very basic sort of fast food restaurant that serves cheap Polish fare. Nowadays it has become harder and harder to find one. It was invented by the communist authorities of Poland in mid-1960s as a means to offer cheap meals to people working in companies that had no official canteen. Its name originates from the fact that until late 1980s the meals served there were mostly dairy-made and vegetarian (especially during the martial law period of the beginning of the 1980s, when meat was rationed). The milk bars are usually subsidized by the state. Eating there is a unique experience - it is not uncommon that you will encounter people from various social classes - students, businessmen, university professors, elderly people, sometimes even homeless, all eating side-by-side in a 1970s-like environment. Presumably, it is the quality of food at absolutely unbeatable price (veggie main courses starting from €0.50!) that attracts people. However, a cautionary warning needs to be issued - complete nut jobs do dine at milk bars too, so even if you're going to for the food, you'll end up with dinner and a show. Curious as to what the show will entail? Well, each show varies, but most of them will leave you scratching head and require the suspension of reality.

[Jaga]

The Holocaust

There's much more to Poland than just the German Nazi concentration camps and World War II monuments. Likewise, avoid bringing up Nazi war crimes and the Soviet intervention in Poland during the early part of the war; millions of Polish people were killed during this bleak period and they are painful topics to the often-patriotic and proud Poles. They are less constrained when talking about the Communist period, which many show a love-hate relationship through its many different phases and sometimes even get nostalgic over it.

Jan Gross, a Polish-American-Jewish historian, authored Neighbors, which alleges some Poles willingly participated in the Holocaust and were thus responsible, at least in part, for the destruction of Poland's Jewish community. Mentioning the pogroms in Jedwabne or Kielce might bring about heated exchanges. Professor Gross later wrote Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland after Auschwitz, which further expanded upon Polish anti-Semitism. Both books have been published in Poland, and are often considered to be highly controversial. Some Poles consider the books not reliable, yet, IPN (Institute of National Remembrance), which is tasked with investigating crimes committed in Poland during the Nazi occupation and crimes committed by the nascent communist regime, found much of Gross' statements in Neighbors to be true, even if, following a more thorough research, IPN did reduce the number of Jews murdered by Polish inhabitants of Jedwabne by roughly four times the figure Gross cited. The books have opened up Polish-Jewish dialogue, but, much of the discussion is still yet to take place. At the same many Poles risked and lost their lives, attempting to protect Jews from the Nazis during the war.

The Holocaust, as many historians note, is the genocide of European Jewry. However, it would be wise for you to understand that the number of people murdered by the Nazis did not end at six million Jews, of which 3 million were Polish nationals. In fact, the number is much higher, especially in Poland, where over 3 million Catholic Poles were also murdered by, 85% of whom by Nazis. Many other members of minority groups, intelligentsia, and political philosophies were murdered too. Poles will appreciate it if you understand that not only were roughly six million Poles killed during this period, but, also that 50% of that figure were Polish Jews and the other 50% were Polish Catholics.

[edit] Touchy topics

World War II (mostly with the elderly people)
Polish-Russian, and Polish-German relations: Russia and Germany alike both crossed Polish soil on different occasions and wiped the country off the map between 1795 and 1918; Austria also took a slice of the south in Krakow area. Russia and Prussia also ruthlessly crushed the Polish uprisings on 1830-31, 1848 and 1863-1864.
The Catholic Church might be a touchy subject. Poland fought and was occupied (or strongly influenced) by Protestant Prussia, Lutheran Sweden, Orthodox Russia and communist USSR. Thus, the Catholic faith was and for many still is a strong element of national identity. Pope John Paul II is considered by the vast majority of the population to be a national hero. On the flip side, many Poles object to the role of the Catholic Church in politics and even private life. Radio Maryja, as an example, is despised by much of the younger Poles, because of its supposed influence over the leaders of the PiS political party and the alleged anti-semitism that is sometimes expressed by employees and guests of Radio Maryja.
Poland's geographical borders: Poland's western borders used to be populated by Germans, who were expelled after the second world war. In turn, Poland lost lots of territory to the USSR. Reminding Polish people of this change would probably provoke an argument.
Be careful when you bring up the issue of LGBT rights; more than 90% of Poland is Roman Catholic and many are deeply religious, especially outside of the large cities.

[Jaga]

I am going to refresh this info since it is worth to read!

[kaima]

I will offer everyone a break from fighting the mideast on the internet with a virtual trip though Poland: By the rail across Poland -


and
Train Ride - Poland (Lancut to Rzeszow)


OK, end of break. Get back to fighting!

[Jaga]

Kai,

very good. They have a beautiful winter in Poland now. I will post some pictures soon.