Hi I'm going to Warsaw in three weeks on Erasmus and I'm just wondering if anyone can give me any helpful information?!!! I have most things sorted now just want to make sure there are no necessities that i might ,leave behind or any information on the culture anything at all...!!!
2007-09-05 09:06:00 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Poland
Funny aren't you all.
Though thanks to the person with the real answer!!
2007-09-05 23:23:00 · update #1
Can I just add I would actually like serious answers. cheers!
2007-09-06 02:39:15 · update #2
Sorry, for you, that there are so many mischielf makers out there...I've been to Warsaw 3X in the last threee years, so here is some (I hope) serious and helpful information.
1 - The weather should be getting cooler by the end of September, but pack clothes that you can wear in layers and good walking-type shoes. This is an international city so...dress and act accordingly. Polish women of all ages tend to be sophisticated, so I tend to wear dressy slacks, skirts and good-looking shoes (no tennies or trainers!).
2 - Change your money at a "kantor." You will receive the best exchange prices there. They may be associated (have a desk there) with a tourist center, post office, bookstore. You will see signs along the streets so you can compare rates - the differences are usually about a fraction of a point.
If you can...before you leave home inquire at your local AAA to see if they can get you enough zloty (for a reasonable price) to get you going. Most places will not accept US$, but may accept Euros, but at a poor rate. I took some Euros I had to a Kantor to change them into zloty.
3 - The food is delicious! However, it is heavily salted compared to what most Americans (and perhaps Brtis) are used to...so if you don't want your legs to swell (no joke!) go easy until you find out how body will adapt.
4 - There is a lot of freedom across the borders because of the European Union. Unfortunately, that means freedom for your average pickpocket! Be careful of backpack, handbag, pockets, etc. especially when in crowds. I use a small backpack which now has a the frontmost zipper pocket sewn shut...all of "my stuff" goes into the main compartment in small
wallets, plastic bags etc. My extra money and papers are kept in the bottom with a cut-to-size piece of heavy plastic over them with everything else on top...keep only a few zloty available at any one time. Do not buy amber from the street vendors...it will usually turn out to be expensive and plastic.
5 - You might say Warsaw is the "brains" of Poland, while Krakow is its "heart and soul." So, if you have a chance plan to spend a few days in Krakow...especially in the "old town." Youw on't regret it.
6 - History abounds in Warsaw, so if this is your please check out the "Old Town" here as well. Completely rebuilt after WWII. Warsaw sites few people mentionon here in Answers, but important to the Poles:
a - Warsaw Uprising Museum and Monument;
b - Polish Military Museum - a good take on history - wonderful medievil and 17th century amour. Outdoor exhibits which I love;
c - Church of St. Stanislaus Kostka is the site for the burial place of Father Jerzy Popieluszko, the "Solidarity priest"...also a small, but interesting museum here dedicated to his life and the Solidarity movement;
d - Lazienki Palace and Gardens is where Warsaw alks on Sunday and holidays...contains the Chopin monument and rose garden...few Sunday concerts here during the summer. autumn?
e - Umschlagplatz Monument and Monument to the Heros of the Ghetto...important in history of Polish Jews.
7 - For my money, the DK Eyewitness Travel Guides are great...there is one on POAND (the entire country) as well as ones on WARSAW and KRAKOW. The maps and informration are mostly accurate (things in Poland are still in the reconstruction phase), and the books obtainable through any of the big bookstores or their internet sites both in the US, Canada and Britain. Also can be bought in Poland, but usually in Polish...need to look for them in English.
8 - You can buy anything you may forget and need in Warsaw - it is an international city! - but items may be more expensive than you are accustomed to. For example: Halls Cough Drops can be purchased at news kiosks...but there Hall isowned by Cadbury/Schwepps - a British company! On the whole, though, Poland is a very inexpensive country.
Hope this all helps! Have fun. be safe!
PS What is "Erasmus?"
PS2 - Not checking spelling, so sorry for any typos :+(
2007-09-07 02:13:06 · answer #1 · answered by GardenMoma 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
At the time the area where Auschwitz is was a part of Germany. German territory used to go much farther east than it does today. During World War Two the Soviet Union invaded and took over almost half of Poland (before the Soviets were attacked by Germany). When the war was over, rather than give that territory back to Poland, the Soviets compensated the Poles by giving them some German territory, which included a number of concentration camps. At any rate, Germany occupied and controlled most of Europe from 1940 until the middle of 1944, so they could have built death camps wherever they wanted.
2016-04-03 05:07:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For getting around by bus or tram the ZTM website (www.ztm.waw.pl) is useful. There are maps and also a journey planner (wyszukiwarka połączeń) although this seems to be only in the Polish version. If you want to try it, od means from, do means to, dzień powszedni is weekday, noc = night, niedziela i swięto = Sunday and holidays, sobota = Saturday. It's handy when there's no direct way from A to B and you want the quickest. You can put in when you want to arrive (dojazd na) or when you want to leave (wyjazd o).
When you're in Warsaw, make sure you visit the Old Town (Stare Miasto), Łazienki Park (it's lovely) and see the view from the top of the Palace of Culture. And when you have a few days off go to Kraków.
If you're going to be there in winter you'll need warm clothes and boots (for the snow), but you can buy those when you need them.
2007-09-05 09:36:53 · answer #3 · answered by Mike 2 · 7⤊ 1⤋
Poland is a beautiful country and the people are all very nice! I just spent some time down in Krakow and loved every minute of it. If you can make the trip from Warsaw to Krakow at some point I don't think you'll be disappointed. =)
2007-09-06 02:46:16 · answer #4 · answered by Irish 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
How lovely that you are going to study abroad =) Enjoy this adventure and take the time to learn the culture there.
GardenMoma gave you some great information and I just wanted to wish you a safe and happy trip =)
2007-09-07 05:47:02 · answer #5 · answered by Helpfulhannah 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to www.warsaw.com I hope they have in English.
2007-09-06 11:59:19 · answer #6 · answered by Freesia 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try this web site , it will give you more accurate info.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe/poland/warsaw
in addition you will need polish money as they still don't use £$ or euros
2007-09-05 09:15:23 · answer #7 · answered by andy 2 · 2⤊ 4⤋
Avoid eye contact with Poles as they might take it as a sign of challenge and become aggressive. Also, do not take their photographs, because they believe you're stealing a part of their soul and they'll become really angry.
In wintertime, do not go out at night alone, because you're likely to run into a polar bear (which gave Poland its name) and be never found again.
2007-09-06 01:47:13 · answer #8 · answered by Belzetot 5 · 0⤊ 9⤋
They are Polish
2007-09-05 09:14:13 · answer #9 · answered by soloxine_rabbit 2 · 1⤊ 4⤋
white bears waiting for u!!!hahah
2007-09-06 08:26:06 · answer #10 · answered by AttoresLyjin 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋