| Page Views: 8,668 Last Visit to Poland: April, 2005 | Poland - the best destination just now! by matcrazy1 - last update: Apr 9, 2005 |
WHY POLAND? | Chapel in Sopotnia Wielka |
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"The historical experience of socialist countries has sadly demonstrated that collectivism does not do away with alienation but rather increases it, adding to it a lack of basic necessities and economic inefficiency."
John Paul IIPope John Paul II born in Wadowice, Poland in 1920, died today at 9.37 pm in Vatican. Sadness...
02 April 2005.
Although I am not crazy about religion, any religion, it's far more than the simple fact for me, it's also a lot of emotions. After death of John Paul II I wanted to go to his funeral but I had to stay at work. Instead I visited four times Krakow (JPII was bishop there), Wadowice (birthplace) and small village off the beaten path called Niegowic (he was a priest there in 1948-1949).
Step by step I am trying to put up my personal albums on my homepage, travelogues on the above mentioned pages as well as on my hometown Tychy page. I want to show you spirit of Poland in these unusual days and share some of my pictures, my thoughts and reflections and pay tribute to the great man who taught millions in 122 countries, he visited, what tolerance to other people and religion is, what is freedom and human dignity. Enough to said.
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|  | WHY JUST NOW? 1. Poland is unique in Europe in that it has so far managed to hold on to its traditions in the face of economic progress. I'm not sure for how much longer. Right now there is still time to experience and savour its unique qualities.
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2. Poland has made transition from 19th century to 21th century in just over the last ten years. If you have been here before say 1990, you’ll notice that its very much changed. It may be fascinating and unbelievable how much my home country is different now, even in the smallest rural communities.There is an incredible amount of new infrastucture: thousands of new hotels, restaurants, pubs, banks, gas stations, big department stories, highways, millions of cell phones are in use and much, much more.
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3. Poland is a very cheap country for tourists. I don't know for how much longer but the Polish currency (zloty) is slowly appreciating more and more to the US$ and Euro. So, if you are thinking about visit to Poland do it soon to enjoy unbelievably low prices.
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Some prices (in Euros, Summer 2002):
ACCOMMODATIONS:
- double room in a cheap hotel: 15-20/night;
- cheap pension (min. 7 nights): 5-8/person/night (12-15 full board)- prior reservation recommended in high season in touristy places;
- luxury old style hotel (in a castle or old manor) in countryside: double room 80-120; appartment 180-240;
- youth hostels: 3-6/person/night
- cheap camping: 2 persons + a tent 3-5
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MEALS (per person):
- cheap meal 1.0-3.0;
- in a cheap restaurant 4-6;
- in a quite good restaurant 8-12;
- in a luxury restaurant 20-30 or more;
- KFC: 5 chicken wings+small chips+salad - 2.7
- McDonalds: hamburger 0.8, cheesburger 1.2; meal 2.5-3.0.
- Pizza Hut: medium pizza 3.9(margherita)-6; big pizza 5-8
- 0.5 l of Polish beer: 0.5-0.7 in a store; 0.9-2.0 and more in a pub; imported beer is usually at least twice as expensive as Polish;
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FOOD in a department store (grocery):
- coca-cola 1 l - 0.9-1;
- juice box 1 l - 0.8-1.1;
- polish sausages 1kg - 2.5-3.0;
- Gouda cheese 1 kg - 3-4;
- polish ham 1 kg - 4-5;
- mineral water 1.5 l - 0.3-0.5;
- bottle of wine 0.7 l - 2.5-10.0 or moooore...
- vodka 0.7 l - 7-10 or more,
- milk UHT 1.0 l - 0.4-0.6,
- bread 1.5 kg - 0,75
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HOW CHEAP IS TO GET THERE! Airfares 2002/2003: round-trip to Krakow, all taxes included, ticket purchased in the USA/Canada, at least 1 additional stopover permitted.
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FROM:
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USA (in USD):
Chicago - 576.50
Dallas - 618.50
Los Angeles - 661.00
New York - 482.00
San Diego - 661.00
San Francisco - 661.00
Seattle - 661.00
Washington DC - 539.50
Source: www.lot.com
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Canada (in CAD):
Edmonton - 1180 (LOT)
Montreal - 625 (Austrian Airlines)
Toronto - 670 (Air France)
Vancouver - 1070 (Air France)
source: http://ca.travel.yahoo.com
check: www.lotcanada.com/main.htm as well.
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MORE: in my transportation tips.
Please e-mail me if you find anything cheaper :-). | | |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "Fantastic natural attractions, old cities and towns, very affordable, friendly people, unique traditions, good tourist infrastructure - do you need anything more?" | | Cons: | "Poland may not be so traditional and cheap in a few years :-(" | | In A Nutshell: | "Do it soon! Discover still undiscovered pearl of Europe!" |
matcrazy1's Poland Travel Tips
 matcrazy1's Poland Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for matcrazy1 about Poland | | | | |
Maurizioago Wed Aug 12, 2009 09:37 UTC
Nice page Matt. Ciao! | Nemorino Mon Jan 29, 2007 21:36 UTC
Very moving photos in your five travelogues. We just had an opera premiere last night (Wagner's Tannhäuser in Frankfurt) which the young stage director Vera Nemirova said was inspired in part by the young people she saw on TV after the Pope's death. | Siddha3th Wed Nov 1, 2006 09:21 UTC
Guess the trick would be to get here before the old world charm fades. I liked your newer set of photographs, it does seem very charming. Cheers, Matt :) | acemj Thu Aug 11, 2005 13:59 UTC
Hi Maciek!!!! I'm still excited to visit at the end of September! |
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