Poland is a country of contrasts with beautiful mountains, lakes, sandy beaches, interesting cities and polluted industrial areas. It is also the home of the notorious concentration camp Auschwitz.
The currency is the zloty and recently it has lost about 10% of its value against the pound so the country is no longer the bargain it once was. Prices are still, however, lower than in the UK. The distribution of wealth in the country is still noticeable with the poorer areas being in the rural area around the Russian border. BMWs drive side by side with baby Polski Fiats in Warsaw.
Food is varied and usually quite hearty. Vegetarians may encounter difficulties in finding things to eat.
Places to visit in the country include:
Torun - in the north of the country. It is a small medieval town which was the birthplace of the astronomer Nicholas Copernicus. There are some ruins of the castle which was damaged by a Tartar invasion.
Gdansk - an industrial port with plenty to see and do. One place to visit id the shipyards which saw the birth of Solidarity and Lech Walesa.
Sopot - just near to Gdansk. It is a typical costal resort though the sea is too cold (and polluted) for swimming.
Kazimirez Dolny - (south of Warsaw)a town on the banks of the Vistula in a narrow valley at the foot of the hills. It is a small picturesque town with a great atmosphere.
Auschwitz (Oswiecim) - a place where you don’t hear or see birds. There seems to be an unbelievable silence as you walk around the former concentration camp. There is a film that is shown in numerous languages throughout the day.
Zakopane - is located in the Tatry Mountains. It is set in a valley surrounded by peaks and alpine meadows and is the main ski and hiking resort in Poland.
- Krakow - is a world heritage site. Unlike many cities in Poland there was very little damage in Worl War 2. It was the setting for the film Schindlers List and the Jewish area in the city remains, although it is a fraction of the size of earlier in the century. The city is also the former home of Pope John Paul II.
Wroclaw - was badly destroyed in the last stages of World War II, and the restoration work has continued well into the 1980’s. The cathedral had it spires added in the early nineties. It is on the Odra River.
Warsaw - the capital and also the most affluent of the Polish cities. It has undergone a great deal of restoration and building work in the 1990s. There are many fantastic restaurants in the city and also many places to visit - including Lazienzki Park, the National Museum, the Royal Castle, Wilanow Palace and the Palace of Culture.
Poland is easily accessible from the UK - by air to Warsaw and Krakow, by rail through Germany and also by National Express coach.
It has become increasingly westernised in the past ten years and you won’t have to go far to find McDonalds, Burger King and KFC. But that would be an incredible waste. There are some fine Polish foods that are incredibly filling. No trip to the country can be complete without sampling there wide range of beers and vodkas (including the famous Zubrowka - complete with a blade of grass).