Callum Macdonald

I’m back in Warsaw and back at Nathan’s Villa (new window), the great hostel with internet access and wifi included in the price. It is nice to be reconnected…

I’m back from, Krakow. I’ve spent the last few days there with my French cousins and the cousins of my French cousins (get your head round that one!) soaking it all in. I have to say, I’m glad to be back in Warsaw. Krakow was ok, not somewhere I’d hurry back, but I’ve taken a real liking to Warsaw since being in Krakow!

My overall experience of the Polish people has been quite mixed. I’ve found a lot of people in bars and shops very friendly, willing to speak English, or try if they don’t, and / or communicate using the international language of pointing! However, at the other end of the scale, I’ve found a lot of people totally unwilling to speak English or make any space for the fact that I don’t speak Polish.

For example, I was buying some fruit outside the central train station in Krakow. I picked up a few plums and put them on the counter. The woman gruffly said something in Polish, I said “I’m sorry I don’t speak Polish”, so she said something else, then huffed some more, and finally put my plums in a bag. Then she told me the price in Polish. I said, again, “I’m sorry, I don’t speak Polish” so she really huffed this time and wrote out 0.80 zl on a piece of paper and showed it to me. I wanted to walk away. I wanted to take my money somewhere that it might actually be appreciated by someone who might actually smile.

I had loads of other similar experiences, normally at small stalls like the fruit one, or selling cigarettes and tickets or snacks. My overwhelming impression was initially negative, but gradually I’ve come round to the notion that the Poles fall into one of two categories. Generally nice and friendly, or downright rude and unpleasant.

My cousin’s wife, and her family, have been wonderfully kind. Her sister has been a great guide, always out with the family, happy to speak English, and generally really nice. I’ve also met a few really nice Polish people, so they obviously do exist. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s the older generation, mostly female, who are probably a relic of the eastern block poverty stricken past who are giving Poland a bad name (at least to me!).

Who knows, maybe I was just stressed out living with a bunch of French people I vaguely know for 4 days!

They do know how to party in Warsaw! Last night I found myself in a 24 hour bar, having chips at 5am with a bunch of Polish nutters who looked like they were going to kill each other or me! That was after having picked up a couple of cold ones from the 24 hour alcohol shop. A couple of cold ones for about 50p each I should add! You gotta love this country! I don’t know if I’ll make it home.

Today’s organised outing (that I was actually awake for) was to visit Chopin’s house, Poland’s classical music pride and joy. Fantastic gardens, great walk, some good photos, and managed to body swerve the thunder storm, so all in all, a successful day’s outing!

Off to Krakow tomorrow, taking the train at 2pm, which means meeting to get tickets and lunch at 12:30, arrggghhhhh. I was only beginning to regain consciousness this morning at 12:30, well, officially this afternoon at 12:30, but you know what I mean! I’ve been finding Polish mornings a little challenging!

Tonight we’re heading out with a few people from the hostel, my cousin’s wife’s sister (as you do!) with some of her Polish friends, and a coupel of Polish girls I met in a bar the other night. As always, money in the pocket, an open mind, and I’ll see where the adventure takes me!

Well, it’s not the livliest city in the world, but I have successfully made it to bed at 6:30 the last two mornings, so I really can’t complain. You gotta love a city where the clubs are open to 5 every morning!

My cousin’s getting married this afternoon, well, this evening, at 7pm, what’s that about? Weird Polish people… It’s going to be a laugh, I’m supposed to be teaching a room full of Polish and French how to Scottish Country Dance!

I’m sitting in the hostel lounge trying not to watch the television, but not doing very well. Michael J Fox is making a speech to Michael Douglas and it’s pretty engaging. I was hoping to get some sleep, but I can already feel the afternoon slipping away from me. It’s already taken me about half an hour to write this post!

You gotta love this hostel. It’s called Nathan’s Villa (new window) and the rate (which is ridiculously cheap) includes free internet access. Not only on their own crappy computers, but they’ve got WiFi as well! I might not make it back from this country…

Having just completed my Free iPod signup, now I’ve had to sign up for Screen Select DVD Rental, which means, darn it, I have to rent at least 5 DVDs for free, and then as many as I can cope with in the next month for £10. Oh dear, what will I watch first?

Any recommendations? Post them in the comments…