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I can’t get over how nice Poland is

A few years ago, I discovered that I have some Polish ancestry. My “German” great grandfather was actually Polish and from southern East Prussia, now the Mazury region of Poland. Back in 2022 I visited his village and stayed at a lovely resort there. I visited again this year before heading onto the Baltic countries.

A lot of Americans still think of Poland as some poor post-communist country, but they have really come a long way. The country is beautiful, the roads are excellent, the towns are immaculately clean. The last hour in Poland before reaching Lithuania was all modern motorways. They clearly have excellent leadership who are investing heavily in infrastructure. They are predicted to be Europe’s next economic powerhouse.

Also, the food is excellent. I know it’s not for everyone, but I love it.

by Anonymousreply 26September 30, 2024 1:43 PM

Virulent homophobia certainly isn't for everyone, OP, but I hope the Tusk era makes Poland better. It's one of the fastest-growing economies in the EU and there's a lot to love, though.

by Anonymousreply 1September 30, 2024 4:19 AM

They've had some catastrophic floods lately.

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by Anonymousreply 2September 30, 2024 4:19 AM

When you leave do you have to pick which piece of luggage you have to leave behind?

by Anonymousreply 3September 30, 2024 4:19 AM

Yes, it's had a remarkable transformation thanks to the EU integration (and our money) and looks almost unrecognisable these days. Same with Czechia and Romania. Bulgaria and Slovakia have unfortunately mismanaged things a bit and so aren't as far along.

Stereotypes take a while to change, but they will change as the generations change.

by Anonymousreply 4September 30, 2024 4:20 AM

R1 My partner and I have been to Poland a total of three times now. The first time was back in 2012 before I knew about my Polish ancestry. We have never had any issues with homophobia. Then again, we don’t throw it in everyone’s faces.

by Anonymousreply 5September 30, 2024 4:26 AM

I’d love to visit Poland and Romania someday. They both look really beautiful and I love how a lot of the old medieval architecture is still around.

by Anonymousreply 6September 30, 2024 4:27 AM

I do love Polish food and music.

The art of Poland overall is underrated, and Krakow is one of the most charming cities of its type.

I agree that the homophobia and racism are bitter pills, but hope things are improving on that front.

by Anonymousreply 7September 30, 2024 4:27 AM

Forgot to add that Warsaw is probably THE place to be if you're a Euro gay, replacing Berlin in that regard. The scene is just so much more vibrant these days, possibly thanks to the tension with the religious society. (Barcelona and Madrid obviously still take the crown if you're a sex addict.)

by Anonymousreply 8September 30, 2024 4:28 AM

[quote]Then again, we don’t throw it in everyone’s faces.

Everyone's definition of what "throwing it in everyone's faces" is varies, but a couple of decades of anti-gay propaganda makes it pretty clear that the bar for this is low in Poland.

by Anonymousreply 9September 30, 2024 4:36 AM

I like Polish cam whores! Unfortunately I like Poland itself a lot less - yes, some of the cities are gorgeous but I thought the whole country has an off-putting, dark vibe to it (it felt like a slightly friendlier version of Russia to me). They also have a bizarre way of dubbing foreign films into Polish - there's just one emotionless male narrator who dubs the voice of all the actors, even the female ones. Serial Mom happened to be on TV when I was there and I laughed my ass off at that horrible narration.

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by Anonymousreply 10September 30, 2024 4:43 AM

R9 I should also mention that my partner is Asian. In the three times we’ve been to Poland as an interracial gay couple, we’ve never had a problem.

by Anonymousreply 11September 30, 2024 4:46 AM

Masuria was heavily German, OP. If your great grand had a German surname then he was most probably German regardless.

by Anonymousreply 12September 30, 2024 5:56 AM

[quote] I agree that the homophobia and racism are bitter pills, but hope things are improving on that front.

The IGLA still rates Poland the worst country among EU states for LGBT people - even below Romania and Bulgaria. The article at link is the ranking for 2023. The 2024 report showed no change for Poland, noting that things have "stalled" there. Bulgaria actually rose three percentage points.

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by Anonymousreply 13September 30, 2024 5:59 AM

R8 What makes Barcelona and Madrid so special for sex addicts?

by Anonymousreply 14September 30, 2024 6:04 AM

R12 He had a Polish surname, and while the northern two thirds of East Prussia was mostly German, the lower third was a mix of Germans and Poles.

by Anonymousreply 15September 30, 2024 6:05 AM

Just think of the Spanish men, R14. Sex on a stick. Usually a big stick.

by Anonymousreply 16September 30, 2024 6:32 AM

Wait, r10! They were playing SERIAL MOM?

by Anonymousreply 17September 30, 2024 10:32 AM

They're also refreshingly xenophobic, particularly against the religion of peace, which is unlike the rest of Europe. Them and Hungary (GOOD for them).

by Anonymousreply 18September 30, 2024 11:34 AM

OP is a troll with an...erm..."varied" posting history, including this gem asking about Teacake's cock size a few hours ago. 🚫

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by Anonymousreply 19September 30, 2024 11:58 AM

R19 Are you suggesting this is yet another username of Teafake?

by Anonymousreply 20September 30, 2024 12:05 PM

Here's Serial Mom...In Polish! Something tells me John Waters would find this amusing to watch.

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by Anonymousreply 21September 30, 2024 12:25 PM

How many of them does it take to screw in a light bulb?

by Anonymousreply 22September 30, 2024 12:56 PM

Most countries are much more tolerant to visitors than they are to people who live there. It also helps that tourists are usually in the major cities. A European tourist to the US would say that homophobia doesn't exist and religion isn't in your face because they are visiting cities and towns.

The Polish people rejected virulent xenophobia, misogyny and homophobia in the last election so all signs suggest that younger Polish people are decent people who want to stay in Poland, not go to the UK/Ireland/Canada for work and let the old country descend into an angry intolerant place.

by Anonymousreply 23September 30, 2024 12:57 PM

Is it true that the lesbians sleep with men?

by Anonymousreply 24September 30, 2024 12:59 PM

R24, once you've had dick, you never go back.

by Anonymousreply 25September 30, 2024 1:02 PM

Kielbasa is delicious!

by Anonymousreply 26September 30, 2024 1:43 PM
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