Poland

Anyone who thinks that classical music is for wimps should take a look at this riveting performance of Polish composer H.M. Górecki's Concerto for Harpsichord and String Orchestra, Op. 40 (1981) I came across it this week when I was rooting around, doing research for my next novel, River Music, which has a harpsichordist as a major charaacter--but more about that another time. You'll remember that when Górecki's Third Symphony was played on the radio in Los Angeles in the 1990s, people pulled off the freeway to listen properly. The Concerto is a lot more energetic, and here it is played with absolutely amazing ... Read Full Story

Tour Description : The most popular tour which covers the most important monuments and buildings in Krakow, with small variations provided by many travel agencies. Duration : appr. 3,5 h Standard Tour : The tour starts from Old Jewish District Kazimierz. The short walk around Szeroka street show the important role played in Polish history by the Jews, who before the WWII consisted 10% of country population ( around 40% of Krakow ).Along the street who featured in the movie ‘Schindler’s list’ are the buildings of Remu and Old Synagouge, former Mykwah and house of Helen Rubinstein. More comprehensive visiting is possible during Jewish ... Read Full Story

Poland Coming Round? Excerpt: "Most EU summits are dull affairs, but the week leading up to Thursday's meeting on a new EU treaty has been a rollercoaster ride. After no small amount of saber-rattling, Poland finally looks like coming round -- but now Britian has come up with a whole list of objections. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is not amused." http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,489651,00.html Read Full Story

11 of November is the time to celebrate memory of the past soldiers, the day known as 'Remembrance Day'. Nov 11, 1918 it is the time of the German surrender that ended the WWI. It is also the day in which Regency Council of Poland located in Warsaw give the power to create the goverment to Józef Piłsudski, who the former day returned to Warsaw after being released by Germans from a prison. 11 of November 1918 marked the end of 123 years of occupation of Poland by three foreign powers Austria, Germany and Russia. Józef Piłsudski, who fought for independence of Poland during ... Read Full Story

Sometimes my tourists ask the question - 'what do you [Poles] think about black people ?'. Only few years ago I would say: - but there are no black people in Poland. About ten years ago when I had a black tourist in a group, I've seen that someone on the street shook the hand with her,'checking if the skin is not painted'. During communism time it was hard to travel outside Poland. You need to apply for a passport to the local authorities, and getting an obligatory visa from Western Europe embassy was almost impossible.You also needed a visa to travel within Eastern ... Read Full Story