Learning Polish

Discussion in 'Lounge' started by BonnieCat, Sep 17, 2022.

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  1. BonnieCat

    BonnieCat Crème de la Crème

    Feb 20, 2016
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    Anyone tried to learn the language?
    They are not wrong when they say it’s one of the hardest languages to learn. I’m heading off there next week to Warsaw and then to Krakow, so I thought I’d try to learn a few words just so I don’t look like your typical English tourist.
    I’ve had to write down the phonetic way to say phrases as I’ve no chance to say them otherwise and I thought Dutch was bad enough.

    Due to the fact it’s now autumn and the weather has now turned crappy, there’s no way I’m taking my bike, this will be an adventure in my Toyota Aygo, whose longest trips have mostly been to the shops.
     
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  2. andyc1

    andyc1 Lunarville 7, Airlock 3

    Feb 4, 2017
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    I know a few phrases off the lads in work... don't think they'd be much use to you though Nikki :joy:
     
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  3. Adie P

    Adie P Crème de la Crème

    Jul 7, 2018
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    You probably already know "dzien dobry" ('zsean dobree') and "dziekuwe" ("jenkooya") in which case you've exhausted my very limited knowledge of the language.

    The country and the people are fabulous - Krakow is lovely and, of course, Auschwitz is a harrowing but 'must see' experience - so Good morning and thank you will be a real headstart!

    Good luck with the trip and don't forget - no photographs and write up, didn't happen! :)

    Safe travels.
     
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  4. BonnieCat

    BonnieCat Crème de la Crème

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    Cheers Adie
    This is the itinerary so far
    Drive to Potsdam (600km from home) then the next day another 600km arrive in Warsaw. Staying 4 nights
    Things I’m planning whilst here:-
    The Royal way
    The Polish Uprising museum
    The old town observatory

    Drive to Krakow for another 4 night stay
    Things I’m planning whilst here :-
    Auschwitz
    Oskar Schindlers Enamel factory museum
    Salt mine tour

    Then back to Potsdam again before driving home. I estimate I’ll do about 2500km round trip. Potsdam itself is a very interesting place if you’ve never been.

    I’ve got my restaurants lined up, the food looks amazing so looking forward to that and an odd beer or two or should I say Piwo.

    lve got several useful phrases written down but there’s no way I’ll remember them off by heart

    There will be plenty of photos and videos posted.
     
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  5. TEZ 217

    TEZ 217 Crème de la Crème

    Mar 6, 2016
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    Good luck with your trip @BonnieCat:cool:
    I can't help with Polish being a Geordie most folk reckon we can't even talk english :D:D
    All the best Tez
     
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  6. Adie P

    Adie P Crème de la Crème

    Jul 7, 2018
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    Sounds like a full and interesting itinerary.

    If you have time, consider adding a guided 'walking tour' of Krakow - you'll get to see some of the less obvious parts of this (by and large) beautiful city. Auschitz and the Salt Mines tours, whilst at polar opposite ends of the 'cultural' spectrum, are both absolutely superb and worth every moment and penny spent.

    Enjoy; take lots of pictures and keep lots of memories.

    Safe travels BonnieCat.
     
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  7. BonnieCat

    BonnieCat Crème de la Crème

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    My Krakow hotel is right in the center so I’ll have plenty of opportunity to just stroll around, but yes an official walking tour would be good too. I’m actually thinking that I should’ve allowed more days, but I’m restricted somewhat as I have to make sure my cats are (royally) taken care of. But I think 4 nights in both cities will give me a good feel for the place.
     
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  8. Vulpes

    Vulpes Confused Member

    Mar 14, 2018
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    Jedno piwo - one beer;
    Dwa piwa - two beers;

    That's all the Polish I have. Hope this helps... :p
     
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  9. BonnieCat

    BonnieCat Crème de la Crème

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    That’s all I need really ;)
     
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  10. surlyone2

    surlyone2 Active Member

    Mar 29, 2022
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    :grinning: .. it all sounds great !
     
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  11. Vulpes

    Vulpes Confused Member

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    Sounds like a great trip - I've not been to either places, but did a round tour of Poland some years ago. It's a beautiful coutry, with lots of interesting history.
     
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  12. Hubaxe

    Hubaxe Good moaning! aka Mr Wordsalad :)

    Mar 25, 2020
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    I'm trying to learn Dutch.. not sure polish is more difficult... not sure any langage is more difficult than dutch :D (so many i and j)
     
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  13. Vulpes

    Vulpes Confused Member

    Mar 14, 2018
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    Dutch is really easy - toddlers can speak it! :p
     
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  14. surlyone2

    surlyone2 Active Member

    Mar 29, 2022
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    A friend tried teaching me a little, years back ... waste of time, I couldn't cough up enough flem to be understood !
     
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  15. BonnieCat

    BonnieCat Crème de la Crème

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    Take a look a Polish, there’s no vowels only consonants :(:cool:
     
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  16. Sandi T

    Sandi T It's ride o'clock somewhere!
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    Dec 3, 2018
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    @BonnieCat

    Have a great trip, Nikki! You do such wonderful traveling adventures...motorcycle or not. Please post a little report for us here if you would!
     
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  17. BonnieCat

    BonnieCat Crème de la Crème

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    Day 1 Potsdam.
    Having done quite a few trips in the motorhome this year whilst again in semi (or probably full)
    retirement I’ve gotten used to having a kitchen and more importantly a toilet with me at all times whilst on the
    move. This trip to Poland in the car, from a convenience standpoint, is somewhat of a let down. I
    now have to search for a loo and being from Yorkshire I don’t like to have to pay 50 euro cents just
    to relieve myself.
    Anyway I digress, with all the packing done last night, it was just left to put the case in the car and
    sort the cats out. They always seem to know when I’m leaving them and start sulking as they can’t
    go out as they normally do after their breakfast.
    At 8:50 I left the house and wasn’t exactly relishing the 600km drive in a tiny car. The weather was
    changeable, rain showers one minute sun the next. All along the roads by fields farmers had turned
    the Dutch flag upside down. There were literally hundreds of these flags. The Dutch flag is normally
    A red horizontal stripe, then white, then blue. Now the blue is on the top. Normally this would be a
    sign of distress for example by a ship, but in this case the farmers are protesting against the
    governments policy on cutting nitrogen emissions which is badly affecting the farmers livelihood.
    At 10:45 we crossed the border into Germany. I stopped for lunch at a service area just off the
    autobahn at around noon. I ordered a curry wurst with chips thinking it would be a sensible size.
    When it arrived it must’ve been easily a foot long. I also took the opportunity to have a free pee in
    the toilets. (Yay!!)
    The motorway to Berlin passes through the old border crossing between west and east Germany at
    Marienborn/Helmstedt. The old crossing is now a fascinating museum and well worth a look if you
    are in the area. Back in the early 1980’s I crossed here on my Suzuki GS550, but that’s another story.
    After lunch we continued the drive and arrived in Potsdam at 4pm. The apartment is very nice, but
    I’m only here overnight. Due to the huge curry wurst I won’t be venturing out for anything else to
    eat this evening. Tomorrow we have another 600km to do and this will involve Polish toll
    motorways.
    20220920_125050.jpg
     
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  18. BonnieCat

    BonnieCat Crème de la Crème

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    Apologies for the text formatting, but after writing the blog in Word on my iPad it wouldn’t let me copy and paste into the thread. No idea why so had to use my cell phone to get the text here.
     
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  19. Fork Lock

    Fork Lock Elite Member

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    Sounds like a great trip.

    My wife's grandmother was off-the-boat Polish in the 1920s and her daughter, my mother-in-law, spoke Polish. My wif'e's father's folks were off-the-boat Italian in the 1920s. So, my wife, being of half-Polish and half-Italian descent is bi-cursive. She can curse at me in two languages.
     
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  20. Wessa

    Wessa Cruising

    Apr 27, 2016
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    Google translate is your friend Niki….
     
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