Memoirs about Poland
Krakow coffee, churches, medieval castles and communications with polish people …Holidays in Poland is the best opportunity to discover the country.
Any country in the world opens its borders and welcomes the tourists who would like to learn more about its cultural and traditional life, especially in winter period.
As to the border crossing our group had no problems. Everything has happened very quickly and without a big line on the customs office.
The impressions of the country are fabulous. First of all, we were pleasantly surprised by the price policy of foodservices. In the second place, it was the meaning of culture for Polish people. I mean now the tidiness. Nice, clean streets and impressive architecture of an ancient city of Krakow were just admirable. It is important to mention friendliness of local population and tolerance to foreigners. We felt ourselves in safety and comfort in this unfamiliar country, as we knew, that these people were always ready to help.
We had so many unforgettable impressions of Christmas and New Year time in Poland with its fairytale feeling and beauty of festive Christmas trees. After we have crossed the border, the hospitality and peace of polish lands welcomed us. In Przemyśl, the city, which lies near the border of two countries, our group could hear polish speech melody. It is important to mention all architectural buildings, which touched us to the hearts.
Our next stop was an ancient cultural capital of polish nation – a city of Krakow. There we have felt the antiqueness with a combination of European tradition of humanism. A highly developed tourist infrastructure helps the guests from all over the world to get know polish cultural heritage.
Ukrainian as well as polish students of the Jagiellonian University actively take part in volunteerism and are hospitable and tolerant to other nations. We were pleasantly surprised, that employees of institution were so kind and made a tour within this building for us absolutely for free. It was a great opportunity for the foreigners to discover one of the oldest universities in Europe without any paper-laden process.
We have spent the next 10 holidays in a tourist city of Małe Ciche in a cozy and family atmosphere. The hostess welcomed us with traditional polish dishes, which had some similarities with Ukrainian. It was a pleasant amazement for us.
The picturesque view of Tatra Mountains impressed us a lot. We organized tourist walks in the mountains a couple of times, during which we spoke and tried to improve our language skills with the representatives of local population – gurals. They have a special dialect.
It is important to mention our traditional New Year’s celebration. During the festival we had an opportunity to communicate with representatives of polish population from the different regions. We listened to polish national music, tried local dishes and took part in different competitions. We had unforgettable impressions of New Year in Poland.
The last days we spent on excursions (in Velichka salt mine, Vavel and some others). On the way home we felt nostalgia to the places we have visited and to the people, who so warmly welcomed us in their motherland.
Actually, to describe all the feeling completely, I should write daily chronicle, because the majesty of Tatra Mountains, quietness of snow covered Zakopane city and Krakow evening romanticism will never disappoint or leave somebody indifferent. Poland stuck in our hearts forever.
Master of Historical Faculty of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Oleksandr Koval
