ImPolement thread

[Domen]

Polish Syrena (in English Siren / Mermaid) car from 1950s:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FSO_Syrena

The Syrena was a Polish automobile model first exhibited at the Poznań Trade Fair in 1955[1] and manufactured from 1957 to 1972 by the Fabryka Samochodów Osobowych (FSO) in Warsaw and from 1972 to 1983 by Fabryka Samochodów Małolitrażowych (FSM) in Bielsko-Biała. 177,234 were made by FSO and 344,077 by FSM, a total of 521,311. During its remarkably long production run it underwent only minor modifications.

Link to video.

Another example of a Communist Poland's car design was Warszawa (Warsaw):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FSO_Warszawa

Warszawa was a Polish automobile marque manufactured from 1951 to 1973 by the Fabryka Samochodów Osobowych of Warsaw. The Warszawa was the first new-design Polish car built after the Second World War. Warszawas were popular as taxis because of their sturdiness and ruggedness. However, due to their weight they were underpowered and had high fuel consumption. In total, 254,471 cars were made.

And here some prototypes of cars from Communist Poland - mass production of which was never initiated:


Link to video.


Link to video.


Link to video.

And here Polish pre-WW2 car and motorcycle designs:

http://polska_motoryzacja.republika.pl/przedwoj.htm


Link to video.

Iradam 1927:

Lux-Sport 640 (1937):

http://moto.wp.pl/kat,73756,title,L...nda,wid,14115812,wiadomosc.html?ticaid=111ebd

Polish Fiat 508 1935:

Sokół 1000 typ M 111 (produced since 1939):

Sokół 500 RS (produced since 1938):

MOJ 130 (produced since 1938):

Later I will post also something about modern, post-1989, Polish car designs.

 

[Mechanicalsalvation]

I am curious if there are some kind of food which are Polish proud of. I have came across different Polish food in Czechia but almost without exception it wasnt good quality. I have become wary when I buy food. Just like I dont always buy the cheapest version I am quite careful before I buy something made in Poland.

 

[Domen]

The only food I'm proud of is the one I cook / prepare on my own:


Link to video.

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Regarding industrial products:

PESA trains & trams and Solaris buses (as well as Delphia yachts) are Polish, good quality, and as far as I know we export them:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PESA_SA

PESA (Pojazdy Szynowe PESA Bydgoszcz) is a company manufacturing railway vehicles based in Bydgoszcz, Poland. The name ‘PESA’ derives from the initials PS which stand for Pojazdy Szynowe, ‘railway vehicles’ in Polish. PESA is a successor to the Bydgoszcz repair shops of PKP Polskie Koleje Państwowe, Polish State Railways. From the 1950s until 1998 the repair shops operated under the name ZNTK Bydgoszcz, Zakłady Naprawcze Taboru Kolejowego, Repair Shop for Railway Rolling Stock’in Bydgoszcz.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solaris_Bus_&_Coach

Solaris Bus & Coach SA is a bus, coach, trolleybus and tram manufacturer based in Bolechowo near Poznań, Poland. It is a family-owned business, with Krzysztof Olszewski as co-owner and his wife Solange as CEO. It is located in a former weapons factory, and was featured by BBC World in a program related to EU expansion in May 2004, as an example of a post-communist success in Poland.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphia_Yachts

Delphia Yachts is a yacht manufacturer based in Olecko, Poland. Delphia Yachts was established in 1990 by brothers Piotr and Wojciech Kot. With production of more than 150 units per year it is Poland’s largest manufacturer of sailing boats. In June 2012 Delphia Yachts acquired Maxi yachts of Sweden.

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I have came across different Polish food in Czechia but almost without exception it wasnt good quality

I have read an article recently that Czechia spreads nasty propaganda in the world that Polish food is allegedly of poor quality.

But the same article also stated that this propaganda does not stop the growth of Polish food export, so far.

BTW - what food did you come across (= ate) ???

Or maybe you "know" about this poor quality from propaganda spread by Czech media, rather than from your own eating experience ???

 

[Domen]

Polish Duck Soup:

http://www.polishforums.com/food-drink-8/polish-duck-soup-176/

http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/polishsoups/r/czarnina.htm

BTW - before Lech Kaczynski* crashed at Smolensk, some of his opponents joked that Poland was the Catholic Republic of Duckistan.

*In English Kaczynski = Duckinski

 

[Domen]

Polish pre-war car design Radwan (response to Volkswagen) - mass production did not start because WW2 broke out:

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I've recently become more fascinated with Poland, because of my degree programme. My next language, if it is not Uzbek, I would like to be Polish.

Also, lots of hanging out at the Polish Club near my flat has exposed me to the language everyday, as well as lots of delicious vodkas (Zubrowka, Soplica Orzech Laskowy) and mediocre but still tasty beers (Zywiec, Tyskie, Lech). In addition, my fiance's grandparents are Polish, and make some mean kartoflane kluski.

Any suggestions for Chopin pieces which are not that funeral/parts of the same piece, or the impromptu fantasy?

Mazurkas! Lovely slow dances, for the intimate company of a lovely woman and yourself, and two glasses of wine.

Spoiler :

Link to video.


Link to video.


Link to video.


Link to video.


Link to video.

 

[warpus]

Zubrowka is the 2nd best vodka for shots (1st - homemade cytrynowka).. Have you ever had it with apple juice?

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

No, only neat. I can see how it would be good with apple juice though!

 

[warpus]

Serving suggestions from wikipedia:

Żubrówka is usually served chilled and mixed with apple juice[4] (a drink known in Polish as tatanka or szarlotka; known in the UK as a Frisky Bison;[5] and in the US as a Polish Kiss). It is sometimes served over vanilla ice cream. A Black Bison is Żubrówka mixed with black currant juice. Another common mixer is ginger ale. Żubrówka also goes well with mango juice.

Not sure about the other suggestions, but serving it with apple juice is very popular (and tasty)

 

[Richard Cribb]

Any suggestions for Chopin pieces which are not that funeral/parts of the same piece, or the impromptu fantasy?

Yes I can. Here is but a few.
The 2nd Piano Concerto is one of the few works by Chopin for orchestra, and a very fine one. Especially the version below.

Link to video.
When it comes to gallanteries with women, mazurkas might do the tricks (they are also very fine, advanced and sophisticated pieces in their own right), but I prefer nocturnes for this.

Link to video.

Link to video.

Link to video.
Barcarolle Op. 60

Link to video.

Link to video.
The Cello Sonata in G minor

Link to video.
Ad finally another work for piano and orchestra, the Krakowiak Op. 14

Link to video.
Now there are quite a few other fine Polish composers past and present, so I should perhaps post some of their music in a later post.

I've recently become more fascinated with Poland, because of my degree programme. My next language, if it is not Uzbek, I would like to be Polish.

Good luck with that. I have more or less given up, being content with reading it fairly well and understand other people speaking it. Now I am not a spring chicken anymore, but still...It is not the easiset of languages.

Also, lots of hanging out at the Polish Club near my flat has exposed me to the language everyday, as well as lots of delicious vodkas (Zubrowka, Soplica Orzech Laskowy) and mediocre but still tasty beers (Zywiec, Tyskie, Lech). In addition, my fiance's grandparents are Polish, and make some mean kartoflane kluski.

Indeed. Those good old days when I still were allowed to drink alcohol, I remember the vodkas - and that I used to buy Czech beer...

 

[Domen]

My next language, if it is not Uzbek, I would like to be Polish.

I knew a guy from Albania who learned Polish to a communicative level during just a few months.

But he was learning in a language school in Poland - I don't remember where exactly, but it was this type of school; examples:

http://www.varia-course.com/

http://www.kul.pl/school,art_8284.html

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BTW - some awesome illustrations of old Polish Pagan Deities (with description of each God and each Goddess in English):

http://www.bogowiepolscy.net/galeria.html

Click on each illustration to enlarge it.

Writen sources about those Old Deities are mostly from the 15th century. But they are reliable because those deities survived in tradition until that time.

Memory of those Pagan deities survived mostly in the Christian holiday known as Pentecost Sunday.

Five examples below (Lady Lela; twins Lel & Polel; Karkonosz; Lado-Svarozic and dualistic Marzanna-Devana) - note the descriptions in English:

Karkonosz (the Mountain Spirit) was more international - it had its equivalents also in old Czech and old German beliefs:

Lady Lela (a goddess also known as Lada):

Name of Medieval chivalric Coat of Arms Leliwa perhaps originated from Lady Lela:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leliwa_coat_of_arms

Spoiler :

Twin brothers Lel and Polel (sons of Lady Lela aka goddess Lada):

Lel and Polel were also known as Wali-góra and Wyrwi-dąb, which in English means: Mountain-smiter and Oak-blaster:

Spoiler :

Karkonosz (also known as the Mountain Spirit or as Liczyrzepa):

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liczyrzepa

The name of a mountain range located partially in Poland and partially in Czech Republic derives from this old Slavic mythological spirit:

Karkonosze Mountains

Spoiler :

God Lado-Svarozic:

Spoiler :

Dualistic embodiment - goddess Marzanna-Devana:

Spoiler :

There were also other embodiments of Devana (for example Devana-Sobotka) and other embodiments of Marzanna.

These illustrations are copyrighted, but the authors wrote that it is allowed to post them if you post also the link to the original source.

==================================

One of those 15th century descriptions of old Polish Pagan Deities was "Postylla Łukasza" (written ca. year 1405).

It was written in Latin language by a certain Łukasz (Lucas) from Koźmin Wielkopolski:

Koźmin Wielkopolski

Here is an excerpt from this work by Lucas from Kozmin:

http://www.bogowiepolscy.net/postylla.html

Spoiler :

"Hoc deberent advertere hodie in coreis vel alibi in spectaculis nephanda loquentes, in cordibus immunda meditantes, clamantes et nominantes ydoloroum nomina, et attendere an possit referri ad Deum Patrem. Certe non. Non enim festa libere quales proch dolor celebrant ex remanenciis rituum execrabilium paganorum, quales fuerunt predecessores nostri, pervenire poterint ad aures, nisi ad ulciscendum, sicuti ascenderat clamor Sodomorum et Gomorrorum. Nam in hoc festo libere fiebant turpes denudacione et alia turpia que dicit Apostolus eciam non nominare gracia domini Dei. Tamen talia, iam auctis predicatoribus, cessantur et in multis locis cessaverunt [&#8230;] "Non est aliud nomen sub celo in quo oportet non salvos fieri. Non enim salvatur in hoc nomine Lado, Yas<s>a, Quia, Nia sed in nomine Ihesus Christus [&#8230;] Non Lada, non Yassa, non Nia, que suntnomina alias ydolorum in Polonia hic cultorum, ut quedam cronice testantur ipsorum Polonorum."

Pagan Polish Deities are also described by chronicler Jan D&#322;ugosz, who recalls (in Latin):

"In quadam Cronica recolo tempore adolescencie mee legisse fuisse ydola in Polonia, unde et iste ritus usque ad tempora nostra pervenit, nam chorea exercebantur puellule cum gladiis ac si ymmolande demonibus et non Deo disponebantur et masculi cum fustibus et gladiis armabantur et invicem findebantur&#8230;"

 

[Yeekim]

Pierogi z serem...

Taken. Allegedly, cheese croissants are sold in Russia as "Estonian buns"... to the puzzlement of us Estonians, who fail to see the connection.

 

[warpus]

In Poland pierogies with potato as filling are called "Russian pierogies", I wonder if that's confusing to Russians

 

[Domen]

In Poland pierogies with potato as filling are called "Russian pierogies", I wonder if that's confusing to Russians

Well, actually they are "Ruskie" not "Rosyjskie" so I'm not sure if we can translate this as "Russian". Rather as "Russkie" or "Ruthenian":

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Russki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruthenia

Red Ruthenia (Ru&#347; Czerwona) - for example - was Polish since year 1340. So a dish coming from that place has nothing to do with modern Russia.

But let's wait until some of our Russian forumers respond to this anyway - I also wonder if they know this dish.

 

[warpus]

I dunno, "Ruskie" means "Russian" to me. "Ruskie samochody" - Russian automobiles.

When I was growing up, Ruskie was just short form for Rosyjskie, no matter what the actual meaning is.

Russian pierogies are the most popular kind here in North America and I didn't understand them at all at first.. Potatoes/? Who the hell puts potatoes inside of pierogies!??! Didn't make sense, but now I can sit down and enjoy them. I'm over being outraged.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

So it's potato...stuffed with...potato. Pretty sure I had something similar to this in St. Petersburg. Only in C+E Europe could this be created!

 

[warpus]

99.99999% of pierogies you buy in North America are stuffed with potatoes. At my first potluck in Canada, back in grade 9 now I think, I put a bunch of pierogies on my plate.. "mmmm, pierogies!.. yum!" I thought as I bit into one.. but instead of the sweet taste of meat I was treated with the unexpected and bland texture of potato. "What did you put in these pierogies!?!" I exclaimed! "I thought you said these were pierogies?".. The cultural misunderstanding that ensued almost lead to an international incident

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I usually find them filled with cheese.

Isn't pierogi already in plural? A single one would be a pierog.

 

[Domen]

When it comes to old Polish music, we have much more than just Chopin!

Medieval Poland had its first university before Germany established its first university.

The Prague University (in the Kingdom of Czechia / Bohemia - which formally was within the boundaries of the HRE) was founded before the first university in Poland. But the first university in the Kingdom of Germany itself was founded later than the first university in Poland.

The University of Cracow (founded in year 1364 by King Casimir III the Great in Cracow - the capital city of Poland at that time) was - together with the University of Prague - among the best universities of Europe, or at least of Central-Eastern Europe. How popular abroad this university was, is proven by fact, that during the 15th and the early 16th centuries only about 50% of all students of the Cracow University were students from the Kingdom of Poland, while around 50% of them were foreigners - including Hungarians, Slovaks, Czechs, Croats, Germans, Poles from Silesia, Swiss people and other groups.

People from Silesia alone (both ethnic Polish and ethnic German) were even up to 15% of all students in period 1400 - 1525.

Also the Prague University was pretty international. In the 15th century students of the Prague University were divided into 4 "Nationes" - those were "natio Bavarorum" (Bavarian), "Saxorum" (Saxon), "Polonorum" (Polish) and "Bohemorum" (Bohemian). The "Polish Nation" included students from the Kingdom of Poland, but also from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, from Prussia, from Silesia, from Lusatia, eastern Thuringia and from eastern Saxony.

The University of Leipzig also divided its students into 4 "Nationes" - "natio Misniensium", "Saxorum", "Bavarorum" and "Polonorum".

During the 15th century, the Cracow University had around 2000 students annually.

Here is a reconstruction of the 15th century look of the Cracow University:

http://www.starykrakow.com.pl/dawny-uniwersytet/akademia_krakowska.htm

And here is how 15th century dorms in Cracow looked like:

Bursa Ubogich = Dorm of The Poor (founded in 1409 by Jan Isner, renovated and expanded in 1462 by Jan D&#322;ugosz):

Bursa Jeruzalem = Dorm of Ole&#347;nicki / Dorm Jeruzalem (founded in 1453 by Zbigniew Ole&#347;nicki):

Bursa D&#322;ugosza = Dorm of D&#322;ugosz (founded in 1471 by Jan D&#322;ugosz; demolished in 1840) - picture is from the 18th century:

There was an established custom among the students of the Cracow University that in each academic year during one week - between 15 and 22 October - students from Cracow were playing truant and having grand parties. They were also taking power over the university, and after that they were electing a student king and his royal court. Then they were going out on the town and taking power over the city during those few days.

"Breve regnum" - a 15th century song of Cracow's students, which tells the story of their "short reign" taking place each year in October:

Below "Breve regnum" performed by a modern Ukrainian band Kings & Beggars:

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breve_regnum_erigitur

http://www.kings-and-beggars.com.ua/main.htm


Link to video.

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Some websites about the early years of the Cracow University (in Polish):

http://www.polonia-viva.eu/index.ph...egorised/288-akademia-krakowska-lata-wietnoci

http://www.polonia-viva.eu/index.ph...tecie-krakowskim-w-xv-wieku-szkic-historyczny

The list of university presidents of the Cracow University since year 1400 until today:

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rektorzy_Uniwersytetu_Jagiellońskiego#1400_-_1499

 

[warpus]

I usually find them filled with cheese.

Isn't pierogi already in plural? A single one would be a pierog.

Yeah, potato and cheese. Mostly potato though! When I was growing up in Poland my mom only made meat (pork, bacon, onions, spices) and mushroom + sauerkraut ones though.. or strawberry

And you are right, pierogi is plural.. pieróg is the singular, but it is never used. I asked my mom about it recently actually and she even claimed that a singular of the word doesn't even exist - an indication of how rare the word is.