Poland Supplement

POLAND - CLOSER THAN YOU THINK!

1 JUNE 2012

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1 June 2012

Poland - Closer than you think!

POST BOX President and Publisher: Ejvind Sandal Chief Executive: Jesper Nymark Editor-in-Chief: Kevin McGwin Layout: Lyndsay Jensen Sales Director Supplements: Hans Hermansen Sales and Advertising: Jeanne Thames, Mark Millen, Lyndsay Jensen If you would like to contact us or leave a comment: info@cphpost.dk This supplement is published by The Copenhagen Post in co-operation with the Polish Embassy in Denmark, please refer to our disclaimer on page 2 of the newspaper.

poland - closer than you think!

Poland, it’s not as far away as it seems Before planning yet another weekend trip to Stockholm, Poland’s ambassador to Denmark suggests exploring his country for half of the price By Elise Beacom

F

or many people living in Denmark, Paris or Stockholm are obvious choices when it comes to a weekend away, but Rafal Wisniewski, the Polish ambassador to Denmark, believes his country is a worthy alternative.

Seated in his elegant lounge room, the measured and well-spoken ambassador points towards the grandiose window that frames Øresund, and a distant view of Sweden on a clear day.

With Denmark’s nearest Scandinavian neighbour situated so close, Wisniewski said he understands why local weekenders choose Stockholm over Warsaw.

1 june 2012

While Wisniewski said Poland could not expect to be compared with exotic Barcelona or the rich art culture of Italy, he contended that major cities like Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk were perfect for weekend exploration.

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“It’s not a big financial sacrifice to go to Poland, even if you want to go away with your family.”

Warsaw and Krakow are wonderful destinations for shopping and dining, while Gdansk is a glistening example of a Baltic city, rich in Second World War history and Baroque architecture, according to Wisniewski.

“There is active life in these cities – people don’t stay home in spring, autumn and summer. There is more of a southern temperament than in the north,” he said.

Travel...

Now in his second year living in Copenhagen, the ambassador has observed other differences too, like the comparatively low cost of living in his home country.

Polish hotels and restaurants are half the price of those in Denmark, and operagoers in Poland pay one third of what they would spend here.

Whether weekenders want to shop, take in the culture, see some wildlife or indulge in sightseeing, Wisniewski said there is plenty to do without spending a fortune.

“It’s not a big financial sacrifice to go to Poland, even if you want to go away with your family.”

Food...

Describing the openness many foreigners encounter from Poles, Wisniewski thinks that personal contact allows tourists a deeper insight into the local mentality.

“What strikes me is that in 80-90 percent of cases, foreigners mention having surprising and pleasant meetings with people in Poland,” he explained. “It might have been a meeting which developed into a dinner invitation or a walk together around the city centre.”

Hasse Ferrold

“It’s obvious to jump to Berlin or Stockholm from here, so why not Poland?” he asked. “It is our ambition to be treated as a natural and interesting neighbour to Denmark. Tourists go to Norway for its fjords, Sweden for its mountains and skiing and Germany for Berlin. We would like to be on the same map.”

Ambassador Wisniewski: our country is yours to explore Having joined the EU in 2004 and Nato in 1999, and with Poland’s transformation to a market-oriented democracy almost complete, Poland is playing an increasingly active role in European-Atlantic affairs.

“We are already in a different stage and we should change those stereotypes and visions of each other.”

Poland’s integration into the EU first opened up its borders to tourism, and Wisniewski hopes their role co-hosting football matches with Ukraine for Euro 2012 will also play a part in showing the world what Poland has to offer.

The Danish football team, for one, set an example for its opposition squads by choosing to stay in Poland and flying to Ukraine for various matches during the tournament.

Wisniewski thinks their role will at least show Poland has the right infrastructure in place to make it a comfortable place to travel to – hopefully attracting more tourists in the long term.

But while the tourism market is yet to live up to its full potential, business is booming in Poland, which accounts for the biggest slice of Danish foreign investment of all the central European countries.

About 500 Danish companies operate within Poland and Scandinavians make up the second largest group of foreigners going to Poland, after the Germans.

“Thousands of Danes have already worked for a while in Poland – the 10 direct flights each day aren’t filled with tourists, they are filled with business people,” Wisniewski said.

“The tourism front is still not explored enough.”

Relaying these reports of his fellow Poles with pride, Wisniewski said there are still some post Cold War stereotypes that need breaking down.

Culture...

“During the Cold War, Denmark had a direct border with the Soviet eastern bloc.

It’s natural that has built in people a certain reservation against that part of the continent which could have caused a threat to Danish prosperity.”

A country of tradition …

but also one of progress

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1 June 2012

Poland - Closer than you think!

The country at the heart of it all Polish history is European history, and after a 50-year delay it is now once again fully integrated into the West

F

rom not even existing as an independent state in 1900 to being one of the economic engines of today’s EU, Poland, maybe more than any other country, has been at the heart of European affairs in the 20th century.

Redrawn as an independent state after the chaos of the First World War, Poland found itself the flashpoint of the Second World War, as it was partitioned by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, and as the site of some of the worst atrocities of the Holocaust.

After the Second World War, Poland was left dependent on the Soviet Union and for nearly half a century was deprived of the right to decide its political alliances independently. But after becoming the first of the eastern bloc countries to challenge communist rule, it has since taken strides to reaffirm its status as a Western country.

It was not until the collapse of the Soviet Bloc that Polish ambitions to play an active role within the West and to participate in the EuroAtlantic structures became feasible. The process of European integration, based on the principles of democracy, protection of human rights, and a market economy became Poland’s goals.

After the collapse of the old alliances of the Warsaw Pact and Comecon, Poland became a member of the European Council in 1991 and of the OECD in 1996.

Following the changes in the balance of powers within central and eastern Europe, joining Nato became an immediate political aim.

Extending Nato eastwards meant changing Poland’s geo-political position. Its admission to the alliance on 12 March 1999 constitutes one of the most important events in its contemporary history; Po-

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land became a part of a defence alliance which guarantees security and grants conditions for stable development.

The second watershed event in Poland’s modern history came in 2004, when it became a member of the European Union. With its membership, Poland cemented the changes begun in 1989.

The return to the West Poland’s return to the West began on 19 September 1989, when the country signed the agreement for trade and trade co-operation with the then-European Community (EC). That agreement was not only the basis for further relations but also a starting point for future negotiations on the subject of associating with the EC.

“The second watershed event in Poland’s modern history came in 2004, when it became a member of the European Union.”

On 19 May 1990 Poland officially applied to begin negotiations to join the EC. On 16 December 1991, after eleven months of talks, the Polish government signed the Europe Agreement which established an associate relationship with the EC. The Europe Agreement set out the legal grounds for the pursuit and implementation of economic, political, scientific and cultural union.

The agreements signed with the EC, which at this time was preparing for its transformation into the European Union (EU), initiated Poland’s process of European integration. The Europe Agreement came into force on 1 February 1994.

Despite the fact that the EC very early on signed a range of association and customs agreements with Poland, the agreement was in practice treated as a completely new entity. It included resolutions on political dialogue, obligations related to the narrowing of the gap between the association states and EC legislative models, as well as guidelines governing co-operation in the area of culture.

The EC gave its consent to the agreement foreword containing an additional point: “Poland’s ultimate aim is membership.” The addi-

1 June 2012

Poland - Closer than you think!

Another important stage on Poland’s path to the EU took place at the Luxembourg summit in 1997, when the EU accepted the commission’s recommendation to invite Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Estonia and Cyprus to start talks on their accession to the EU. The preliminary condition for negotiations was maintenance of the criteria by the countries operating within the Copen-

Copenhagen criteria A crucial development came in June 1993 when, as a result of diplomatic interventions by the states of the Visegrad Group, the European Council decided at its Copenhagen summit that “the associate member states from central and eastern Europe, if they so wish, will become members of the EU. In order to achieve this, however, they must fulfil the appropriate conditions.” These became known as the Copenhagen criteria.

Capital: Warsaw Population: 38.2 million

hagen framework.

Currency: Polish zloty (PLN)

Later, four other countries – Latvia, Lithuania, Malta and Slovakia –

Economic growth (Aug 2011): 4.2%

joined the negotiations. tion underscored that the aim of the agreement was the creation of frameworks for Poland’s gradual integration into the community.

Factfile | Poland

Poland and the other candidate countries finished the accession negotiations in December 2002. The Accession Treaty was signed in Athens on 16 April 2003 and after its ratification, Poland and the nine other countries became the members of EU on 1 May 2004.

With the EU working to solve the turmoil of the European debt crisis and to manage its continued expansion, the question arises as

GDP per capita: $20,100 (2011 est.) – country comparison to the world: 63 $19,400 (2010 est.) $18,600 (2009 est.)

Inflation (Aug 2011): 4.2% Unemployment (Aug 2011): 11.6%

to what role a fully integrated Poland will play in tomorrow’s EU. Only time will tell, but given its past, Poland’s fate almost certainly remains intrinsically tied to Europe’s.

The Copenhagen criteria laid down the following EU membership requirements: 1. That candidate countries achieve stable institutions that guarantee democracy, legality, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities.

2. That candidate countries have a working market economy, capable of competing effectively on EU markets.

3. That candidate countries are capable of accepting all the membership responsibilities, political, economic and monetary.

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1 June 2012

Poland - Closer than you think!

A solid economy gets a bounce from football champtionship Already outperforming the EU, Poland’s economy will have the added economic advantage of hosting the Euro 2012

P

oland is a high income economy, the fifth largest in the European Union and today one of the fastest growing economies in Europe. It is the only EU member to have avoided a decline in GDP during the 2008-09 global financial crises and last year its economy grew by 4.3 percent – one of the best results in Europe.

This year the EU raised its economic growth forecast for Poland to 2.7 percent, which is 0.2 percentage points higher than the prediction by PM Donald Tusk’s government for 2012. Poland is again successfully avoiding the current economic downturn affecting the other EU states, its biggest trading partner, driven by domestic demand and public investment in preparations for the Euro 2012 football championship.

This year’s Euro 2012 football championship in Poland and Ukraine will be the first time a major sporting event has been held in eastern Europe since the 1980 Moscow Olympics. It is estimated the long term economic benefits of hosting Euro 2012 will increase GDP by 2 percent up to 2020.

After the collapse of communism, the Polish state steadfastly pursued a policy of economic liberalisation throughout the 1990s. The privatisation of small and medium state-owned companies and a liberal law on establishing new firms has encouraged the development of the private business sector, which has been the main drive for Poland’s economic growth.

In Pomerania, they’re catching wind of a change

Going, going … green Best known as the home of the Solidarity movement, Pomerania now hopes it can be at the forefront of a green revolution By Richard Steed

T

oday a transformation is taking place in the Pomeranian region of Poland. Due to its geographical location of facing the Baltic Sea, this once famous shipbuilding region is fast be-

coming a new hub for manufacturing environmental technologies.

The region became famous in 1980 when trade union activist Lech Walesa organised a strike at the Gdansk shipyard, laying the foundations for the Solidarity movement, which would eventually overthrow the communist regime.

“We want this region to again be associated with change and become one of the leading players in the development and manufacturing of renewable energy sources,” said Anna Kaminska, of Invest in Pomerania.

“Right now there is around €750 million worth of contracts to be given to renewable energy projects,” Kaminska said. “So naturally we are very interested in having ever closer economic ties with the Danes who are world leaders in commercial wind power.”

The offshore wind power industry has extraordinary economic potential in the region. By 2030, there is the possibility of installing sea wind farms in an area of around 2,000km2 with a total capacity of approximately 5,000MW. One Danish company, Dong Energy, already has three wind projects in Poland including Karcino wind farm, the largest in Poland, situated in the Pomerania region.

Over the past ten years, Poland has seen made rapid economic gains and is today is ranked 20th worldwide in terms of GDP. The largest component of the Polish economy is the service sector.

Prior to the Second World War, Poland’s industrial base was concentrated around the coal, textile, chemical, machinery, iron and steel. Today this extends to fertilisers, petrochemicals, machine tools, electrical machinery, electronics, car manufacture and shipbuilding. In 2010 Poland exported nearly $160 billion worth of goods, with Germany being its main exporting partner.

The EU estimates the government will narrow the budget deficit to 3 percent of gross domestic product this year from 5.1 percent in 2011, suggesting the country will meet this year’s deadline set by the EU. While forecasting that next year the Polish economy will still see growth of 2.6 percent, impressive considering the current condition of other European countries’ economies.

“For Danish companies promoting a green growth agenda this is an important new business opportunity. The fact it’s only a short flight from Copenhagen makes this an exciting investment reality,” said Freya Petersen, the head of the commercial and economic department at the Danish Foreign Ministry.

With Poland now committed to achieving EU targets of 15 percent of its energy production from renewables by 2020, Pomerania will be at the forefront of the greening of the Polish economy. Poland has traditionally been reliant on coal for its energy needs and today 8 percent comes from renewables mainly from wind, solar and biomass.

With Pomerania situated on a coastal belt enjoying a windy climate there is now impetus to create more off-shore wind farms to achieve this EU target.

Apart from wind, there is also the potential for investing in other renewable energy infrastructure including wave, geothermal, solar, biomass and nuclear energy plants. A recent study found that the region also had the largest shale gas resources in Poland.

According to KPMG one of the biggest global financial auditors, Pomerania is now on the list of emerging markets to watch. “With a well-educated workforce and very favourable labour costs compared with the rest of Europe, this region is definitely a place that has huge business potential,” Kaminska said.

“Apart from wind there is also the potential for investing in other renewable energy infrastructure including wave, geothermal, solar, biomass and nuclear energy plants.”

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Warsaw, rising high in the new economy

1 June 2012

Poland - Closer than you think!

When in Poland, do as the Poles.

BUT HOW … ?

Planning on dealing with a Pole, and don’t know what to expect? Two Danes with their own professional insights working with Poles give their take on what makes a Pole a Pole. By Kevin McGwin

A nation of originals A Pole is on one hand the heir to a rich history, tradition and culturally ingrained vices and virtues, but on the other hand a great individualist. A Pole, they say, doesn’t try to be original – a Pole is original!

The Polish character is a mixture of hospitality, light-heartedness, noble tradition and a frequently unjustified sense of inferiority. Poles, particularly the young, have an ever increasing desire to learn, and they certainly place great emphasis on education.

But something still remains of the traditional culture of the Polish nobility. This can be seen, for example, in Poles’ very well-developed individualism, broadly altruistic nature, extravagant generosity and special – often blunt – sense of humour. A Pole also attaches great importance to his honour and dignity. Sometimes he may be over-excitable and display reckless behaviour.

All this makes the Poles extremely colourful characters. You are unlikely to get bored when you spend time with a Pole. For Poles love to talk about themselves, about their family, about their dreams, and about ... Poland.

Making the extra effort – because it matters If you’ve formed your image of Poles based on the way they’re portrayed in the Danish press, then your image probably doesn’t match reality, according to Jens Mørch.

But at the same time they are always ready to listen. If there is also a well-laden table and fine company, a Pole will be in his element, infecting others with his inherent optimism and eternal hope that, even if things are not too good at the moment, someday they undoubtedly will be.

Mørch, the editor-in-chief of Danish news website polennu.dk, says Danes have a lot of preconceived notions about Poles that “just don’t hold water. In Denmark, Poles are all seen as being poor and lazy and willing to steal Danish jobs by working for less. It’s like Denmark’s opinion of Poland hasn’t changed since the Cold War ended.”

Case in point, he says, was the Polish EU presidency.

“A lot of people have told me that they did it 10 times better than the Danes are. I don’t necessarily mean on the political front, I mean in terms of logistics and hospitality. It’s like they just take more pride in things like that. In Denmark, we think we’re the best at everything, and we don’t need to make an extra effort. In Poland, they do make an extra effort, because that’s what’s important to them.”

He notes that Poland also put more resources into its presidency than Denmark is doing, “but that’s also typically Polish”, Mørch says.

How do you describe Poles? Pleasant, hardworking, industrious, hospitable, proud, reliable

Two Poles, three opinions

Polish politeness From the ancient custom of greeting visitors with bread and salt, Poland has developed a system of social graces that emphasises making their guests feel at home. If you visit Poland, expect to be spoilt – every Pole wants to be the host with the most, and neither money nor effort will be spared.

Here are a few examples of what you can expect:

When doing business with the Poles, don’t expect a decision to be made right off the bat, but do expect that whatever decision you do make will likely be the best possible one.

• When visiting a traditional Polish home, even on the first visit do not be surprised to be offered by your host a pair of slippers for your comfort.

That, according to outgoing Danish ambassador to Warsaw Thomas Møller Østrup, can be chalked to Poles’ argumentative nature.

• If you are invited for dinner, you’d be wise to go on an empty stomach because otherwise you will find it difficult to feast on a generous helping of soup with noodles, pork cutlet with cabbage and potatoes, topped with a cheesecake and washed with a bottle of home distilled flavoured liquor.

“If you’ve got two Poles, you’re going to have three opinions,” Østrup said. “Everything is debatable, which can be time consuming, but in a way it is wonderful because it often leads to the best solution.” Østrup also says given a problem, a Pole is going to work a way around it.

“I think this is part of their argumentative nature,” he says. “They pursue all avenues and don’t stop until they’ve found the best solution.”

But Poles aren’t all business, and when in social situations, expect a politeness that may strike a Dane as being old-fashioned.

“Not every woman likes being kissed on her hand, of course, but some do,” he said. “It might be a generalisation to describe Pole as polite – or hardworking, or something else positive – but not all stereotypes are bad.”

How do you describe Poles? Polite, old-fashioned, argumentative, hardworking, industrious

• If you abstain from alcohol, you will find that in Poland it is sometimes not enough just to say “no thanks” (or even “nie dzięki”, as the locals would say), since your host may assume his traditional Polish hospitality is being put to test.

• If you travel on public transport, be prepared for a display of old fashioned courtesy: young people give up their places to the elderly, while gentlemen make way for ladies.

• It is considered exceptionally courteous to kiss a woman’s hand as a way of greeting. This practice is particularly popular among the older generation, but may not be appreciated by younger women.

• There are, of course, many more specifically Polish customs, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that Poles are a particularly friendly and supportive people, who cultivate a sense of duty towards each other and their families and friends.

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Poland - Closer than you think!

1 June 2012

Notable

Poles Compiling a list of famous Poles is bound to stir up debate, not because of who gets on it, because of who gets left off.

There is no shortage of famous Poles, and many belong at the top of any list – including Pope John Paul II and Frederic Chopin.

While you may never have heard of some of others, quite a few names you may recognise, yet were unaware they were Polish.

Karol Wojtyla (John Paul II) (1920-2005) Pope. In 1978, Karol Wojtyla became first Pole to serve as the bishop of Rome. John Paul II stressed respect for human rights and the right to work, struggle John Paul II)

for peace and opposition to totalitarianism.

Lech Walesa (1943- ) Electrician, trade union activist, president, 1983 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

The founder of Solidarity, the Soviet bloc’s first independent trade union, Leach Walesa, was instrumental in the process that would lead to the end of communist rule in Poland. Served as president between 1990 and 1995.

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) Pianist and composer. Born in Zelazowa Wola, near Warsaw, but spent most of his life abroad. He wrote his works especially for the piano. His works had an enormous influence on the music of the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Lech Walesa

Frederic Chopin

nia, Milosz was born to a Polish family and con-

ognised works include ‘The double life of Vero-

Pawel Althamer (1967- ) Artist. Althamer was

sidered himself a Polish poet. Defected to the

nique’, ‘Three Colours: Blue’ (winner of the Gold-

part of the Kowalski Studio at the Warsaw Acad-

West in 1951, returning to Poland until the 1990s.

en Lion in Venice), ‘Three Colours: White’ (winner

emy of Fine Arts, along with many of today’s lead-

Taught at Berkeley and Harvard. His 1953 book

ing generation of Polish artists. His longest-run-

‘The Captive Mind’ is considered a classic of anti-

ning collaboration is with the Nowolipie Group,

Stalinism.

Art & Culture

an organisation in Warsaw for adults with men-

of the Silver Bear in Berlin) and ‘Three Colours: Red’ (nominated for an Oscar).

tal or physical disabilities, to whom he has been

Wislawa Szymborska (1923- ) Poet and literary

Roman Polanski (1933- ) Film director, producer,

teaching a Friday night ceramics class since the

critic. Awarded Nobel Prize for literature in 1996.

writer and actor. Born in Paris to Polish parents,

early 1990s. In 2008 Althamer arranged for the

Honorary member of the American Academy

and having made films in Poland, Britain, France

group to wear matching overalls and take a trip

of Fine Arts and Literature, the most important

and the US, Roman Polanski is considered one of

on a biplane, which became the subject of a short

American distinction awarded to renowned art-

the few “truly international filmmakers. His nota-

film by Althamer’s frequent collaborator, Artur

ists.

Zmijewski (Winged, 2008).

Czeslaw Milosz (1911-2004) Writer. 1980 Nobel Prize winner. Originally from what is now Lithua-

8

ble films include ‘Knife in the Water’, ‘Repulsion’, ‘Rosemary’s Baby’, ‘Chinatown’ and ‘The Pianist’

Krzysztof Kieslowski (1941-1996) Film director and script writer. Another of Poland’s best known film directors, Krzysztof Kieslowski’s most rec-

and has served as inspiration for scores of directors.

Poland - Closer than you think!

1 June 2012

to prove the existence of a planetary system in the universe outside of our solar system.

Science

Sport

Nicolaus Copernicus (Mikolaj Kopernik) (1473-1543) Astronomer. The first in modern times theorise that the sun, not the Earth, lie at the centre of the solar system. Despite having his ideas written down by 1532 he waited until 1543 to publish the work, ‘On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres’, in order to avoid challenging church teaching.

Maria Sklodowska-Curie (1867-1934) Physicist and chemist. Nobel Prize winner. A pioneer in the field of nuclear science, Marie Curie coined the term ‘radioactivity’. The first female professor at the Sorbonne, Marie Curie and her husband Pierre discovered the elements polonium (named after her native country) and radium in 1898. He research earned her two Nobel Prizes: in 1903 in physics (together with her husband) and in 1911 in chemistry.

Aleksander Wolszczan (1946- ) Astronomer. Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1990 he was the first

Robert Lewandowski (1988- ) Footballer.

Poles will be looking for the German Bundesliga’s Player of the Season for 2012 to help the home side advance during the Euro 2012 tournament.

Playing 67 matches for Dortmund since 2010, this season was a breakout season for the striker after scoring just eight times in previous seasons, his 22 goals this year made him the league’s third top scorer.

Wanda Rutkiewicz (1943-1992) Mountain climber. Wanda Rutkiewicz was among the world’s most prolific mountaineers. The first woman to reach the summit of K2, she was also one of the first women and the first Pole to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Died while scaling Kangchenjunga. It is unknown whether she reached the top, but if so she would have been the first woman to reach the peaks of the world’s three highest mountains.

Voytek (Wojtek) (1942–1963) Solider. Although originally hailing from Iran, and initially serving as a mascot for the Polish army during the Second World War, Voytek the bear, came to play an active role in battle by transporting artillery rounds.

Peter Schmeichel (1963- ) Footballer. Born to a Polish father and a Danish mother, Peter Schmeichel, long-time Manchester United and national team goalie, actually held Polish citizenship until he was 7.

Caroline Wozniacki (1990- ) Tennis player.

The daughter of a Polish parents who relocated to Denmark when her father, Piotr, signed with Copenhagen football club B. 1909, Caroline Wozniacki is Denmark’s most visible sports talent for the time being. The first Scandinavian woman to hold tennis’s top ranking, comes from a family of athletes. In addition to her father’s pro career, her mother played on the Polish national volleyball team. Her brother, Patrik, plays professional football.

Found as a cub, Voyek was fed with condensed milk from an emptied vodka bottle. Often rewarded with beer, it became his favourite drink.

He also enjoyed smoking and eating cigarettes. He enjoyed wrestling and, like a good soldier, saluted when greeted.

In order to secure him passage on a transport ship, Voytek was officially drafted into the Polish army as a private and was listed among the soldiers of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company of the Polish II Corps.

In recognition of his efforts and his popularity with the soldiers, a likeness of Voytek holding an artillery shell was adopted as the unit’s emblem.

Denmark’s most effective Danish courses! www.kiss.dk

Famous Danes with Polish roots

Czeslaw Kozon (1951- ) Bishop. The son of emigres who fled Poland’s communists, Czeslaw Kozon became a Catholic priest in 1979 and since 1995 has been the bishop of Denmark.

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Poland - Closer than you think!

A cultural melting pot

National fare embraces diversity and flavours of near and far By Elise Beacom

O

n Christmas Eve in Poland, there are a dozen dishes carefully laid out on the table. Each dish represents one of the 12 apostles, and possibly, the cuisine of a different country. Polish cuisine is a melting pot of cooking traditions borrowed from its neighbours and the variety on offer at Christmas Eve illustrates the rich diversity ready for discovery.

These influences come predominately from national groups like the Jews, Ukrainians, Belarusians and Lithuanians, but with some Russian, German, Czech and Austrian flavour also thrown into the mix. Even elements of more faraway culinary staples like Italy, France, Turkey and the Middle East are added for good measure.

The Poles share sausages and sauerkraut with the Germans, while the stuffed cabbage rolls, gołąbki, are made in different variations throughout Eastern Europe. Following Viennese café culture, poppy seed and cheese cakes, strudels and sweets made with honey are popular dessert fare.

While the cuisine is a collection of flavours from other national traditions, different corners of Poland host different specialities. In the north, where lakes are in abundance, fresh water fish is the catch of the day, while żurek – a sour rye soup, served with mushrooms and boiled egg, comes from the central sandy plains of Mazovia.

The eastern side is famed for the Italian-influenced, ravioli-like parcels, pierogi, while duck is often served in the west and the best potatoes hail from the northeast tip. Sauerkraut soup and

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smoked goats cheese are found at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. Similar to Danish cuisine, the Baltic region in Poland’s north is celebrated for its cod and herring, while Poles all around the country relish their typical pork recipes.

When Aneta Wisniewska, the wife of the Polish ambassador to Denmark, was a child, she would in the summertime politely request dumplings filled with fresh sour cherries and served with cream.

Pork comprises Polish cuisine’s arguably bestknown dish – kotlet schabowy – fried pork loin coated in breadcrumbs and served with potatoes and cabbage. Poles are also partial to lamb and game and the meat is prepared in various ways – roasted stewed, fried, or grilled and served hot or cold. The meat is often partnered with gravy or powerful flavours like grated horseradish, mustard or picked cucumbers.

“Polish food is about getting together, feeling at home, and recipes passed from mother to daughter. It’s warming in winter, while fresh and light in summertime. It’s about much more than getting the energy to do something,” she said.

Polish food takes a lot of meticulous preparation and these days, the most time-consuming dishes are left for special occasions like Christmas or Easter.

Christmas tastes like cinnamon, gingerbread, honey and raisins – all the spices associated with the festive season. A traditional Christmas favourite is fish, like carp or pike, in a sauce with almonds, raisins and beer. A delicious compote drink made of stewed prunes, dried apples and pears will wash it all down nicely.

Nowadays, convenient meals like pizza and pasta are commonplace on an everyday basis, but Poles will eat out when they have a craving for their national food – or ask mum or grandma to prepare their favourite dish.

Gołąbki – Hard to say. Good to eat

While much of the food is energy-rich and hearty, some lighter dishes like soups are also eaten year round. Cooling cucumber soups are designed for eating during the warmer months and the staple borsch, made from beetroot, is served hot and tastes best with a dash of cream.

The dishes naturally change with the seasons, depending on what produce is available locally.

During the autumn months, locals will forage for wild mushrooms in the forest, while summer is the time for picking forest berries or rose petals from the fields and making divine preserves.

With a climate ripe for orchards, apples – in addition to pears, plums and cherries – are used as an ingredient for many recipes, including sweet cakes, tarts and fruit liqueurs or as a delightful accompaniment for duck, fried chicken livers or pork. When visiting her home country, Wisniewska makes the most of the dozens of apple varietals available. “I do miss Polish fruit markets, with a great choice of fruits,” she said.

Simply scrumptious - Kotolet schwbowy

Borsch is beautiful

1 June 2012

Try this at home!

Poland - Closer than you think!

Pierogi stuffed with cabbage and mushrooms During summer months, the Polish menu is full of pierogi stuffed with a variety of fruits: strawberries, cherries, raspberries etc. Poles love pierogi with a sweet cottage cheese filling, often dotted with raisins. A particularly tasty variety of pierogi for most visitors is made in a very traditional way – stuffed with chopped mushrooms and shredded cabbage. Making dough for traditional Polish pierogi is quite simple: just knead together flour, water and eggs with a pinch of salt. A glass tumbler is used to cut out round shapes from thinly spread dough. Next, the mushroom and cabbage stuffing is placed on each circle. Then the circle is folded in half and closed by firmly pressing your fingers along the edges. The half-moon shaped pierogi are ready to be cooked.

Ingredients Dough 350g flour 1 egg 1L water

Filling 800g cabbage 200g dried, cooked mushrooms 50g onion oil vegetable garni salt and pepper Cook the cabbage and brown the onion. Mix cabbage with mushrooms and onion. Add salt and pepper. Roll out the dough, cut into small circles, arrange the stuffing in the middle of each circle and stick edges together. Cook in boiling water and then stir-fry. Serve hot with garni.

Pierogi stuffed with cabbage and mushrooms

Honey spice bread (Piernik)

Honey spice bread (Piernik) Ingredients Makes: 4 20x10cm loaves 200g caster sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground cloves ½ teaspoon ground allspice 4 eggs 125ml milk 125ml vegetable oil 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 350g honey 500g plain flour 80g raisins (optional) 60g walnuts, chopped (optional)

Preparation method Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 1 hour 15 mins | Extra time: 1 hour, resting 1. In a large bowl, mix the sugar, cinnamon, cloves, allspice and eggs. Stir in the milk and oil and mix

in the bicarbonate of soda. Place honey in a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Stir honey into

the bowl. Mix flour into the bowl. Fold in the raisins and walnuts. Stir with a sturdy spoon for 10

minutes. Allow the dough to sit 1 hour.

2. Preheat oven to 170 C / Gas 3. Lightly grease four 20x10cm or similar sized loaf tins.

3. Fill each loaf tin with about 5cm of the batter. Bake 1 hour 15 minutes in the preheated oven,

until a skewer inserted in the centre of a loaf comes out clean. Bread will be brown in colour and

will be cracked on top.

Try this at home!

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1 June 2012

Poland - Closer than you think!

Wild and WONDERFUL

With its diversity of landscapes, Poland has something for just about every nature lover By Bjarne Jensen, polennu.dk

B

ack in 2011, when a privately funded initiative sought to identify the world’s seven new natural wonders, Poland’s Masurian Lake District found itself among the 28 finalists.

The lake district, in Poland’s north-east, didn’t make the cut, but it’s inclusion on the shortlist speaks volumes about its qualities as a destination for those interested in nature.

But while the Masurian Lake District is the most vaunted Polish nature area, it’s far from the only place in the country offering spectacular and unspoiled experiences to travellers. Poland has 23 national parks and 121 protected areas, encompassing everything from ancient forests to spectacular mountains.

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One of the most scenic of these areas is locat-

Poland’s nature, though, is more than just for-

A part of the Tatra Mountains, Rysy is just one of

ed in Poland’s north-western corner, along the

est and marsh. Not far from Krakow, the Bledow

a number of spectacular formations in the area.

Baltic coast. Here, you’ll find the Wolin National

Desert is central Europe’s largest accumulation

Park, known for its steep cliffs and its wildlife,

of loose sand not adjacent to a body of water.

which includes the white-tailed eagle and bison,

The Tatras are also home to several waterfalls,

The 10km long, 4km wide swath was created

Europe’s largest land animal.

including Wodogrzmoty Mickiwicza, and its wild-

thousands of years ago by a melting glacier. Dur-

life includes the chamois – a type of goat-ante-

Those looking to see a European bison, known also as the wisent, however, will have better chances in the Bialowieza Forest, which straddles the border with Belarus, and is reputed to be the largest remaining area of Europe’s primeval forest. In addition to bison, the forest is also home to elk, boar, deer, beaver, wolf and lynx.

Further to the north, lies the marshland of the

ing the right atmospheric conditions, mirages are known to form.

Sand, this time in the form of wandering dunes, is one of the main attractions of the Slowinski National Park, along the Baltic coast, near Gdansk. The dunes move about 10km a year and have engulfed a number of villages over the years.

lope – marmots and brown bears.

Although many of Poland’s natural attractions are found in its eastern and southern regions, there’s no shortage of places worth visiting in the western part of the country as well. Located along the border with the Czech Republic, the Karkonosze range is a popular site for outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking and cycling. Both

Biebrza River, home to some 300 species of bird, and a paradise for birdwatchers. Poland’s larg-

Poland’s south-east, along the border to Slova-

the Elbe and the Oder rise within the Karkonosze

est national park, Biebrza covers nearly 600km2,

kia, is home to its highest mountain, the 2499m

before making their way towards the North and

half of which is marshland.

Mount Rysy.

Baltic seas.

1 June 2012

Poland - Closer than you think!

Krakow – no escaping the history

Factfile | 19 Unesco sites Poland has 13 fully fledged Unesco World Heritage Sites and six currently on the tentative list

Cultural Auschwitz-Birkenau (1979) Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork (1997) Centennial Hall in Wroclaw (2006) Churches of Peace in Jawor and Swidnica (2001) Cracow’s Historic Centre (1978) Historic Centre of Warsaw (1980) Kalwaria Zebrzydowska: the Mannerist Architectural and Park Landscape Complex and Pilgrimage Park (1999) Medieval Town of Torun (1997) Muskauer Park / Park Muzakowski (2004) Old City of Zamosc (1992) Wieliczka Salt Mine (1978) Wooden Churches of Southern Little Poland (2003)

Natural Belovezhskaya Pushcha / Bialowieza Forest (1979)

Being considered for inclusion Gdansk – Town of Memory and Freedom (2005) Bialowieza National Park (2006) The Augustow Canal (Kanal Augustowski) (2006) The Dunajec River Gorge in the Pieniny Mountains (2006) Royal Salt Mines in Wieliczka and Bochnia (extension to the Wieliczka Salt Mine) (2010) Wooden Tserkvas of Carpathian Region in Poland and Ukraine (2010)

The history of Poland and the Poles is a dramatic one. The country’s borders have been redrawn numerous times, and it even disappeared from the map entirely for 123 years, divided up by the great powers of Europe. One of the places where these changes is most visible is the city of Krakow.

Spared during wartime Krakow, located in the southern part of the country, remains the most popular destination for Danes in Poland. And as one of the few cities not ravaged by Hitler during the Second World War, it should be a must for anyone interested in getting a glimpse at Poland’s historic past. Krakow is at once a modern, but also unspoiled city, whose charming buildings harken back to the city’s historic past. Formerly a royal city, it was also Poland’s first capital.

Sound the trumpets Krakow’s colourful main square, dating from 1257, is one of Europe’s largest. The square is surrounded by historic buildings, including the Church of St Mary. On every hour, a trumpet signal is played from the highest of the church’s towers to commemorate a 13th century trumpeter who was shot in the neck while sounding the alarm that alerted the city to a Mongol raid.

The square offers everything from street performers and horse-drawn carriages to cafés and fine restaurants, and has become a major attraction for visitors to the city. When visiting Krakow, most are surprised by the high levels of quality and service they receive. Prices, meanwhile, lie far below what Danes are accustomed to at home. In 1978, Krakow’s historic centre was named a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Historic currents One of Krakow’s other attractions is the Wavel Castle, which has been the burial site of Poland’s kings and other important national figures since the country’s origins. Running by the castle is the River Wisla. A key trade route, the river has benefitted the city commercially and culturally, but it also made it vulnerable to attack.

Papal city Krakow is home to 72 churches, and it was here a priest named Karol Wojtyla would get his start before being called to Rome, where he later became Pope John Paul II. As pope, John Paul was one of the most important symbols for the Poles in their struggle against communism during the 1980s.

Schindler’s List Krakow is also known for its Jewish quarter, and it was here that many of the Jews who worked in German industrialist Oskar Schindler lived.

Wolin National Park

Krakow

Auschwitz Just 100km or so outside Krakow lies one of the most fearsome and moving sites of the Second World War. Over 1 million people, mostly Jews, but also Poles, Roma and homosexuals, lost their lives in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps. The vast majority died in its gas chambers, while others died of illness or during medical experiments. The camp is now a museum visited by over a million people each year. It became a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1979.

Salt mine Not far from Auschwitz is another of Poland’s major cultural attractions.

Attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, the Wieliczka Salt Mines produced table salt continuously from the 13th century until 2007. Today, guests taking the 3.5km underground tour of the mine can see attractions that include dozens of statues and an entire chapel that has been carved out of Wieliczka became a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1978

Krakow

Sand dunes at Slowinski National Park

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1 June 2012

Poland - Closer than you think!

Kolobrzeg

Denmark’s beachhead to Euro 2012

We want you for Euro 2012! throughout its history. Until the end of the Second World War, Kolobrzeg was German, and was called Kolberg. Russian troops liberated the city in March 1945 after a hard-fought battle that destroyed 80 percent of its buildings. Most of those buildings, however, have been rebuilt, and the city’s centre again has regained its historic charm.

Today, 55,000 people call Kolobrzeg home, and it is a popular summer holiday destination. In the off season, spas and other health resorts ensure a steady flow of guests to the area. Many of the area’s hotels offer mineral-rich baths, which, together with the sea air, is reputed to have health benefits for those suffering from circulatory ailments, breathing problems or arthritis.

Visitors looking for an active holiday can also take advantage of the area’s cycling and hiking paths. On the Parseta River, which runs through the city, there are canoe and kayak rentals. Fishing and diving is available on the river as well as in coastal waters, where there are a number of shipwrecks.

For the culturally minded, there are museums, churches and other historic buildings in the area. For those looking for a more lively escape, a Wild West theme is located on the city’s outskirts.

Regardless of how the Danes do in the Euro 2012, the beach at Kolobrzeg will be a major draw

Denmark will be playing its opening round matches during the Euro2012 in Ukraine, but the team has chosen to make camp in the Polish coastal resort of Kolobrzeg By Bjarne Jensen, polennu.dk Come June, the city of Kolobrzeg, on Poland’s northern coast, will be transformed into a temporary Danish colony. DBU, the Danish Football Association, chose the resort town, known for its spas and its Baltic Sea beaches, as its base during the Euro 2012, football’s European championships being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

Kolobrzeg’s proximity to Denmark makes it likely many a Danish fan will make the short trip south to show their support for the national side and possibly catch a glimpse of stars like Bendtner, Agger, and Eriksen. About 50 members of the Danish press will also be based in Kolobrzeg during the tournament.

During the Euro 2012, the Danish side’s home away from home will be the five-star Hotel Marine, and they will train on the Kolobrzeg’s municipal pitch, which has a seating capacity of 3,000 and also affords the team to train on a second pitch adjacent to the stadium. The availability of two pitches, together with its location and the overall high standard of the facilities in

the area, were, according to DBU, the reasons why it settled on Kolobrzeg as Denmark’s basecamp.

Even though the Danes will be staying in Poland, they’ll be playing their matches thousands of kilometres away in Ukraine.

Given the distance to the Ukrainian sites, and a general lack of familiarity with Ukraine, few Danes are expected to attend national team matches. But for those looking to travel and experience the excitement of international football, a number of hotels in the area are offering package deals that include meals, travel to national team training sessions and the matches shown on giant screen TVs.

If it finishes second in its group, it would play its quarterfinal at the newly build national stadium in Warszawa. The opponent would be the winner of Poland’s group.

Poland’s other host cities are Poznan and Wroclaw.

Those looking to take a break from the football can enjoy Kolobrzeg’s beaches. Known as the Polish Riviera the area has long been a holiday destination for Poles.

The city itself dates back to the sixteenth century, and has throughout its history been a crossroads of European trade. Today, it is linked directly to Denmark by ferry to Nexø, on Bornholm.

Located close to the Poland’s western border, Kolobrzeg has fallen under the control of the Germans multiple times

“For the culturally minded, there are museums, churches and other historic buildings in the area. For those looking for a more lively escape, a Wild West theme is located on the city’s outskirts.”

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The national side will have its hands full in its group play, but should it manage to win its group, its quarterfinal match will be played in Poland.

The opponent will in that match would be the second-best team in Poland’s group, which includes Russia, Greece and the Czech Republic. The match is scheduled for June 22 in Gdansk.

The beach at Kolobrzeg, waiting for you

Visit restaurant HercegoVina before you watcH football on tHe big screen in tiVoli!

enjoy our world famous and assorted grill buffet!

summer

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