Comments!!

I've had a few private emails about how to make comments for our posts. It should be possible for anyone to do that just by clicking on the word "Comment" at the bottom of each page. You don't have to have a Google account, just select the "other" button when your done commenting and then Publish Post. I have the Blog set to allow anyone to comment so test it out if you would.

I was also asked about the windows in Poland having no screens. A few houses probably do, my cousin Kazia's house in Golina does, but the majority do not. As far as mosquitoes and fly's, yes they do have those here but it seems not nearly as bad as in the U.S. Flys come in and out of the house because of the open windows but don't stay because they can find an exit I suppose. However, the bites of the mosquitoes seem to be more potent, at least for Joan, who has had a couple and they itched like crazy. So much she had to buy a salve to put on them for relief.

As for some other observed differences....
We get a lot of looks when we walk somewhere because we always hold each others hand. Very few couples hold hands here and if they do they are either young or very old.
The sidewalks are made of small bricks that have a Escher like pattern instead of long concrete poured slabs like in the U.S. I think it makes for an easier repair when necessary.
People don't smile much when you pass them on the street and no one says hello or "How are you" to a stranger like in the U.S. Of course, it's only a form of acknowledgement in the U.S. and you're really not interested in how a stranger is but it's a form of greeting.
Since our last visit in 2004 there is a lot of new building going on and painting of the former Communist-style bloc flat buildings. The colors are a kind of muted pastels that really look nice. I've shown some of the colors in earlier posts.
Government is government like in any country, they all have their problems and special interest groups. They have about 8 different parties but only 2 or 3 that have enough members to have any say so in what's going on.
The contrast of 1000 year old buildings across the street from the latest new building is intersting to observe so the history isn't wiped out to make room for the latest architecture like in the U.S. When you walk inside a church that's 900 years old you can't but help feel the history around you. I like that.
Prices of food are almost reaching U.S. prices since the joining of the European Union but some items are still half of what they are in the U.S.
Electronic equiptment(TV's, DVD players, Washers, dryers) are about 30% higher here. The cost of phone service is outrageous, maybe 3 times that in America. A good thing about that is you don't have to listen to a lot of Cell phone conversations when you ride a bus or tram. I hated that in the U.S.
Health Insurance cost is about 1/3 of U.S. prices if you have to buy it like we do. The average citizen has national heath care although the system is in bad shape and a lot of doctors and nurses have left to make more money in foreign countries like Great Britain and Ireland.
Small little stores are everywhere that carry only vegetables and fruits or meat or little bakeries. Joan likes that. Two blocks from our house is an open air market where farmers bring fresh products daily to sell and others bring clothing, kids toys and assorted items. The food tastes better here, the ham and kielbasa, of which they are many, many kinds to choose from, it incredibly better.
You pay $3 to $3.50 per gallon for gas in the U.S., here it is easily twice that price. The cars are smaller here than in the U.S. You don't see any SUV's here or Jeep Wagoners. The main cars are Fiat, Mercedes, Citroen, VW, Skoda, Renault and a few smaller Fords.
Those are a few things we have noticed so far.