Polymeet in Berlin during August 2006

[Zopperoni]

Is that noon on Friday or Saturday?

I'm joining you folks on Saturday.

[Ecthy]

Yeah, the big meet is Saturday. Some people will be around on Friday and we might join for a beer or two.

[Ecthy]

Snotty, found a place to stay? what are the dates of your coming and leaving?

[Snotty]

we were planning on arriving on the friday and getting a connecting flight on the sunday morning. I suspect we will be staying at a hotel, probably Dauphins one, for the Berlin leg of our trip.

[Ecthy]

So short a stay only? I was planning on showing you more of Potsdam

[Snotty]

Sorry mate not this time either. We got cheap connecting flights from Berlin and couldnt resist seeing how our Polish bracia are faring now they are in the EU

[Heresson]

what do You want to visit in Poland?

[Snotty]

We are going to spend a little time in Krakow and maybe Katowice if its cheap and easy to get there, but mostly we will be in the countryside.
can you suggest anything we should check out?

[Zoid]

They have some exquisite coal mines in southern Poland.

[Heresson]

My hometown, Gliwice, is just next to Katowice. And is much nicer than it. Visit it!
Gliwice is not astonishing, yet it has an interesting history compared to the rest of the industrial region.
It has over 750 years old. It was the centre of hussite movement in Silesia, and a sit of hussite candidate to the throne of Bohemia. It used to be the best fortified city around, though it doesn't mean much.
It used to be a centre of beer production, yet when the Swedes besieged it during 30 year war, they destroyed everything. Yet, Holy Mother of God Mary the Perpetual Virgin appeared in the sky and forced the heretics away from the city. That's why she used to be part of the city's embleme, and there was an annual pilgrimage to Jasna Gora monastery. Jasna Gora was besieged by Swedes a couple of years later, but Virgin Mary saved the day again. I guess she doesn't like Swedes. Who does, anyway.
The city was saved by coal. The first great oven in Europe outside Britain was built here, and it turned into a big industrial centre.
After the French were crushed by Prussians, Berlin invested the french money in building the main streat of the city, which it boasts until today.
During the middle war, it boasted the most luxurious theatre in the Reich after Berlin. It was destroyed by Soviets, yet its ruins, where the spectacles are still played amidst bats, were elected the most magical place in the region.
In 1939, it was the place of Gliwice provocation in the radiostation, and so, the city claims to be the place where ww2 started.
After the war, the city guested the remains of Lwow politechnic, and so, it is the second biggest centre of technical studies in Poland. It also is the biggest inland port in Poland, the capital of polish chemistry and probably the biggest weaponry producent (Syria uses our tanks )
It is a fairly succesful city after the fall of communism, with a special economical zone with Opel factory, and being elected the most eviroment-friendly city in Poland once. Also, once in six cathegories of the best place in Poland to invest, Gliwice won in 4. Warsaw won the 2 remaining, but only because of its capital status.
I am proud of my city a lot.
Yet, it is not a great tourist centre. If someone comes here, these are mostly Germans.
Still, there's a nice old town, including a big gothic church (the oldest part is from XIII century, mainly it's from XV; a big church on top is a gift from my grand-grandpa), a beautiful main streat, an armenian church with holy icon of Lysiec, once the most holy icon of Podole region in Ukraine, there's a small post-tempar church, a radiostation where the ww2 started, being as well allegedly the highest wooden construction in Europe, and in Czechowice quater there's a lake You could swim with very clean water.
Yeah, we have coal mines as well.

Still, if You want to visit something in Poland, choose between Wroclaw, Krakow, Oswiecim - Auschwitz if You like, Warsaw, Poznan, Gniezno, Gdansk, Malbork, Torun etc.
The best places, in my opinion, are Wroclaw and especially Gdansk

[Zoid]

Originally posted by Heresson
Jasna Gora was besieged by Swedes a couple of years later, but Virgin Mary saved the day again. I guess she doesn't like Swedes. Who does, anyway.

[Snotty]

Thanks Heresson!

Im all booked now, although Ive not sorted out the accomdation it is likely that I will be staying at a hostel

[Provost Harrison]

So I will arrive on the Thursday morning - my flight arrives (allegedly) at 09:10 at Schonefeld...so Ecthy, what do you fancy doing on that day, and where do you fancy meeting up - after all, it is only just over 2 weeks off...

[Ecthy]

Snotty I understand, just let me know if you fancy doing something like that on the Friday or something...

With Saturday being the general getting-pissed day and Friday seeing some attendees already, we might want to have some pre-meet on Friday. What do you guys fancy?

As for the Thursday, you will get to move into your new room and the rest will be hanging out around the place

We shall see a bit more about Berlin, some hidden spots I might show you around, some of which I haven't seen myself. And remember, we might to visit my East German home town at some point if all else fails

[Provost Harrison]

Is there anything to see in Cottbus? It's not as bad as Bristol is it?