Dlaczego Kochamy Polskę: Anna Mashevskaya Photographer

The latest lady to feature in my Dlaczego Kochamy Polskę (Why Do We Love Poland?) series is Anna Mashevskaya, who is a Gdańsk based photographer. Anna and I have connected on Social media over the last two years since we share a love for Poland and especially Gdańsk. I was also intrigued that Anna was born in a country I really enjoyed – Turkmenistan. You can check out Anna’s photos on her Instagram and Facebook feed, she is a professional photographer and I am delighted to have her on the series! Anna is one of the ten up and coming photographers in Poland to look out for.

Where are you from? 

I was born in Turkmenistan, Ashgabad. And I and my family moved to Kaliningrad, Russia, when I was 16 years old.

Where in Poland do you live?

Now I live in Gdańsk with my husband and daughter. Gdańsk is such a wonderful city. I was there many times before we moved here. And I fell in love with this city many years ago.

What is your favourite city in Poland and why?

I like many Polish cities: Wrocław, Kraków, etc., but of course the best for me is Gdańsk. It has very a interesting history. It is brave and open-hearted city. Because of its history, Gdańsk often was named a Free City. And you can feel it everywhere, in the people, the buildings and the atmosphere of life here. I think it is amazing!   

What is your favourite province in Poland and why?

I haven’t travelled much through Poland yet. But now I like Pomeranian province, of course because of the Baltic Sea.

Why do you like living in Poland?

My husband has Polish origin. And when we met together, I learnt a lot about Poland: traditions, culture and history. It was exciting. Poland is an amazing country, with a very complicated history and culture. Incredibly clever and amazing people live here, they are incredibly brave and love their country very much. I really like this fact.

And when we moved here more than a year ago, I never have felt any depression. Everybody tries to help you, even if you don’t know the Polish language. Because I was very afraid of this fact in that time. Now I can tell, that this country and these people are beautiful in all their heart.

What is your favourite Polish drink and why?

I guess, may be they are kompot and nalewki.

What is your favourite Polish food and why?

Probably I like all Polish food! It is very homely and tasty. But the best of all I like are Polish soups, especially żurek. I also like traditional kapusta kiszona, bigos, meat dishes. They are all very tasty!

What is your favourite random fact about Poland?

Maybe it is about the Polish castles. There are several of the largest castles in the world here + the most obvious being Malbork – the largest brick castle in the world. And I have yet to see all of them but I dream of it.

If you didn’t live in Poland, where would you live?

I think I have found the best place for life. And it is beautiful Poland!

Thank you and Dziękuję bardzo, Anna. You can find all of Lois’s stories and photos here:

https://web.facebook.com/annamashevskayafotografia/

https://www.instagram.com/annamashevskaya/

https://annamashevskaya.wixsite.com/fotografia

Thanks once again to Anna Mashevskaya Photography for being the latest in my series of Those Who Love Poland! If you love Poland and run a blog or are a travel writer, please get in touch, you can be featured, either e-mail jonny (at) northernirishmaninpoland (dot) com or head to my contacts or work page and get connected! You can also subscribe to Northern Irishman in Poland by filling in the form below! Safe travels!