Dlaczego Kochamy Polskę? Why Do We Love Poland? With Agness and Cez From Etramping

Another exciting post in my new series sharing YOUR love about Poland. The series will be as regular as I can make it, and will feature other writers and travel bloggers who are as lunatical about Poland as me. You don’t have to be Polish to be in the series, but you do have to “Kocham polskę” (love Poland). I am delighted to welcome my Polish friends Agness and Cez from Etramping to the series. We first met up in 2014 in Dongguan, China and will be reunited again soon in Poland. If you share our love for Poland and want to be in the series, please get in touch on my Contacts Page.

Dlaczego Kochamy Polskę? Why Do We Love Poland? With Agness and Cez From Etramping

Where in Poland are you from?
Agness: I’m from Żagań, near to Wrocław. It’s a really beautiful place! It’s right on the Bóbr river and everyone says that the old town can look so romantic. It’s not so big, but I would recommend it for anything looking to catch a piece of ‘little’ Poland.

Wrocław, Poland

Cez: I’m from somewhere a lot bigger: Gdynia. Gdynia is a pretty modern port city, so when it comes to historical buildings and old towns, they aren’t really there. There are a few, like the St. Michael Archangel’s Church, but you shouldn’t visit my hometown if you want to see history. The best thing about Gdynia is that we have an incredibly long waterfront!

Backpacking in the Polish port town of Gdynia

Agness: Right now we both live in Gdańsk (we took some great photos of it!). It’s an awesome place, especially for history, but it’s just temporary until we set out on our next adventure!

Gdańsk at night

When did you first travel abroad?

Agness: I first left Poland in 2008. My trip wasn’t the most exotic because I went to the UK to study! If you’re asking what my first big ‘exotic’ trip was thought, then that was heading to China in 2011.

Cez: I actually left a little earlier than Agness on my first ‘exotic’ trip, as she puts it. I went to Vietnam in January 2012. It was an unforgettable experience, and one of the reasons why I keep traveling today!

Żagań city – home for Agness of eTramping

What is your favourite city in Poland and why?

Agness: It has to be Wrocław. It’s pretty close to my hometown of Żagań and it’s just a great city. I remembering going there when I was a child. As I grew older, I noticed that it was always packed with young people. It’s kind of like a student town, so there’s so much to do there!

Wrocław city

Cez: I’m going to say my hometown of Gdynia, but it’s not just because it’s my hometown. It’s because its locals are the happiest in Poland! That’s a fact, check out the numbers! Not all of Poland is full of people proud of their heritage, but people from Gdynia always are, and they’re always excited to share it with a visitor.

Gdynia, Poland

What is your favourite town in Poland and why?

Agness: Now I get to say my hometown – which actually is a town! Being serious though, Żagań will always be my favourite place. It’s the memories, my friends, and – of course – my mom!

Cez: …

Agness: Let’s just say that he likes Żagań too! It’s a great place!

Cez: Sure…

Christmas in Poland for Agness of eTramping

What is your favourite village in Poland and why?

Agness: I loved going to visit my Grandma in Dzietrzychowice when I was a child! It was a great place to run around and play.

Cez: When I was a kid, I had some pretty bad asthma. There were two points where it got so bad that I really struggled to breathe. Both of those times I went to the spas in Rymanów Zdrój to get better. I remember those times fondly, even if I did spend some of it literally gasping for air.

Agness and her mom

What is your favourite province in Poland and why?

Agness: I really like Poland’s history. I think Cez prefers more modern things though.

Cez: Yup. Your favourite province must be Lesser Poland Voivodeship because it’s got Kraków, right?

Agness: Yup. An absolutely stunning historical city. You’re just going to say about your hometown again aren’t you? So, Pomeranian Voivodeship?

Cez: Nothing wrong with supporting a great place! There’s a lot to do! Sea plus summer is just amazing. 

Why do you like living in Poland?

Agness: Since we travel a lot, I miss my friends and family when I’m abroad. Coming back, I love being able to spend some time with them.

Cez: Yeah, that is great about coming home. I also like the vibes here, especially those from young people. Everyone’s just so curious and ready to explore the world around them!

Agness: But we still make sure that we preserve our history. Just go to Kraków.

Cez: Of course we do! It’s part of what makes this home for us.

What is your favourite Polish drink and why?

Agness: Your favourite drink is maybe a good bottle of Polish beer?

Cez: Nope! It’s something called Rosół. It’s like a Polish meat broth. Absolutely delicious and a little filling too. Come to my grandmother’s house any Sunday and she serves it.

Agness: I remember. That is pretty good. I prefer something just a bit lighter though. My favourite drink is probably any kind of leaf or fruit tea. It has to be served in large teapots with some cinnamon on the side though. It’s just not right without the teapot!

What is your favourite Polish food and why?

Agness: Back when I was living in China, I wrote an article about the 10 Polish foods I miss the most. Check it out, there are just too many to list here.

Cez: You know, it’s the same for me. Too many to list. But since you asked, and I didn’t write a convenient article about this. I really miss Placki ziemniaczane when I’m not here. The taste… you’ll just have to try it yourself. Once you’ve eaten one, you’ll understand!

Polish bread 

What is your favourite random fact about Poland?

Agness: Probably my favourite fact is that in Poland, birthdays just aren’t as important. Instead, it’s your name day which is always celebrated a lot!  Basically, we celebrate the name instead of when you were actually born.

Cez: Ok, that’s good, but I’ve got an even better one! Did you know that Polish people open Bananas the right way? From the top? Most Polish people pinch and split the top to open one. Nearly every other nationality we’ve met on our travels open them from the stem at the bottom. Needless to say, it looks a little strange to us.

Agness: I don’t think you can say that’s the ‘right’ way.

Cez: Well, it’s definitely the better way. It’s just so much easier!

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

Agness: Definitely Amsterdam. I spent two years there, and they were some of the best in my entire life!

Cez: I’m in two minds about my choice. I love Nepal. The landscapes, the people, the fact that it’s an incredible destination. In some ways, it defines everything which made me want to become a travel writer. But, the internet there sucks. I need the internet.

Agness: To play Farmville, right?

Cez: To write all about my incredible travels!

Thanks to Agness and Cez 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!

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