Whore saw

So I haven’t blogged for a while as my head has been pretty clear and not too much has been bothering me. The odd subject cropped into my sometimes confused head but it’s been a rich run of good form for me.

I recently travelled to Poland – in particular the capital Warsaw. It’s an interesting place swamped in history, mostly quite horrific. With that in mind I was expecting the place to be cold, dark and quite miserable with the people equally so but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how westernised it was. On a couple of occasions I was taken aback by how forthcoming and friendly the local folk are. Unlike their western neighbours they are happy to talk to you in English and on more occasions than I care to remember they are very helpful. One guy we stopped in the street to ask if he could help find us a cab and he called a firm and ordered four for us, can you imagine if you did that in Germany or even England at that!

The city itself has admittedly been rebuilt after the war and doesn’t have the picturesque feel you get with some cities like Barcelona but on the other hand I never felt the constant paranoia I associate with Barcelona, the feeling you’re being watched so they can pounce just for the sake of a fake Rolex. I walked to the cash point which was down a dark alley and through the city at about 8.30pm and walked on my own to restaurant late one evening and never felt the need to clench my fist or put my wallet in my pants once.

The city has a real buzz, the pubs even the yokel traditional pubs attract some real characters who liven things up – some of which it has to be said do look a little like they have stepped out of a Rocky or terminator film but all the same very friendly. It has everything you need and amenity wise everything a young group of lads would need (yes and those places). The downside of the city is it is rife with prostitution, get in a cab after 12pm and every taxi driver will offer to take you to a ‘Bordello’ where you have ‘good time’ he would even offer you sex with his wife if they thought you’d pay. Most cab drivers are paid commission for taking you to these places and I doubt it’s a mandatory payment more like a game of hide the sausage or a quick battle with the pink Darth Vader. It’s a shame as it can spoil your enjoyment as you do feel a bit like you have stepped back in time but a simple no usually shut them up.

In short was a top weekend, was good to get together with some mates who I ant been out with for a while, it’s always a much different vibe when you go away, especially without the girlfriends everyone really lets themselves go. Got the holiday blues now so planning the next trip away with the team, thinking of trying Bratislava heard good things about it.