LETS GO TO: Poznań, Poland

Keep traveling with POLetsy and you will see magic Polish cities! Today I want to take you to Poznań. 

Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland. In the early Polish history, it was one of the most important centres. It is sometimes even claimed to be the first capital of the kingdom of Poland. 

But history is not telling us everything about atmosphere of Poznań. POLetsy members shared some wonderful experience with me.

fot. Ana Matusevic

These are buildings on the main old town square. This place is loved by tourists and city citizens. It's full of cafes, restaurants and pubs. One of the most famous pub in Poznań is "Brovaria". They brew their own beer, which is kept in huge metal pots.

But it is not the only old city center that is worth seeing.

"On the northern periphery of Poznan there is a mountain. It's known as "the highest elevation in Poznan" but when you see the photographs, the horizon is almost flat. In fact, Morasko Mountain is only 154 m above sea level. It obviously isn't a summit to attract lovers of alpine climbing ;) However, it is worth visiting because of a phenomenon unique in Europe. Surrounding the mountain there are five small water ponds. There are the craters that were created as an effect of a meteorite collision with the Earth. Really inspiring, cosmic place!" - wrote Agnieszka. 

Mysterious Forest ♥ Fine Art Surreal Photography by Magnesina

Poznań is also famous of its little mechanical goats. Goats' butting display is performed daily at noon at city hall, preceded by the striking of the clock and the playing of a traditional bugle call. 

It looks like goats are special for this region. Karuba wrote:

"I live in a big village not far away from Poznań called Koziegłowy (kozie = goat, głowy = head). Some people say that the name of the village comes from the hills, which look like heads of goats :-) anyway, many people live here in Koziegłowy and work in nearby Poznań."

If you ever go to Poznan, make sure you try on of traditional Poznan dishes - pyry. Pyry is a special name for potatoes. People in Poznań prepare fantastic food with potatoes, they have even special restaurant, where you can find only dishes with potatoes!

Unfortunately, There not many photos of Poznań on Etsy. So if you have any, please share with us, we'd love to see you capture of this city!

xoxo,

Ana

LET'S GO TO: Magic Cracow

One of the oldest, one of the most beautiful, one of the greatest cities in Poland. Dates back to the 7th century, founded by legendary prince Krakus, the ruler of the Lechitians tribe. If you haven't seen Kraków (Cracow) - you haven't seen Poland at all!

Vintage travel art by Mark Sciepura

For centuries it was a capital of Poland and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Now it's one of the biggest academic and cultural centers in the country.  

Invite Cracow to your place. Art work by LegacyHouseArt

It's the city, where history is seen on every step you make. Wawel - the residence of many Polish kings, Tadeusz Kościuszko insurection place, sad history of Kraków Ghetto, the archbishop city of Pope John Poul II. The old town is also in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Etsy loves Cracow too - I've found some outstanding photos and artworks.

City's Town Hall in Kraków, located right at the Main Square.

photo by Joanna Kapica

Cracow oil lamps, photo by Marcos

"Cracow is a magic city. Ola used to say, a Polish friend. So, when I finally had the chance to go there, I asked which were the best places to see. She just answered "go to Kazimierz". She was right about that. There, in the old streets of the Jewish quarter I found out what she meant about the town's charm. And I found those lamps too, inside a courtyard. After I learnt that it was the same patio where some scenes of Schindler's list were shot." - wrote Marcos about Cracow.

Sukiennice, photo by Sylvia Mioduszewska

Joanna lives in Cracow. She wrote: "Cracow is quite famous. Everyone has seen Sukiennice, st. Mary's Basilica or Wawel. But if you are here, more places are worth viasiting too, e.g. Kazimierz. Or Zapiecek on Floriańska street - probably the best grilled sandviches in the city."

But when weather is not good for sightseeing? "Then it's a good time to have a hot chocolate. The best is served in Nowa Prowincja on Bracka street. Kraków is a big city, but it's very cosy and hospitable. You will fall in love with small pubs and cafes - there are many of them, on every corner" - said Joanna.

And this is Cracow seen by shashamane photos from Cracow. Breathtaking magic atmosphere....

It's a city you'll never forget :-) I'm leaving you with a song of the Polish band Myslovitz about... Kraków

xoxo,

Ana

LET'S GO TO: Warsaw, Poland

If you are heading to find a world map, because you have no idea which city is the heart of Poland, keep reading!

Warszawa (Warsaw)- the heart of Poland

(pic. embieonline.etsy.com)

This is the place where many historical events took place. Since XVI century, when the city became the seat of the Polish parliament, it has developed really fast. Warsaw had its dark periods too - during the World War II 85% of the city was destroyed by the Nazis. 

But Poles managed to rebuild their capital and today it is ian mportant center of cultural and political life. Discover Warsaw with POLetsy!

Warsaw Black&White Photograph by artagadesigns.etsy.com

This is what Warsaw supposedly looked like in 1930. Now those days are gone, but this city keeps on inspiring many photographers. Warsaw is a city of contrasts: you will find cosy little streets, art nouveau and socrealistic style architecture, new skyscrapers. 

PhotoByMada.etsy.com

"I took this picture at KOŁO ten years ago, - says Magda. - Bazar na Kole is an amazing place in Warsaw, you can buy everything old or old-looking. A pure heaven for vintage lovers." 

She spent 2 years in Warsaw and misses it almost every day: "It's a city of contrasts. And mysteries. With a sad past, but full of unexpected hidden beauty".

 Romantic narrow street by AnnaKiperPhoto.etsy.com

The gates of the Warsaw University  by fiveonenine.etsy.com

I found Sylvia on Etsy - she has some beautiful photos from Warsaw. She lives in Canada, so I was very curious about her connections with the city. 

"I was born in Pruszków and my family still lives in Warsaw. I can't visit them as often as I wish to, but when I do, my favorite places are Łazienki and Nowy Świat" - she says. 

Aga also lives abroad, but her memories about Warsaw are very bright.

"My husband is Spanish. When we go to Poland, I show him some nice places in Poland. Warsaw, especially the Old Town, is very enchanting. But the most impressive place is the Warsaw Uprising Museum" - she says. 

Warsaw Praga by IkatiWorks.etsy.com

Kasia (One Mug a Day project) shares her love for Warsaw: "You can spend your free time in one of many city parks, escape the hustle and bustle by taking a walk among old buildings downtown or visit the famous Pałac Kultury (Palace of Culture). I think Warsaw is getting prettier, it's our city".

"I love Warsaw for many reasons. It's gonna be a really long list, but everything is worth mentioning. - writes Anna. - The International Chopin Piano Competition, my Sunday walks on Krakowskie Przedmieście and Nowy Świat, feeding pigeons in the Old City, oldstyle fountain in Saski Park, gas lighting on Agrykola street, first snow flakes falling down on grey buildings, old photos in Photoplasticon, Warsaw Film Festival, jazz in the Old City..."

Green Warsaw by kikoku.etsy.com

The city is located on the Vistula River. Joanna Tarkowska has designed a map-mug with all city districts: Praga, Mokotów, Wola, Ursynów etc. Historians say, that the oldest city district is Bródno. This is how it looks through the window of my friend's apartment.

Bródno by Ana Matusevic

Many POLetsy members live and work in Warsaw - they can send you a piece of heart of Poland :-)  I'm leaving you with a wonderful song about Warsaw. 

Love,

Ana

LET'S GO TO: Gdańsk, Poland

Gdańsk by YannPendaries

I'd like to take you to Gdańsk, the city on the Baltic Sea, northern Poland. It's close to the former late medieval and modern bundary between West Slavic and Germanic lands.

Gdańsk by GregsFineArt

The history of Gdańsk is very interesting and full of unexpected twists. It was ruled by Poland, Germany, at a period of time it was a free city, which belonged to no country. Now, Gdańsk is a part of 3 cities metropoly: Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot.

The Tall Ships' Races Market in port (photo by me)

Old City of Gdańsk (photo by me)

Gdańsk was established in IX century, so at the moment it has more than 1000 years! Even the smallest street in the old city can tell us incredibly interesting facts from that millenium. Did you know, that many XX century polish political leaders come from Gdańsk? For egzample, Lech Wałęsa - the Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1983.

Autumn in Gdańsk (photo by me)

If you have plans to visit Gdańsk - let us now :) we'll be glad to give you some tips about best sightseeing, food and other intertainment. But if you stay at home, make sure to visit Etsy shops based in Gdańsk!

DreamsFactory

molMolly

Clayo

TheOnly

tregvart

kapelusznik

See you next time!
Ana - Rosemary

Behind the Scenes with Hypericumfragile

My adventure with the Popular Theatre began in December 2008. I was working as a graphic designer and art teacher before that. Theater was a big challenge for me, but I can see now I learned how to fit in these new responsibilities and now I can't even imagine another place of employment.

There are several laboratories in The Popular Theatre in Warsaw: sewing, joinery, locksmith, hairdresser and artistic. Each of them have their own assignments before new theatrical performance is launched. I work in a artistic studio, it's the most interesting place, I think. We make props, parts of scenography, visual elements (such as so called. horizons - that is a huge background, which hangs on the back of scene or pictures, which actors see through the windows on the scene).

Artistic studio is a place of greatest chaos and disorder. But this chaos is very creative. My studio is divided into two smaller studios: painting and modeling. I work as a modeler, it's a person who designs props, even those most strange, sometimes funny and sometimes just unimaginable. In my short career I did an enormous amount of counterfeit U.S. dollars, the knife, which should drip three drops of blood (the audience couldn't see these drops, but it helped the actor in his role), I made huge sculptures of Indian gods (polystyrene), a shelf of fake books, and much more...

“Loretta” - I produced thousands of dollars

Sometimes my studio works on very mundane tasks. Please guess who painted all the white walls. Me, by my own hands!

Actually, every day I do something different and it's difficult to remember all my designs. Of course, I don't work alone. My master is Mr. Poldek. Mr. Poldek is retired, but he taught me this extraordinary profession. I would like to give a tribute to this great artist and thank him sincerely for everything.

“One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” – I painted walls in white and produced labels for bottles with medicines for roles of mentally ill people.

"The Sunshine Boys” - Mr. Poldek and me designed this dummy old TV (bottom right)

“Kieszonkowy atlas kobiet” – I painted this dirty wall in the back of scene

My favorite places in the Theatre are costume and prop storage. Imagine, what kind of treasuries are there! I could set up a few vintage shops on Etsy. Unfortunately, I have no photos of my "messy" studio, but I will try to catch up as soon as the renovation of the theater will be over.

Monika

Monika runs two shops on Etsy: hypericumfragile and hypericumhidcote

let's go to Portugal

First it was fado - melancholic city music - and famous fadistas (fado singers) like Amalia Rodrigues. Then came Wim Wenders' Lisbon Story. I just had to go. It was hot, sunny august in Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Guimaresh and many little towns in between. Blue tiles, red soil, white buildings and pink hydrangea. Come with me:)

You can find photos from Portugal here. There are many portugese sellers on Etsy, I want to introduse just few, who make me think about those hot days in Portugal: azulado, riskodesign, saraaires.

Agnieszka

Let's go to Vilnius!

When I was a little girl, I used to travel around the world. My dad was taking me to every place on the Globe I just wanted to. We traveled through Amazon Rainforests with Arkady Fiedler's books, we visited crowded streets of Asian cities with our favorite travel magazine, we dropped by to every European capital on our big wall map. These are the most colorful memories from my childhood.

But he used to say - before setting out everyone needs to see his homeland first. To see this place like a traveler from the faraway country.

Seven years ago, as a young student, I came to Poland. But every Christmas I'm comming back to my hometown, city I was born in and spent **teen years of my (not so) long life. Now I'm just a guest there, I see things I haven't noticed until now.

I would like to invite you to Vilnius, Lithuania.

(source)

Legend says that the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Gediminas, after the succesful hunting in deep Lithuanian forests, settled in near the Valley of Sventaragis for the night. After he fell asleep, he saw a huge iron Wolf standing on the top of the hill and howled like hundreds of wolfs. Next day, Gediminas asked the pagan priest Lizdeika to interpret the meaning of his dream. The priest told him: "The iron Wolf represents a castle and a city you will establish here. This city is going to be the capital of the Lithuanian lands and the glory of Lithuanian deeds shall echo throughout the world".

And that what happened. Centuries were passing by, but city preserved its fantastic atmosphere. This is a place, where you can meet different languages and religions, feel the echo of pagan past and see remains of 5 decades of compulsory communism.

(source)

Last year Vilnius was the European Captital of Culture. Lithuanian art, haute couture fashion and traditional crafts are rated highly around the world.

It's really difficult to tell in few words how amazing the place you love is. So next time, if you let me, I will tell more about my beloved Vilnius :)

If you are interested in original items made by crafters from Vilnius, you MUST see my favorite Etsy shops based in this city! Also, you can use "shop local" Etsy tool to find more sellers, just post "Vilnius".

adatine

onstail

Elze

Rosemary

photos: from my flickr photostream, unless noted otherwise.

let's go to Łowicz - land of cut-outs

traditional cutting tool, picture by akubica

I want to invite you to visit a very special place. It's here, where polish cut-outs were born and refined to an art. Łowickie wycinanki, as we call it, are very colorful and detailed, they are made of multiple layers of color paper. The most popular patterns are flowers and birds, especially roosters. But you can as well find cut-out scenes of everyday life. There is also a tradition in Łowicz of decorating building's walls with colorful floral paintings.

There are still a lot of people (mainly wemen), who make cut-outs. You can meet them at the local handmade shows, watch them work, buy some cut-outs. You can also check their works in the web. And there are many young artists, who are inspired by cut-outs, some of them are active on Etsy too.

So, come with me to Łowicz:)

house painted with flowers, picture by akubica

colorful house, picture by akubica

windows with flowers, picture by akubica

Wanda Brzozowska making cot-outs, picture by akubica

Maria Brzozowska-Kosińska making cot-outs, picture by akubica

gallery of polish cot-outs, picture by www.polishfolkart.com

Polish folk art - easter - decoupage lanyard, picture by joannajewellery

Polish wycinanki bird cards, picture by Pressbound

Polish rooster felt brooch, picture by bialakura

Want more? Polish pavillon on expo 2010 is a big cut-out. You can try to make a copy of it yourself: just print pdf take scissors and try!

Agnieszka