Poland

NEED TO KNOW

GOOD TO KNOW

Books and Movies
The history of Poland stretches from invasion to invasion (the Mongols, the Russians, the Prussians, the Austrians, the Nazis, and the Soviets), and Polish literature reflects this. For a great overview, pick up Nobel Prize–winner Czeslaw Milosz's The History of Polish Literature. To revisit the horrors of the Holocaust, see Steven Spielberg's film Schindler's List or the superior (and still more depressing) nine-hour documentary Shoah, by Claude Lanzmann.

Unexpectedly, the music of Poland is not nearly as grim as the nation's history, literature, films, and jokes would suggest. In fact, Poland's music is downright vibrant, from polka's zaniness to Chopin's genius to Paktofonika's hip-hop revolution.

Cuisine
Meat and a shot of potato vodka is the basic thrust of Polish cuisine, with pickled root vegetables and black bread on the side. Traditional Polish specialties such as kielbasa and pierogi will be familiar to visitors, but delicious smalec (deep-fried chunks of lard) has not achieved the same international popularity.

Good Buys
From modern malls in Warsaw to ancient outdoor markets in Krakow, Poland's shops stock almost anything you'd find at home, often at a great discount, due to the weak local currency, the zloty. Poland's finest wares are embroidered linen, etched crystal, and custom leatherwork.

Money
Poland charges a value-added tax (VAT) of up to 22 percent on every purchase, but visitors can get a refund at the airport or by mail. At most restaurants and bars, a ten-percent service charge is added to your bill, so you need not tip. If you're feeling generous, just say "Raeshty nye chaeba," which means "keep the change."

Did You Know?
In Poland, a circle marks the ladies' room, a triangle indicates the men's room.

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS