This is an English version of our polish-language podcast. Burns night is coming. On that day Scottish people sit to the table to enjoy their national cuisine. The most important moment of the evening is cutting the haggis and loud reading of the one of the most famous Scottish poems by their national bard Robert […]
Scotland
Perhaps re-thinking of our visa politics towards “ordinary Russians” is long overdue?
A sticker with Ukraine appeared on my car just after Russia began its new wave of invasion into Ukraine. I know, it’s just an empty gesture, but I simply wanted to express somehow my solidarity with the victims of Russian imperialism. For the 6 months of 2022, I still lived in Scotland, this sticker was […]
Russian Invasion of Ukraine as seen from Poland (Special podcast episode in English)
This joint production of Lewackie Pitolenie and West Country Voices is an English translation of the recent episode of the Polish language podcast Lewackie Pitolenie, in which we hear from Polish people engaged in helping Ukrainian refugees – both at the border and in the west part of the country, a Ukrainian protester in Glasgow […]
Linn Botanic Gardens – A tropical jungle in the heart of Scotland
It’s winter. The weather is rainy, the sky is grey, and it is usually at such time when we come back to our memories about visiting beautiful places full of greenery. Despite its fame for bad weather, Scotland is a great place if you are a garden lover, as the country’s gardeners were taking the […]
So are we still in lock-down? Or is that a normal life now?
We just entered March 2021. If you look even at my blog from year ago, I published several texts related to pandemics last March (see here). We all remember panic buy of pasta and hoarding bog rolls or speculation on the soap and hand sanitizer. Then the lockdown came and I remember how, along with […]
I was outside today. Britain is simply asking for it.
I ventured outside today for the first time in two weeks (I’ve been quarantined). I have been to the Polish shop, pharmacy, the supermarket and to drop some groceries to my friend, who’s under quarantine. I saw all those memes about the city being abandoned, I expected to have an “I am Legend” style experience. […]
On the Gardens of the Heavenly Spheres
Those who love beautiful Gardens can enjoy truly wonderful choice in Scotland: numerous botanic gardens, private gardens, castle gardens, gardens maintained by National Trust of Scotland – everyone can find something to his taste. There are also some gems, that will please people, who look for something completely different. Places that are more of a […]
Smash those Ciapaks, with a holy picture if need be.
“Boję się ciapaków” – told me my old university friend. Intelligent, educated, with a diploma in difficult field from a leading Polish university. “Ciapak” is a Polish racial slur for Muslims and Arabs, but also for Indian people and other people with a darker skin. The closest English equivalent would be “Paki”. “I fear Ciapaks” – […]
Go West – Barra and Watersay
Scottish Hebrides fell victim to its own success. World famous Isle of Skye became one of the most popular holiday destination, which means that during the summer, swarms of tourists queue in the traffic jams full of coaches and caravans or struggle to find parking space around most popular attraction. With the warm summer finally […]
Can Scotland learn something from Slovakia?
Everyone has those few memories from childhood that stick out. One of mines is the day, when I was about 12 years old and for the first time become witness to serious discussion on the topic of foreign politics. My distant uncle, a prominent Slovakian politician, visited Poland somewhere in 1992. The adults – my […]