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Poland

3,102 bytes added, 20:21, 19 March 2013
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'''Poland''' is a member state of the [[European Union]] as well as the [[Schengen Agreement]]. It is pretty good an awesome country for hitchhikingand even one of the most hitchhiker friendly countries in whole Europe. Many drivers generally believe that others do not stop and that hitchhiking days are over in Poland, which however does not prevent hundreds of them from stopping. Since 1958 till the beginning of 90's hitchhiking in Poland was an official way of traveling organized by National Tourist Board, when hitchhikers had their ID with [[insurance]] included and drivers could win prizes every year. Thousands of people were hitchhiking through all these years – and most of them have cars today, so very often do they repay the debt.
=== General Hitchhiking Info ===
'''Public transport''' While staying in bigger cities check [http://jakdojade.pl/Welcome.jsp?locale=en jakdojade.pl]. It will find for you every single connection between point A and B within city limits and show ticket price, route on google, bus stops names and timetables. Just write the name of a street where you are in a form called "Z" (or pick a point on google map) and the place you want to go in form "DO". It will do the rest.
 
=== Hitchhiking at night ===
On small roads it is to be avoided for sure as the traffic is low at night and the light even worse. On a spot with good light you can still try your luck. On the motorways it works perfectly good, maybe better than everywhere else in Europe. On the petrol stations the light is good and people are very helpful and will not be comfortable with the idea to leave you there over night, especially when it rains or it is cold, what is quite often the case in this country.
=== Borders ===
=== Communication & Dictionary ===
[[File:Warsaw - poznan.JPG|thumb|left|225px]]
The Polish language is generally hard to learn for most native English speakers. Even the most basic constructions you might need while on the road require the usage of quite complicated grammar and the use of grammatical gender, proper declension and a number of other categories non-existent in modern English. However, contrary to French or German people, Poles are generally friendly towards foreigners who try to speak their language. Because of that do not be afraid to commit mistakes. They might at times sound funny, but most Polish people would be astonished by the fact that you tried. That said some Polish drivers may find local hitchhikers suspicious as they are scared of crime. Foreign hitchhikers are excluded from this fear because nobody might expect a foreigner to have nothing better to do than pretending to be a hitchhiker and steal from their drivers. So when your Polish skills are good enough that people will not recognize you as a foreigner, mention it as well.
Apart from the basic set of words and constructions found in every guidebook, there are some words hitchhikers might find particularly useful. Check also the Wikipedia articles on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_language Polish language] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_phonology Polish phonology] for more info on proper pronunciation. You can buy a decent guidebook or dictionary in any major town in '''Poland'''.
== Border crossings ==
 
=== [[Belarus]] ===
The most exhausting border crossing with long waiting ques and hassles to recieve the visa. Police has the reputation to be quite rude, but this is not the case every time.
 
* "[http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=13034915224636727578,52.069786,23.642091&saddr=2%2FE30+%4052.069786,+23.642091&daddr=52.073732,23.673027&mra=mi&mrsp=1,0&sz=16&sll=52.074073,23.666546&sspn=0.008573,0.022745&ie=UTF8&ll=52.070116,23.646183&spn=0.068588,0.181961&z=13 Warsaw Bridge]" (Варшавский мост) – the biggest crossing point located on [[E30]] near [[Terespol]]. Crossing is possible only in a vehicle. Opposite to what you could guess, the crossing is hassle free and the police not more unfriendly than elsewhere. Prepare yourself for long waiting time, if there is a lot of traffic, even very long waiting time. Even when there are just two or three cars in front of you, you can find yourself waiting for several hours.
* "[http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=18391996812509845743,52.106891,23.558036%3B5287091177967822326,52.110654,23.561225&saddr=68+%4052.106891,+23.558036&daddr=52.116665,23.564816&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=16&sll=52.114886,23.566296&sspn=0.008565,0.022745&ie=UTF8&ll=52.516221,24.483032&spn=2.172906,5.822754&z=8 Kozlovichi]" (Козловичи) – for trucks only. Located at the north-western edge of the Belarussian city Brest.
* "[http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=13433892993726185330,51.771666,23.569832%3B8225709824099370420,51.760479,23.611216&saddr=63+%4051.771666,+23.569832&daddr=Unknown+road+%4051.760479,+23.611216&sll=51.766075,23.590525&sspn=0.017263,0.04549&ie=UTF8&ll=52.722986,25.378418&spn=4.325896,11.645508&z=7 Domachevo]" (Домачево) – vehicular crossing located some 40 kilometres south of the Belarussian city Brest.
 
=== [[Czech Republic]] ===
 
No controls, part of the Schengen zone.
=== [[Germany]] ===
 
No controls, part of the Schengen zone. When crossing to Germany, custom controlls might get on your nerves from time to time.
* [[Jędrzychowice border crossing]]
* [[Świecko border crossing]]
 
=== [[Lithuania]] ===
 
No controls, part of the Schengen zone.
=== [[Russia]] ===
=== [[Slovakia]] ===
 
No controls, part of the Schengen zone.
* [[Barwinek-Vyšný Komárnik border crossing]]
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