Independence Day photos
Our nod in the direction of independence today was a visit to the exhibition called “Wojenne rozstania”, which is held inside the university library. It chronicles the lives of various families that were forcibly relocated thanks to the ever changing moods and allegiances of that time. Some of the journeys are quite incredible.
Following that, and safely after all the pomp and circumstance had died down we wandered around the town. It was cold, dark (considering it was only 16:00), wet and windy. Not the ideal conditions for photography but I took the G9 along anyway.
Flying the flag
Parisian kiosk
Family admiring the Canaletto
One of my favourite views of Warsaw, across Piłsudski square
And rather ironically, given the yawning gap between Polish and British sense of pride in their nation, the only Union Jack was a broken umbrella laying with the trash!
What do you mean with “yawning gap between Polish and British sense of pride in their nation” ?
Are poland and britain really that different ?
guest
Thursday, 12 November, 2009 at 2:29 am
We celebrated Veterans Day here. I see that its still raining in Poland. We’ve had some great weather the past week. Sunshine and in the 60’s. How apropos to find a Union Jack in the trash.
Chris
Thursday, 12 November, 2009 at 7:46 am
guest,
I believe so, yes. It may just be that I’ve been away too long.
The Brits can be incredibly patriotic but it tends to be only a fleeting moment for occasions such as World Cup football, deaths of people like Diana, pumped up celebrations like a D-Day anniversary. The normal, default level of patriotism is, IMO, quite a bit lower than in Poland.
There are historical reasons for this, I suppose. Plus, I must say, the fact that “British” patriotism is always diluted by the fact that we still have many non-united factions like Scots, Welsh, N Irish, English. The English nation especially has taken so much stick in the past, and the make-up of the population been so diluted, that they are now reluctant or unable to celebrate Englishness!
scatts
Thursday, 12 November, 2009 at 11:32 am
It breaks my heart to see that umbrella casually discarded on the sidewalk. How can anybody be so cruel!
Anyway, I thought you could only buy these on Brighton seafront. I’m assuming this was a tacky gift to someone in Warsaw and started to leak as soon as it got wet, immediately rendering it useless. This is why Brits aren’t particularly patriotic. There’s no pride to be gained from carrying a Union Jack umbrella anymore!
Nice photos, but I’m glad I stayed indoors…
yellerbelly
Thursday, 12 November, 2009 at 1:23 pm
And our poor president is ill now, because of bad weather in the Independence Day!
And on the south we have got sun!
MaterialGirl
Wednesday, 18 November, 2009 at 9:11 am
I think we’re also a bit cautious about patriotism in case it blends into BNP-style nationalism.
I disagree about dilution, Scatts: the Scots, Welsh and Irish are fiercely patriotic. My sister lives in Edinburgh and hears ‘oh yeah but you’re English’ all the time (even though she has deeper Scottish roots than her fiance, who is Aberdeen-born to English parents)
I’m English but my family has strong Welsh and Scottish branches and I hate the idea of devolution: it’s like taking away something that has always been part of my life. I think most Brits are a mix of the various nations and that’s what makes devolution such an illogical idea.
Oops that was a bit off-topic…
pinolona
Wednesday, 18 November, 2009 at 9:46 am