Thursday, December 2, 2010
2:50 PM | 
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Ryś |
The latest set of singles going up at the european top charts. Even though the Christmas time is coming, there is rather no tendency to cover commercial hits. Actually nowadays all the european charts are dominated by Rihanna and Shakira and that is the reason why you won't find them here. My rule is to promote local artists from their countries, who in my opinion will dominate this month's playlists. Few of them were awarded by viewers of popular TV-Shows. My choice is very subjective and case is open to comment :) On December I've choosen performers from: Czech Rep., Germany, UK, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy, France, Belgium, Denmark, Spain and Russia.
1. CZECH Rep.: Nightwork - Tepláky
2. GERMANY: Unheilig - Geboren Um Zu Leben
3. UK: Ellie Goulding - Your Song - my favourite ;)
4. SWITZERLAND: Edita Abdieski - I've Come To Life
5. BULGARIA: Grafa - Nevidim
6. POLAND: Grzegorz Turnau ft. Sebastian Karpiel-Bułecka: Na plażach Zanzibaru
7. ITALY: Modà - La notte
8. FRANCE: Martin Solveig - Hello
9. BELGIUM: Hooverphonic - The Night Before
10. DENMARK - Rune RK & Clara Sofie - Når Tiden Går Baglæns
11. SPAIN: Malu - Blanco Y Negro
12. RUSSIA: МАКSИМ - ДОЖДЬ
Sunday, November 21, 2010
ČESKO - Traband - Indiáni ve městě
SUOMI - Jenni Vartiainen - Seili
NORGE - Sivert Høyem - Prisoner of the Road
LATVIJA - Prāta vētra - Gara diena
ESPAÑA - Maldita Nerea & Los Delinqüentes - El secreto de las tortugas
MAGYARORSZÁG - Noémi Virág - Szeretlek
FRANCE - ZAZ - Je veux
ZAZ - JE VEUX from fotopasta on Vimeo.
ITALIA - Elvis Costello-National Ramson
NEDERLAND - Want Want - Kip Paard Koe
SUOMI - Jenni Vartiainen - Seili
NORGE - Sivert Høyem - Prisoner of the Road
LATVIJA - Prāta vētra - Gara diena
ESPAÑA - Maldita Nerea & Los Delinqüentes - El secreto de las tortugas
MAGYARORSZÁG - Noémi Virág - Szeretlek
FRANCE - ZAZ - Je veux
ZAZ - JE VEUX from fotopasta on Vimeo.
ITALIA - Elvis Costello-National Ramson
NEDERLAND - Want Want - Kip Paard Koe
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
On September 2010 mr R. together with mr C. decided to launch an inquiry into the Euro Cup preparations. Let's agree that it was the main reason of our last visit to Ukraine this year. Right away I want to stress that all the rumours that it was just the cheap way of getting "satisfied" are unfair, what does not mean that they are wrong ;)
To distance from the events which took part on Ukraine, I decided to take a break in writing - my laziness has nothing to deal with it, really :) Having our translator in Lviv we were hoping to conquer at least half of the country. While the map of our route looked incredible, it was impossible to be realised. At least our "guide" was insisting that there is no way to make it in just 6 days. Hence from the list of Lviv, Chernivtsi', Suceava, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Kiev, Tarnopil... we have decided to hit straight on the capital.
I have no clue if I mentioned that in my previous posts about Ukraine, but the best - what makes it the only reasonable - way to travel inside the country is the long-distance train. Prices are low as everything on Ukraine (except the HIV carriers ratio) so the cost does not make a problem. However that occurs when you really want to buy the tickets. Ukrainians are travelling a lot and the most interesting routes are popular not only among tourists. Getting ticket on the day of the departure in the full season is that possible as getting to the spaceflights program. I mean - you can make it if you are smart. In the first case very helpful might be President Lincoln , if you are about flying - you may need rather few Wilsons. Generally people on East like American Presidents and change their attitude when you are conscious about that. Impossible looses prefix.
Kiev - I always had prejudice towards to capitals. There are exceptions, but... OK. Kiev is mess. There is everything. Beautiful buildings, statues, views, women, fancy restaurants, cheap bars, rivers, hills... just it is always surrounded by an awful soviet or modern architecture. I agree, you can see that all around the world, but in Kiev that makes really bad impression. I don't know if you are familiar with events of winter 2004/2005. The Orange Revolution was the first time in my life where the political history of Europe has been written, I mean as a "full-member" of the EU state I was conscious what happens behind the eastern border. So visiting the Maidan Nezalezhnosti where that all took part was somehow going to be exciting. Nothing that wrong. I don't know what I was expecting, but what I've seen there just disappointed me. Five years after "birth of New Ukraine" - as we thought in 2005 - there was nothing what could tell you about that.
I don't want to complain about Kiev - perhaps it's a nice city, for sure has great clubs, you can nicely spend time there. I was just expecting much more.
Ternopil - we went there just because our Ukrainian friend advised that. City is smaller than others - a bit over 200,000 inhabitants, streets as streets, buildings does not cause sensation so let's go clubbing. Riverpool - club placed by the lake which seems to be a heart of the city - has probably the best djs in the country. Really if I could have my own jet, I'd be flying there for weekends. I think it was just before the workday but the club was full of gorgeous girls. The owners try to make it exclusive hence you can enter all the rooms without special cards, but still even higher prices than in any other club I partied on Ukraine, don't make you feel bad. One thing might - unthinkable case of entering club. I don't mean the selection, but the rule of scanning fingerprint. I understand, that it's a bit other world than behind the door but it doesn't make it JFK Airport.
Lviv - what to say, if everything has been written in the past? The city is slowly going through changes with regard to Euro... Right! I should tell about the preparations! Shortly - if western fans will be shocked coming to Poland, in Ukraine they will get a heart-attack. Look, Poland is 20 years now after the system transformation - it looks as it looks -the motorways seem to be too big challenge, trains have delays, there are still problems with commuting from airports, but at least your planes will land, you will get to every match on time, back to your hotel and have fun meanwhile. Now try to understand that Ukraine is 15 years behind Poland. All you need is just to be patient :)
That post is not a complain... it is just an observation. :)
Sunday, August 22, 2010
After Italy and short trip to Lviv comes a time to go to East again - for some visiting that country might be completly not interesting, but for me it is special. And not only because we are going to organise Euro Cup with them, but especially that I am still hungry for visiting Ukraine. Last year I spend almost two weeks, seeing the most touristic region - Crimea. This time I hope to spent about a week visiting the most important cities and regions of Western-Central Ukraine, including Kiev. As a bonus we will probably go to Romanian Bukovina. We are leaving on Tuesday's night from Wroclaw. If anyone is interested in joining us - let me know either in comments or @ social networks.UPDATE:
Leaving tonight at 1140 PM GMT+1 from Wro, then tomorrow night from Lviv to Kiev till Saturday, next.. who knows what will be next? :) Anyhow if some of you is in Ukraine-Crimea, Lviv - let's meet for "1715" ;)
Probable route underneath:
Wyświetl większą mapę
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Dziś w "Klubie Trójki" po godzinie 21 gościem będzie współczesny Phileas Fogg -mr Michael Palin. Pan, którego nie trzeba przedstawiać ;) Michael Palin w "Klubie" będzie opowiadał o swojej najnowszej książce "W 80 dni dookoła świata"
Oficjalna strona podróży Palina: http://www.palinstravels.com/
Link do transmisji audycji: http://www.polskieradio.pl/sluchaj/
Zapis audycji do pobrania tutaj.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Trip to Italy is already set, but those who stay in Central Europe can personaly find out what does it mean to live in Britain. Sun disappeared, volcanic ash covers the world, rain seems to never stop, but there is one thing which can make the situation better - proverb says that music has charms to soothe savage breast hence to cheer up - especially my Hungarian friends who are already flooding, few good tracks:For the begining - Dub FX - Soothe your pain
Kleerup - Untill we bleed
Nithin Sawhney - Homelands
Playing for change - song around the world : Stand by me
Monday, May 3, 2010
Although last five months haven't been filled with journeys which usually drive me to write new posts in here, still some issues have risen. First and the most important fact is that I won't be able to graduate in the end of this semester. That's not a result of thesis's writing impotence, but my mistake in ECTS points management. Hence thesis defense has to be postponed to January 2011. That causes change in my traveling plans and almost sure is, that I won't go to South America in October this year. But every cloud has a silver lining therefore in the end of September I will go to Azerbaijan and Georgia instead. I am looking forward to see especially Sakartwelo which is tempting me for few years already.
To top it all also my internship applications had to be frozen because of duties to studying program, hence I will probably begin summer in some Polish open pit and then try to make fortune in Scandinavia ;)
After all I don't stop traveling. Just yesterday Sudety mountains gave me big lesson of respect to nature spanking me all the time while hiking on Snieznik. Still likely is that I will come on Thursday to Miskolc, Hungary, to celebrate Erasmus Reunion with my friends, just that will come clear in few days. What is certain - I am going to Bologne and Florence on May 21-24. Every good tips about visiting these cities and their neighborhood are more than welcome.
The regular visitors could also notice the changes at my website - since the first quarter of 2010 has doubled the last year's opening number I had to make it more professional;) For few next days page will be still under construction, so all the remarks and suggestions are appreciated.
In the end - due to variance of Mother's Day celebration's date in different countries I would like to wish in advance all the best to all moms visiting my website!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
"Oszczędźmy słów, niech pozostanie wielkie milczenie." - Jan Paweł IIThe catastrophy in Smolensk, Russia has paralised not only the Polish nation, but also astonished people around the World. I would like to thank all my friends who wrote good words during this hard time. The old Polish proverb says, that the real friends can known in trouble - your support has proven, that Poland and Poles can rely on their friends.
World media about the catastrophe: link
Za: salon24.plWorld media about the catastrophe: link
Wrocławski Marsz Katyński
Uczcijmy pamięć ofiar Zbrodni Katyńskiej oraz sobotniej tragedii.
Przyjdźmy na Wrocławski Marsz KATYŃSKI, by oddać hołd. Weźmy ze sobą minimum po dwa znicze.
Zbiórka we wtorek 13 kwietnia, godz. 17:45, wyruszamy o godz. 18.00 – Plac Grunwaldzki (Rondo Reagana) pod Pasażem Grunwaldzkim.
Przejście ulicami:
Przyjdźmy na Wrocławski Marsz KATYŃSKI, by oddać hołd. Weźmy ze sobą minimum po dwa znicze.
Zbiórka we wtorek 13 kwietnia, godz. 17:45, wyruszamy o godz. 18.00 – Plac Grunwaldzki (Rondo Reagana) pod Pasażem Grunwaldzkim.
Przejście ulicami:
Oś Placu Grunwaldzkiego, Most Grunwaldzki, koło Pomnika Katyńskiego w Parku Słowackiego (zapalamy znicze), ul. Oławska, ul. Kazimierza Wielkiego, ul. Świdnicka i Rynek.
Wrocławianie
Wrocławianie
_________________________________________________________________________
Wroclaw March for Katyn
Let's commemorate the victims of Katyń massacre and the deceased in Saturday's tragedy in Smolensk.
Come to Wroclaw March for KATYN, to honour them. Take at least two candles.
Gathering on Tuesday, April 13, at 5:45 PM, start at 6 PM - Plac Grunwaldzki - Rondo Reagana (Grunwaldzki Square) by the Pasaż Grunwaldzki.
March on the streets: Grunwaldzki Square, Grunwaldzki Bridge, Katyń memorial (Park of Słowacki near the Panorama Racławicka), Oławska, Kazimierza Wielkiego and Rynek
Monday, April 5, 2010
I got today sad message about the death of my friend - Łukasz - Luke Jaworski. Luke was a photographer, journalist, ethnologist and guide, but moreover He was a great companion and traveler. On January we were planning to do reportage about the presidental election in Ukraine, but he got contract for photo-story in Eastern Africa. He died last Saturday in an accident taking pictures in Lalibela, Ethiopia. You will never walk alone!
Requiescat in Pace.
Last works of Luke can be seen at www.lukejaworski.com
Saturday, March 6, 2010
How to determine Madrid? How to determine any capital? Definitely this is the worse place - without it's identity - because of hundreds of thousands of external and interial emigrants who mix into the societies excluding at the same time the original inhabitants, who prefer to move to the suburbs. But because of this mixture, capitals are the best cities to find your place.La Capital
Although in the previous post I wrote, that the best way to get to know the city is to get lost there, I must add and appendix - do not apply to metropolis. Madrid is big - over 600 km2. And apart from the centre there is nothing worth seeing. Because of unpredictable weather I decided to divide sight-seeing to 2 parts. Western Centre of Madrid - firstly squares, then the rest. Madrid as every capital is very possessive so also here you have to find something special and unique. That is - the centre of Spain... if just Spain, it's the centre of Iberian Peninsula! It is attractive indeed, you walk along arcaded galleries, visit shops, when suddenly someone starts shouting at you. Nothing strange, probably you just walked into the film set of some Spanish soap opera. Tourist, tourist and one more time Japanese, and where are Japanese, there are pictures and oddly dressed people. Hence at Plaza Mayor you can see marines, knights, don Kichot, spiderman and spiderpig. Better to not to get hungry in the neighborhood of Plaza de Mayor or Plaza de Sol to not to empty your wallet. Next stop - Royal Palace and Royal Gardens - Camp del Moro. Nice architecture of the buildings which are partly open for the visitors. If palace, then few steps to the South and you are in the Cathedral. Go further more and see the San Francesco del Grande Basilica, unless it's closed. Walk back to the Sol and visit Santa Ana Square - there you can get nice tapas. When power is regained, it's worth to walk alone the Gran Via - centre of theatre, cinemas, fancy and less fancy shops something what can give you a semblance of Madrid's spirit. The best time to visit Gran Via is an early evening (9pm), and no, not because of the young South-Americans looking for customers, but to visit one of the theatres where every day there is rush because of famous guests in the audience.
View Larger Map
Where to eat and drink? Unless you have local "guide" - at home. My guide was Angel - friend from Erasmus, who easily found places, where una cana with tapas costs less than 2 Euros and where for few hours you can remind old good times of Hungarian parties.
Then simply take a walk on Paseo del Prado - distant with several meters Museo Naval, Museo Thyssen count, that some of the tourist will visit them. But they have completly other aim... If The Garden of Earthly Delights, Las Meninas or La Inmaculada de Soult can be called the pearls of art, then Museo del Prado is a necklace holding these pearls. I used, that EU students can enter the Museum for free* and spent there 3.5 hours. And although I never paid attention on art classes, concentrated more on war with teacher, than on analysing paintings, even such amateur as me could recognise these great works.
* Always in every place in Spain ask for the student discounts and don't be dishearted if the ticket clerk doesn't understand you**, phrase "¿Hay descuentos para estudiantes?" was the most fluent sentence ever said by me in Spanish.
**And again I have to make a digression - the language and the knowledge of foreign languages. Generally Spanish people don't speak any other habla, than their own. You can try, may not belive, but it's really hard to find someone who speaks good English, German or any other language, that I speak. When you ask "¿Hablas ingles?" and the answer is "un poco" or any other sentence in Spanish, than it means "No!". Fortunatelly all my Spanish friends who I met in this country were dealing with the language very well, giving me good tips about communicating with other people. And of course it's a shame for me that still my Spanish is very poco - ¡Mi culpa!View Larger Map
After few hours of art-treatment it's worth to spend some time outside, hence go to Botanic garden or straight to Parque del Retiro - these royal gardens were exclusive for hundreds of years, now are just waiting for your visit. The park is huge, but one thing is worth a quest. It is the only in the world, public statue of the devil. Fallen angel is a part of the fountain - unfortunately rain kept me from finding that. There is one more place which man should see in this area - it's Atocha Train Station - even if -as I adviced in the previous post - you are not going anywhere with this mean of transport - visit the station. Jungle - that's the word.
Toledo
Two days are enough to see Madrid - if you live in place away by walking distance from Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, you can go there - for 15 Euros you can touch the grass of the pitch where Cristiano Ronaldo ridicules the defenders, sit on the bench where Jerzy Dudek passes the towels to his teammates or take a picture with wax statue of Di Stefano in the Museum of Real. The same 15 Euros you can also spend on 1.5 journey to Toledo. As a rugby player I can't admit that I like football, so I went to the former capital of Castilla.Short advice to Orzech - when the coach from Madrid arrives, don't go out of the station, just find the platform of city buses (no 5,61,62) and go to the last stop (Ciudad vieja) - ticket costs 95 Eurocents.When you arrive to the Old Town - go to the information point to get free map. And no, not to plan the route, but to see on the reverse which tourist attractions are open. Then you can calmly get lost. Old town of Toledo is like a picture from Cervantes's novels. Even though it's close to Madrid, the atmosphere is completly different. Even the Japanese tourists are different. Toledo is adorable - great place for romantic date and for calm retirement. I spend just 3 hours on sight-seeing and next 3 on visiting churches, museums and galleries. But one thing is very special...
When you get to one of the lookout towers everything stops, shops and Japanese disappear, you are transferred to XVI century when the town was in bloom. It's not Spain anymore, it's Castilla - time to conquer New World!
Al final, quiero agradecer a todos mis amigos que conocí durante mi viaje. ¡Muchas gracias!: Lolek, Erik, Ángel, Víctor, Tatiana, Patricia, Elena, Sergio, Elena, Anyi, Leo, Carla, Elena, Eva María y otros ...
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Thursday, March 4, 2010
¡Hola Andalucía!
After night spent at Airport of Alicante I came finally to Madrid - but more about the capital in the second part of the post. Short nap in Pawel's place and I was already waiting for the bus* to Granada.
*Here small advice - if anytime ever you are going to have a cheap journey around Spain and there are no more free seats in Ryanair flights (Yes, that's in fact the cheapest way of travelling in Spain - roundtrip from Barcelona to Madrid can cost 10 Euro) take the bus instead of train. First of all they are much cheaper (roundtrip ticket Mad-Granada costs 32 Euro and there is no fee for rebooking) and secondly you are avoiding unpleasant control which after March 2003 has been introduced in every train going to the capital.
Eventually we three - me, Pawel (who you already know, among others, from trip to Lvov) and Erik (Pawel's workmate, becario**) - set off in Granada, where adorable Spanish girls - Elena, Tati and Patricia together with Victor were already waiting for us. When you come to Spain - do it in February, it's a perfect time to see the cultural and thermal difference between Iberian Peninsula and the rest of the continent. And students are the perfect example, because then they finish exam sessions and are the most willing to party (and when they are not?!).
**becario - term describing not only the actual task of intern in the company, but also his status. As Pawel and Erik said, becario is a bit out of the rules and etiquette in companies. All the mistakes, inproper clothing, etc can be excused exactly with this word.
Hungry, but enjoying beauty of our hosts and good weather (in the night thermometer showed 12'C) we went to Tapas bar. And if someone has just few free hours in Spain and has a will to feel Spanish atmosphere, there is nothing else to do, but to go to any tapas bar. It's like all Spain, all customs, people, stereotypes, surprises, literally everything Spanish in one place and they have canas. Finally the clock struck midnight, so it was the best time to go for a party.
And the company for partying was no mean, because beforeparty took place in the apartment of students of medicine, where liberating Cuba we were checking our engineering skills. Party in the club with Spanish girls can be described with one single word - WOW!. There are just two nations for which dancing comes so naturally - Georgians and Spanish. And what's the best, they were so determined to teach me salsa, that I - a person whose feet and hips always quarrel with rythm - I was able to make few proper steps. What is very noticeable - apart from girls, who looked just gorgeous, 80% of local boys in disco just look the same. And I don't know if this is some trendsetting, or Granada-style, but they all wear blue shirts with white collars and have horrible, horrible hair-style -something between early Limahl and Danzel the only difference is the colour of hair. On the weekends - because that time I could experience, parties last till dusk. That's why before 1 pm it's hard to find people on the streets. We recovered also just afternoon, but it was a perfect time to see Granada.
What a city it is! Some say, that if you weren't in Sevilla, you didn't see a miracle. But if you weren't in Granada, you didn't see anything. Perhaps all the Andalucia, but definitely especially Granada is like an open book. Walking along the streets, passing next districts is like reading chapters of Spanish history one by one. It's enough to walk few meters to straight from Jewish Gates of Fajalauza walk in to Arab bazaar. I always said, that the best way to get to know foreign place is to get lost there because without guides and maps you can see much more. In Granada you can be led not only by your eyes, but all the senses are telling you were to go. Extraordinary mix of thousands of smells - of spices, food, shops and products sold on the streets can take you for a memorable trip in Granada.
What Big Ben is for London, Manhattan for NYC, the same Alhambra is not only for Granada, but for all the country. Honestly, I am not a big fan of visiting museums and generally the interiors, especially when I don't have too much time and the weather is great outside, so I left visiting this great fortress complex just for the case of rain. But if not from inside, then where can you go to see Alhambra? Of course to the St. Nicholas square. And as you can call Alhambra - the diamond of Granada - that square must be at least a piece of coal, turning to a diamond. Cyganeria, bohemia, call it as you want. I will not describe it, just watch!
It took two days and nights to see Granada, but only few hours to fall in love with this city. Speechless with delight we left Granada on Sunday's evening, the capital was waiting already...
Monday, March 1, 2010
Yes, the post about my trip to Spain is coming up, but there is one even more urgent case to write about...Ladies and gentlemen, although I am not a big fan of classical music, I hardly recognise the difference between Mozart and Beethoven and in the philharmonic concert hall I've been only once - on symphonic concert of Beatles songs, I still feel on duty to announce - Year 2010 is an official year of great composer - mr Frederic Chopin.
You can ask - what the hell do I have in common with this French guy? And this is a point - the day of his 200 birthday is an excellent moment to bring it to your attention, that Chopin was a great Polish composer. Of course, he prefered French women (who doesn't?), he migrated to Paris, but still almost all his marvelous works are influenced by Polish elements. Perhaps his surname still doesn't tell you anything - but let me remind the great movie of Roman Polanski - awarded with 3 Oscars - the Pianist:
The main hero - Wladyslaw Szpilman was playing the works of noone else but Frederic Chopin.
And even if you are not interested in classical music, it's still worth to visit opened today the Museum of Frederic Chopin in Warsaw. One of the most modern museums in Poland is full of hi-tech elements which can introduce the visitors not only to Frederic Chopin himself, but also the times in which he lived, and that time Warsaw and Paris.
In the end I recommend to check the album "Rock loves Chopin" - where conterporary Polish musicians made new arrangements of Chopins most famous works.
Update: To obligatory cd positions I have to add, recommended by K.O. - my classical music authoritate - Chopin Impressions by Leszek Mozdzer, who is notabene bonded quite strongly with Wroclaw ;).
Friday, February 26, 2010
Spain? Country of craziness. Full of sex, love, fun, party and Sun. Place where once you can adore beauty of great sacral architecture, and other time you can get accidental sex offer during your bus trip. But more details...soon.
Finally I realised something, what years ago was described by Greek poet - Kavafis:
The City
You said:
"I'll go to another country, go to another shore,
find another city better than this one.
Whatever I try to do is fated to turn out wrong
and my heart -like something dead- lies buried.
How long can I let my mind moulder in this place?
Wherever I turn, wherever I look,
I see the black ruins of my life, here,
where I've spent so many years,
wasted them, destroyed them totally."
You won't find a new country, won't find another shore.
This city will always pursue you.
You'll walk the same streets, grow old
in the same neighbourhoods,
turn grey in these same houses.
You'll always end up in this city.
Don't hope for things elsewhere:
there's no ship for you, there's no road.
Now that you've wasted your life here,
in this small corner,
you've destroyed it everywhere in the world.
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