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The brochures for Poland will lure you with descriptions of romantic beaches along the Baltic and the enchanting lakes of Mazuria, of the sheer splendor of the Carpathians and the handsome boulevards of Warsaw. True, these natural assets are among the most untamed and pure landscapes in all of central Europe today- but they’re not all that Poland is about. Poland may not have the riches or the regalia to advertise its historical heritage, but if you look closely you will know that it possesses a historical legacy like few others. Ravaged by the onslaught of two world wars and occupied by some of the most fearful armies of all times, Poland is a country that has risen like a phoenix from the ashes of destruction of Hitler’s army. From the war memorials of Krakow to the Gothic churches of Dachau, from the Nazi camp grounds in Auschwitz to the upscale nightclubs lining the streets of Warsaw, Poland is a country waiting to tell you a story ….

The Polish are quite superstitious about the month in which their weddings are held. In Polish, months that contain the letter “R” are said to be auspicious and the weddings are successful. Therefore, marriage processions do not take place in the months of maj (May), styczen (January), luty (February), kwiecien (April), lipiec (July) and listopad (November). Polish months of the year, days of the week, names of religious orders and car makes are not capitalized as in other languages unless they are being used as the first word in the sentence.

Historically Speaking

The aggressive advances of its not-so-noble neighbors have plagued Poland for many a century. Being the bone of contention among world powers may be flattering, but it’s a tough ride all the way – something Poland knows all too well. Apart from the empire-hungry Russians, Ottoman Turks and the neighboring Austrians – the country has also had to ward off the pushy Ukrainians, Cossacks and Swedes. Many Polish lives perished in the struggle to protect its sovereign borders, and by the early 19th century, internal crises such as the bubonic plague ate away at the already dwindling population. The Russians, Austrians and other players on the prowl decided to ambush the country during this period of weakness and constantly pulled antics to try and break the country’s stability. Major exodus characterized the end of the 19th century, when over 4 million Poles left for Western countries, especially America. When World War I took Europe by storm, Poland was occupied by Russia, Austria and the then Prussia. The ruling countries commissioned millions of Polish soldiers to insane military assignments that just led to a confused frenzy, with Poles massacring each other. At the time of the Russian Revolution, Polish leaders mustered the remnants of their national consciousness and tried to awaken the populace to revolt. But before they could get far with national awakening, one of the greatest tragedies to ever have struck Poland was well on its way. Once the Nazis took over Warsaw, Hitler unleashed his sinister program for racial cleansing: hunting down and hoarding the Jews of Poland into concentration camp in Dachau, Auschwitz and Warsaw. Till the fall of the Axis powers, Poland was turned into a practical ghetto and the Jewish community that survived was haunted by the memory of the Holocaust. After the Axis powers fell in 1949, Poland was free in a sense – but with an entire country in ruins and half of its population massacred, there was much to rebuild. Unfortunately for Poland, the years that followed were far from hopeful. Stalin’s purges and the legacy of his repressive Communist regime plagued Poland and arrested development. After the fall of the Soviet Union, semi-free elections were held in 1989. In the 21st century, Poland is earning international credibility as it capitalizes on its material strengths. It became a full NATO member in 1999 and is scheduled to become a member of EU in May 2004 along with nine other states.

Habitat

Poland’s Northern two thirds of the country and the remaining South are quite literally "poles" apart. In the north you will be welcomed by plains and low hills – divided into three regions called the Baltic Heights – dotted with lakes and hills, the Central Polish Lowlands - traversed by a series of shallow valleys and lastly the Coastal Plains . The coastline runs the length of the Baltic Sea, and is remarkably smooth and regular. The romantic beach resorts along the Baltic Sea are major tourist attractions. The South is partly occupied by uplands, and the extreme south and southwest are home to the mighty Carpathians . The range which forms the southern border of the Polish mainland is called the Tatry Mountains . Poland has two main rivers draining into the Baltic Sea, and a staggering series of 9300 lakes and 160 artificial reservoirs mainly in the Baltic Heights and the Coastal Regions. The scenic lake district of the South has foreign as well as Polish tourists flocking to its banks every year.