#masurian lakeland

[nearbyworldexploration]

Masurian Lakeland - Poland

The Masurian Lake District contains more than 2,000 lakes and located in an area that encompasses the lower Vistula River to the Lithuania border.

[derrickperegrine]

I was wondering if you'd ever thought about what a polish Wizarding school would be like? I've been following your blog for a while and I've always been curious as to what your thoughts on the matter would like since you always come up with the most amazing wizarding classes :)

cześć anon! currently i have poland under durmstrang (i have a durmstrang oc who is polish) becuase Lord Knows How Much Land Durmstrang Covers (re: its name is german, but it’s written in cyrillic on the crest, and it’s ‘scandinavian’, and its founder is bulgarian?? that’s like central europe + northern europe + eastern europe + the balkans, @jkr do you know basic geography), but i think it would definitely be cool to have uniquely polish school

i think a polish school would be the best school for defensive magic, considering how many times it’s been fucking invaded i’m not salty about european history nope totally not but also poland has defeated quite a lot of foes in its history as well (the germans in the twelfth century and again in the fifteenth, and not to mention its participation in wwii) and it would have probably the most interesting, mixed/alchemical form of magic – i’m thinking about jewish alchemy (since casimir iii extended protection to the jews in the fourteenth century), but also about mixing all the european cultures that immigrated into poland around the same time: german, flemish, danish, armenian, etc.

because i love the mountains, i would be inclined to place a polish school in the tatra mountains, but the idea of a water-based school really fascinates me, so maybe a school somewhere like the masurian lakelands would be cool! i think the buildings would be in a romanesque architectural style because i’d like to think the polish wizards organised pretty early – it seems to me that ethnic and cultural groups in eastern european history banded together a lot back then, but i’m not sure because i’m not really a polish historian, i’ve really only studied russian and (kievan) rus’ian history during that time period – and also i’m fucking sick of gothic castles in hp at this point those can fuck off

i also think that poland would have a lot more muggle studies classes? considering that there are so many famous poles gjdkgsdfg like my boy fryderyk chopin and marie curie and poland is a relatively smaller (and somewhat contained) nation, so i think there’d be more interaction with muggle peoples. i’d imagine that they’d find a lot of muggle discoveries quite useful and interesting … thus they’d go head to head with japan in terms of cutting-edge magic, possibly

i also think that a polish school would be structured ‘cyclically’ – the slavic religion they had before christianity was very nature based and rituals were connected with cycles within nature. so each class would be offered based on the current spot in the yearly/seasonal cycle they were in. if that makes any sense?? like you learn different things as you go through the year, you’re not taking one kind of transfiguration year-round or anything. but in that vein poland would be very, very good at herbology, very skilled casters bc they know ‘what’s in season’ and how to channel that magic, and also there’d probably be more life + death magic than in western europe, because northern and eastern european cultures have more death and resurrection in their folklores than western european cultures i think

honestly i could go on and actually get deep into curriculum and social structure and that but this is getting really long at this point and i probably shouldn’t!! i really like the idea of a polish school (thanks for asking about one anon!!), but it makes me sad that there’s a very high likelihood one may have been destroyed by conquest from the west or from russia, and a western or russian school would have replaced the polish one :(

[whisperofthewaves]

so I’ve been tagged by @johnnyricks (thanks!). I’ve done a similar list a few days back (it’s fascinating how they’re evolving through reposts, kinda like chinese whispers*. also this version makes more sense in some instances), but it’s 8:40am and I’m procrastinating my work, soooo. I’m putting this under the cut to lessen your suffering.

*it’s called ‘the deaf phone’ in polish

LAST:

Last drink: coffee. it’s also my current drink. it’s the same drink.

Last phone call: my work

Last text message: my sister

Last song you listened to: Jeff Buckley’s Grace (the album. idk which song was the last)

Last time I cried: oh. I think it was a month ago now.

HAVE YOU EVER:

Dated someone twice: yes.

Been cheated on: no

Kissed someone and regretted it: not really.

Lost someone special: don’t think so

Been depressed: think so

Been drunk and thrown up: oh boy have I ever

IN THE PAST YEAR HAVE YOU:

Made a new friend: okay, I really have a problem with the english/american understanding of the word friend, bc it is commonly translated into “przyjaciel” in polish, which would be more like, “close/very close friend” really, while a “casual friend” is “znajomy”, which is sometimes translated as “acquaintance”, so are you asking me if I’ve met some new people with whom I hang out sometimes and it’s fun, or did I progress my relationship with someone closer to the “best friend” area/ met someone who could potentially become a “close friend”.

Fallen out of love: not this year.

Laughed until you cried: not this year I think

Met someone who changed you: not this year.

Found out who your true friends are: not this year?

Found out someone was talking about you: (see above)

GENERAL:

How many people on tumblr do you know in real life: none, actually. I’d be ok with meeting people from tumblr irl, but I’d really rather people I already know not find my blog.

Do you have any pets: sadly, not anymore.

Do you want to change your name: I’ve wanted in the past for a long time, now I just resigned myself to my fate.

What time did you wake up this morning: 8:16

What were you doing last night: playing Mass Effect/DA: Inquisition

Name something you cannot wait for: settling down in my flat.

Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: if we’re talking specifically Tom, it’d be @winteryserpent (hope you don’t mind the call out). in polish that would be Tomasz, and it’s a common enough name. my good friend is named that, and the guy I’m working with too.

What’s getting on your nerves rn: recently it’d be the internet connection at my parents’

Blood type: B-? who knows, not me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Nickname: I use sparrow here

Relationship status: no

Zodiac sign: Virgo sun/Taurus moon

Pronouns: she

Favorite tv show: ...in which month? 

College: been there, done that lol. UW-WSTH-WWSH

Hair colour: light brown? sliding into dirty/dark blonde in summer? google shows basically the same photos for all three phrases though.

Do you have a crush on someone: no

What do you like about yourself: idk

FIRSTS:

First surgery: never had one.

First piercing: nose, when I was thirteen (fun fact: I was attending a private catholic shool in that time. my three classmates got their navels pierced the same time I did my nose. our parents didn’t have problem with that, because the school choice was dictated by it’s education level, not the religious convictions lol). it’s still pierced.

First sport you joined: PE classes

First vacation: first ever, or first I went to without my parents or? first ever would be to baltic sea or masurian lakeland. first on my own would be Paris with my best friend.

First pair of sneakers: when I was very little, I had the ones with lights in the soles. they would flash when you walked. 

Eating: nothing

Drinking: I just ran out of my coffee

I’m about to: get to work uuuuuuhhhhhhhhhh

Listening to: chickens chickening outside

Want kids: who knows

Get married: idc

Career: haha a what. 

WHICH IS BETTER:

[I did all that in the previous one]

HAVE YOU EVER:

Kissed a stranger: yes

Drank hard liquor: boy have I ever.

Lost glasses/contacts: I tend to loose my contacts when swimming. I keep forgetting I can’t be opening my eyes underwater without a mask anymore.

Sex on first date: never had

Broken someone’s heart: I think so.

Been arrested: no

Turned someone down: yes

Fallen for a friend: yes

DO YOU BELIEVE:

[did that one too]

Santa Claus: honestly.

[touristplaces19-blog]

Exploring Poland

Poland has survived centuries of conflict to emerge as a proud, independent country, ready to assume its new role in modern history. Visitors to Poland are discovering what locals have known for some time, that Poland is a country rich in fine culture, scenic landscapes and extraordinary historical sites. Whether you explore the vibrant cities of the nation, the lakes and forests of its picturesque countryside or some of the other tourist attractions in Poland, the visitors will surely bring away rich memories.

Wawel Castle People have lived on the site of Wawel Castle since the Paleolithic Age. The castle itself was built for the first time in the 14th century, under the command of the Polish monarch Casimir III the Great. The Gothic castle is home to the only preserved piece of Polish crown jewels, the sword of the legendary sword Szczerbiec coronation. Decorated with symbols and floral patterns, the blade is notched to hold a small shield, giving the sword its nickname, the Sword.

Masuria Lakeland

Located in an area that spans the lower Vistula River to the border with Lithuania, the Masurian Lake District contains more than 2,000 lakes connected by an extensive system of canals and rivers. The Lakeland of Masuria is the most popular tourist destination in the lake districts of Europe. Hotels, guest houses and camps are plentiful in the villages surrounding the lakes, and visitors often travel by bike or boat to tour the scenic area.

Sand dunes of Slowinski

Located in northern Poland, the Slowinski sand dunes are part of the Slowinski National Park located on the Baltic coast. The park is named after the Slovincians who once lived there, and an open-air museum in the town of Kluki offers artefacts of their culture. The dunes are formed as waves and the wind carries sand on land and can reach up to 30 meters. Their shapes change with the season and are known as the "dunes that move."

Castle of Malbork

Malbork Castle was founded in 1274 by the Teutonic Knights who used it as their headquarters to help defeat the Polish enemies and rule their own northern Baltic territories. The castle was enlarged several times to house the growing number of Knights until its withdrawal to Königsburg in 1466. Today it is the most popular tourist attraction in the city of Malbork.

Main market square

Dating from the thirteenth century, the main market square in the old town of Krakow is the largest medieval square in Europe and one of the main tourist attractions in Poland. The square is surrounded by historic houses, historic buildings, palaces and churches. The center of the square is dominated by the Tejido Hall, rebuilt in 1555 in the Renaissance style, crowned by a beautiful attic.

Old Market of Warsaw

Founded at the end of the 13th century, Warsaw and the central market of the city were the heart of Polish culture for five centuries. The original market place of the old city was destroyed in World War II but it was carefully reconstructed almost immediately after the war ended. The market square presents a bronze sculpture of the Warsaw mermaid, symbol of the capital of Poland.

Old town of Gdansk

Located on the Baltic coast, the city of Gdansk's history includes a long occupation by the 14th century Teutonic knights whose fortresses contrasted sharply with the existing city that became known as Altstadt or "Old City". In the 15th century, Casimir IV of Poland allowed the demolition of the structures built by the Teutonic Knights.

Forest of Bialowieza

The Bialowieza forest is a large remnant of the primitive forests that once covered much of Europe. The forest extends along the border between Poland and the Republic of Belarus, and there are border crossings for tourists on foot or by bicycle.

Wieliczka salt mine

Located on the outskirts of Krakow, the Wieliczka salt mine is considered one of the oldest companies in the world. Salt has been continuously removed from the site since the 13th century. The site has an underground city, all carved out of rock salt, including a chapel that is said to have the best acoustics of any structure in Europe.

[queenoftreasures]

Discovering Poland through Imagine

Discovering Poland through Imagine

Words: Ambica Gulati

Tomorrow is the last day of the second edition of the Kinoteka Polish Film Festival at Delhi. And the movie being screened is Idawhich has been nominated for next year’s Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Based in the Poland of 1962, the movie revolves around the story of 18-year-old Anna. She is all prepared to become a nun in the convent where she was…