Peoplelovespaces

Like other Polish cities today, Krakow is an example of how the split of Polish society into two opposing camps (associated with the recent introduction of near-total abortion ban) is embodied in the visual space of the city. Banners with the "lightning" logo, which has become a symbol of the massive protest against this law, can be seen not only on the windows and facades of residential buildings, but also on local businesses, such as, for example, hairdressers. In response to the wave of intolerance towards LGBT people, the city mayor's office placed posters "Krakow, free of Hate". At the same time, campaign cars with images of "victims of the mafia of abortions" (with activists of a public organization that had previously collected signatures for the introduction of the controversial ban) are running around the city, from which slogans against abortion are heard over the megaphone.

More on this theme: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55838210

It’s surprising that even in the European Union, where borders have been abolished, there are practically no interconnections and movements of people between the border regions of neighbouring countries. We have in mind not so much economic as cultural and human ties.

The Sudetes is a region between the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland, where the border has always passed. Hi**er attacked Czechoslovakia in 1939 in connection with the alleged “oppression” of the Sudeten Germans who lived on the territory of the Czech part of Sudetes. At the end of World War 2, in retaliation, several millions of Germans were expelled from the Polish and Czech Sudetenland. Since then, these places are not very famous and visited, there are many reminiscent of the past and the fact that there is still a lot to learn and understand from history.

We just went hiking from the Czech Republic to Poland on these beautiful mountains and wonderful small towns full of romance, antiquity and depression. Here you can find a huge number of heritage sites, many of which are in terrible condition. It would be great if there were more communication and cooperation, in particular, for the restoration and study of history and cultural monuments... We are looking for ways to make these connections ...

For the second time, we attend one of the small and cute Czech summer festivals - Festival HABROVKA in the fourth district of Prague. It was very touching the concert of the Czech choir Subito in a small wooden church, which performed medieval songs and Romanian-Bulgarian folk and even gospel. And we enjoyed the Czech singer and cellist Dorota Barová, who sings songs in Polish (she has Polish roots - everything is intertwined in Europe). It's nice that the festival has a very eclectic format and warm, family atmosphere and is done for the small quarter of the city, without any pathos. Thanks, Habrovka!