Poland by Fodor's, guidebook review

Title:

Fodor's Poland 1st edition
(Fodor's, 2007) ISBN 978-1-4000-1751-5 1-4000-1751-3

Theme:

Fodor's Poland covers what to see in Poland's cities and countryside. Readers will learn about what's where in Poland, when to go, contemporary Polish culture, customs and food. They'll find information on castles and palaces, outdoor activities, like kayaking and mountain climbing, the café scene, folk art, churches, history and music.

Sample Items:

Trzebnica and Sobotka are two towns near Wroclaw. The former is famous for its Cistercian Abbey and the latter is the starting point for pilgrims wanting to climb Mount Sleza and discover the mysterious stone statues believed to be Celtic in origin.

Notable Elements:

Close Up sidebars enhance your knowledge of Poland with information on history, famous citizens, archaelogical sights and architecture. An intriguing example is the Wroclaw Spot the Dwarves sidebar, which illustrates how Poles fought oppression with a touch of humor.

For each region, there are lists of suggested itineraries and walks, top five things to see and things to do, like hiking, kayaking, birdwatching, nightlife and music.

The Poland Essentials section offers helpful information on passports, visas, apartment and house rentals, car rental and insurance, guided tours and cruises. The Communications section provides details on Internet, telephone, language and greetings, with a list of local taboos. Eating Out describes Polish restaurants and fast food places to eat. The list of Polish foods, in English and Polish, ranges from borscht (soup) to paczki (doughnuts), with advice on meal times, tipping, wine, beer and spirits.

Tone / Style:

Fodor's Poland describes sightseeing options with helpful facts.

Regional information includes sections on restaurants, hotels, costs and timing of your visit. City information has sections on What to See, Where to Eat, Where to Stay, Shopping, Spas, Nightlife and the Arts. Examples provide contact information with phone numbers, addresses and websites. Readers learn how to get there by car, bus and train. Driving directions are in miles and kilometers.

Visuals:

There are no images but there are many city and regional driving maps.

More Than Books
40 Million Bricks
He Left His Heart in Warsaw
The Warsaw Rising of 1944
A Material Girl
Nocturne in C-Sharp Minor
The Artists' Museum of Art
Spot the Dwarves
Swan Song
The Bridges of Wroclaw
The Power of Peat
Movie Marathon
Ephemeral and Lasting
Hacquetia Epipactis
Saint Adalbert & the Congress of Gniezno
Stary Lichen
Three Men Called Edward Raczynski
The Doors of Gniezno
The Baptism of Poland
Mikolaj Kopernik
The Rise & Fall (and Rise) of the Polish Riviera
The Youngest City on the Baltic
All Through the Knights
Under the Lindens
Szczecin: A Mirror of Pomeranian History
Born in the U.S.A.
Kresy-Poland's Eastern Borderlands
The Zamoyskis of Zamosc
Mysterious Mounds
The Japanese Connection
A Sane Argument
The Bagel Returns Home
What is Spiss?
Lost Treasure of the Incas
Naive Epiphany

Authors:

Dorota Wasik, Marcin Jasionowicz, Sylwia Trzaksa, Marta Slusarczyk-Snoch and Dorota Lesniak-Rychlak.

Claim to fame:

A native of Krakow, Dorota Wasik is the primary author. She has published Living in Krakow and Visible Cities Krakow.
Marcin Jasionowicz, an art historian, did the chapter on Wielkopolska.
Another art historian and writer, Sylwia Trzaska wrote Szczecin, Wolin Island, Pojezierze Drawskie and an essay on folk art.
Marta Slusarczyk-Snoch, former department head of the Malopolska Regional Government, is a diplomatic protocol and business consultant. She provided material and guidance about the Tri-City section and Polish business culture.
Dorota Lesniak-Rychlak, former editor of the monthly Architektura i biznes, contributed information on hiking trails in the Tatras and the Krutynia River Trail.

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