Poland

By Jonah Hull in Europe on April 20th, 2010
Photo by Jonah Hull

Day two, hour 30 on our journey home to London from Krakow in Poland and finally we appear to have reached the heart of what's being described as Volcano Chaos in Europe.

Well, not really. Most people seem pretty stoic in the face of the long queues. Think of bored Brits abroad and you realise things could be so much worse.

But if you haven't already got a Eurostar ticket, we're told, you aren't going to get one today. That's disappointing.

On the train here from Cologne, one woman locked herself in the toilet to avoid being ejected by the police.

She'd done nothing worse than attempt to travel without a reserved seat, though she had a valid ticket for the route.

By Alan Fisher in Europe on April 11th, 2010
Photo from EPA

Despite the early morning chill, hundreds are lining up outside the presidential palace to sign the book of condolence.  Few in the line speak, lost in their thoughts.

Suddenly the crowd parts and a group of servicemen, bayonets attached to their rifles, march through followed by an official delegation from the Law and Justice Party. They carry a large wreath and somber expressions.

In many places the candles form large crosses on the ground. The smell of candle wax hangs in the air.

Just a short walk from the palace, there is a beautiful Catholic church. It's rather ordinary door hides the dramatic splendour inside. 
This morning every seat is taken. People kneel on the hard floor at the back. Here, and across the country, prayers are said for the president and the others who died in the crash.

By Alan Fisher in Europe on April 10th, 2010
Photos by EPA

On my way to Warsaw after the catastrophic plane crash which killed the president, the head of the central bank, the army chief of staff, many MPs and senior government figures.

One colleague in Warsaw tells me "almost an entire generation of the political establishment has been wiped out".

People at Heathrow see our camera and one person asks if we're heading to Poland. I tell him yes and he crosses himself.

"It is awful, truly awful."

Perhaps it's my imagination but even though the flight is very quiet, more people than normal seem to be paying attention to the safety brief.

Warsaw airport is normally a lively, busy place. Tonight even though there are many people here, it is noticeably quiet. A loud child is quickly shushed to silence.

The drive in from the airport is quick. The streets are very quiet for a Saturday. Many buildings are flying the Polish flag, draped with a black ribbon.

By Barnaby Phillips in Europe on October 16th, 2009
Photo by EPA

It's been one of those weeks when football gripped the world; from Montevideo to Moscow, the great, and not-so-great football nations were fighting for qualification for the 2010 World Cup. The headlines, just in case you hadn't noticed, were all about Maradona, his bizarre post-match press conference, and the soap opera story of how perilously close Argentina came to missing out.

But you might not have noticed some big football stories here in eastern Europe. It's a truism that football and politics go hand-in-hand. Football can't solve political problems, but it can, if only temporarily, unite countries in feelings of pride and achievement. Perhaps nowhere more so this week than Slovakia, a small country which only came into being 16 years ago, but which came top of its qualification group.

By Alan Fisher in Europe on September 17th, 2009

On my way to Poland. Apparently the Americans are about the scrap their controversial missile defence scheme which was going to be based in Poland and the Czech Republic.

The Russians saw it as a threat to them, Obama was never a fan. 

The shield was to protect the US from any missile strike from Iran. Now, after a 60 day review, it's been concluded Iran doesn't have that sort of capability for the moment.

The Russians will be delighted, the ring wing in the US furious that one of George Bush's big plans is being rolled back and the Poles and the Czechs will be angry there'll be no system - which means no jobs, no fees, no cash from the US.

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