The Streets of Poznań: World Wicker and Weaving Festival 2023 in Poland Part 3
During the days of the festival, we took part in the competition from morning until evening each day.
In the evenings, we also joined shared meals and gatherings with participants from other countries,
which meant that we had very little time for sightseeing.
In this journal, however, we hope to share at least a small glimpse of the atmosphere of Poznań, Poland,
and invite you to enjoy the character of the city alongside the festival.
The route from the dormitory prepared by the organizers to the festival venue,
as well as the surrounding scenery within walking distance of the dormitory,
offered landscapes quite different from those in Japan.
Even within this limited area, we found plenty to enjoy.
This is the entrance to the dormitory. Our unforgettable struggle to communicate with the front desk staff, who spoke only Polish, is something we will never forget. 
Poznań was once the capital of medieval Poland, but today the areas surrounding the Old Town are home to many universities, making it a vibrant student city. Participants in this year’s festival were able to stay in part of one of these student dormitories. 
Poland is said to have accepted several million refugees from neighboring Ukraine. Inside the student dormitory, there were also rooms where the Ukrainian and Polish flags were displayed side by side. 
Buses in shades of green and yellow were a common sight throughout the city, and gave the impression of being an essential means of transportation for local residents. 
A bright red kiosk. 
Even the supermarkets had a calm, orderly atmosphere. 
Self-checkout counters were also available, making it easy for us as foreign visitors to shop smoothly. 
Poland is also an agricultural and dairy-producing country, and the vegetables all looked large and delicious. There was an impressive variety of dairy products as well, with several refrigerators lined up just for cheese. The meat section was equally substantial, especially the wide selection of sausages and cured meats.
And the mode of transport that served us most during this trip was the tram shown here. It is what would be called a streetcar in Japan. Like the buses, it features the same bright green and yellow color scheme. 
Two cars are connected together. With a comfortable number of passengers, boarding and disembarking feel stress-free. The ride is smooth, with very little shaking, making it a pleasant way to get around. 
Although each tram heads to a different destination, they arrive frequently, with one coming every three to four minutes. 
Ticket machines are installed at each station. 
The prices shown on the left are for standard tram tickets, while those on the right indicate discounted fares, such as student rates and other reduced prices. The local currency in Poland is the Polish złoty, written as PLN. PLN 4.00 is approximately ¥140, and PLN 80.00 is around ¥2,700. One interesting feature is that tickets are purchased based on the actual riding time. Options include 15 minutes, 45 minutes, 90 minutes, and so on. This system may reflect the fact that Poznań is not overly large as a city, and that tram schedules are relatively stable and reliable. Since we used the trams every day, we purchased a 7-day pass. 
This is the inside of the tram. After purchasing a ticket, it must be validated using the machine inside the vehicle. However, there is no conductor on board, and in practice, no one checks the tickets directly. It is a system that relies on the integrity of each passenger—something that feels familiar to us, as it is a feeling we sometimes experience in Japan as well. 
As you head toward the Old Town, the heart of the city, you begin to see a dense network of overhead wires stretched across the sky. These are the power lines that keep the trams running. 
The fleeting views seen through the tram window were truly beautiful.
During the festival, we rode the tram every day, traveling from the station near our dormitory to the venue.
This travel time never felt like a burden.
This is Poznań Station, located near the festival venue. It is a large terminal station. 
Electric scooters can also be seen traveling throughout the city. 
The venue for this festival was located in a central area where buses, trams, and cars all run side by side. 
This festival took place in one section of a very large event complex.
On our way back to the dormitory,
we noticed posters for the festival displayed at the nearest station to where we were staying.
Seeing them there made us feel unexpectedly at home, even while being far away in a foreign country.
We cannot help but feel deep respect for the tremendous efforts of the organizers.
We had the opportunity to speak in English with a Polish woman who lives in Poznań,
and she told us that the city feels safe enough that there is no anxiety about going out.
In fact, throughout our stay, we never once encountered a moment that felt dangerous.
That is something we are truly grateful for when traveling abroad.
Thanks to this sense of safety,
we were able to spend our time without unnecessary caution,
and enjoyed a smooth, secure, and trouble-free stay together with Mr. Sasaki.
Tomotake Ichikawa
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To be continued