My Life: Mat Schulz and Gosia PÅ‚ysa
Staff journalist | 5th October 2009

This month, My Life becomes Our Life as we interview Mat Schulz and Gosia PÅ‚ysa, organisers of the Unsound Festival, which will take place in Krakow from October 19th to 25th.

If you could live anywhere in Krakow, where would it be, and why?

Gosia PÅ‚ysa: I think it would be Kazimierz, where I live now.

Mat Schulz: In Podgórze, with a view onto the river.

If you were crowned queen/king of Krakow, what would be your first move?

GP: I would get rid of the pigeons on the Main Square. I'd pack them all into a van and transport them somewhere!

MS: I would encourage more pigeons to come to Krakow (*laughs*)

What's one place tourists can't miss when in Krakow?

GP: Kazimierz, Podgórze, everywhere. I really like the Erdal shoe polish factory that Photomonth took over. We are having an exhibition there as part of Unsound.

MS: The walk up św. Bronisławy to the kopiec (Kościuszki), and around Salwator.

Is there anything that's overrated about Krakow?

GP: I think it's the amount of cool places like bars and clubs in Krakow, not all of them are so interesting.

MS: The coffee and cakes are overrated in Krakow.

GP: The cakes are good!

MS: They have these coffee machines in cafes and restaurants and yet no one knows how to make a good coffee with milk. The froth isn't meant to look like soap suds.

If you had to erect a statue to any Cracovian, dead or alive, who would it be?

GP: It would have to be Tadeusz Kantor, though he probably wouldn't appreciate a statue of himself.

MS: A tribute to Kantor, but not necessarily a likeness of Kantor.

GP: Maybe something like an umbrella. (*laughs*)

Where do you buy your clothes in Krakow?

GP: In Krakow it's quite hard, but if I were to go shopping in Krakow it would have to be Galeria Kazimierz.

MS: I used to go shopping quite a lot in tania odzież (second-hand clothes shops), there are some interesting finds there but you need a lot of time. And actually I don't have any time at the moment, so I haven't done it in ages.

What are some of your regular eating and drinking haunts in the city?

GP: I usually eat at Momo, and I really like Miejsce. I have a routine: Kolory in the morning, then I take a break to go to Momo to eat.

MS: Kolory is actually our office. I spend four or five hours here using the free internet and just buy one coffee (*laughs*). Pauza, Miejsce, Nowa Prowincja. The old Piękny Pies which unfortunately doesn't exist anymore - that was probably my favourite place in Krakow. Occasionally the new Piękny Pies.

GP: I like Dym outside in the summer. For food, Trattoria Soprano.

MS: Drukarnia on the other side [of the Wisła] , when they had the old chairs and tables on the pavement... I don't really like the new ones. I like the kind of old furniture that, for example, Mleczarnia has.

What's your biggest annoyance about living in Krakow?

GP: The fact that the rent prices are going up and up every month. It's really difficult to find something affordable.

MS: It's a problem less and less, but I definitely don't like stag parties and men on rugby tours from the United Kingdom...

Where do you go to escape for the weekend?

MS: I lately haven't had any time to escape for the weekend, but in an ideal world I'd probably go to Berlin.

GP: I wanted to say the same! I would agree, Berlin.

What's the best place to go on a long walk or bike ride in the city?

MS: Any direction along the Wisła river, especially from the bottom of Paulińska turning left and walking straight ahead along the river - you can walk a long way. The Planty as well of course.

GP: Actually, I don't like biking, I hate it. The park in Podgórze is a great place to walk, as well as Salwator.

Finally: pierogi or naleśniki?

MS: I can't say I'm a big fan of either.

GP: Pancakes with blueberries is what Poland is missing. With lots of maple syrup and butter!

MS: Occasionally, I'll have a half-plate of pierogi. Maybe once a year. Why don't you ask about golonka instead?

GP: Yes, rather the question should be - would you prefer kiełbasa or kaszanka? I'd go with kaszanka!

Photo by Keven Erickson

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