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Wroclaw, where heritage and technology meet
Classic: The town hall (right) is among old buildings in the 13th century Rynek market square in Wroclaw where Operaâs offices are also located
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span class="inline inline-center">Classic: The town hall (right) is among old buildings in the 13th century Rynek market square in Wroclaw where Opera's offices are also located. JP/A. Junaidi
The only difficulty faced by Indonesian journalists and bloggers recently invited by Opera Software to visit its office in the fourth largest city in Poland was how to say 'Wroclaw'.
Everyone we asked to say the name of the city said something that sounded different ' at least as heard by Indonesians.
When an immigration officer in Warsaw's airport asked us where our destination was, he just smiled as we answered, returned our documents and let us go without giving us a hint as to how to say 'Wroclaw' clearly.
We spent a total of 36 hours in transit from Jakarta to Wroclaw and back again ' and never learned how to pronounce the name like a local.
The rest of our journey, however, was pleasurable. It was a luxury to see old buildings ' some were built in the 12th century ' and tasting the diverse cuisine of the city, which has population of around 650,000.
'Compared to Warsaw which was almost totally destroyed during World War II, Wroclaw was relatively safe. That's why we can still see many buildings, including churches, which were built in the 12th century,' Opera Software communications manager Indonesia Agnes Agastia said.
An Indonesian friend who eats only halal food was advised by his ustadz (Islamic teacher) to try to find kosher food, which follows much of the same strictures, when in Wroclaw.
It was good advice: Sarah Restaurant served authentic Jewish kosher food and beverages (including a kosher vodka), about 500 meters from the old market.
As in many other cities in Poland, a Jewish minority lives in harmony with a Catholics majority. Restaurants, synagogues and even a degree in Judaic studies offered by Wroclaw University are proof.
The university's excellence in computer science has produced many talented computer engineers. 'We have a long and strong tradition in math. Math is the basis of computer science,' Opera Software Poland communication Manager Slawomis Sochaj said.
He's right: Genius Polish mathematicians cracked the Enigma code machines developed by the Germans in World War II with algorithms developed with pencil and paper.
The British later (and more famously) benefitted from the Poles' work at Bletchley Park.
Sochaj said many Polish youths studied math, became computer engineers and worked in multinational companies with offices in Wroclaw such as IBM, LG and Mitsubishi Electric.
The high-tech sector has contributed to continuing economic growth in Poland. 'We are the only country in Central Europe that consistently grew 8 to 9 percent during the 2008 economic crisis,' he said.
' JP/A. Junaidi
