Our quick and easy flight from Milan to Warsaw went well. It was obvious that we were in for a wonderful stay as we drove to our hotel, which is conveniently situated in the heart of Warsaw’s busy city center. Warsaw’s City Center is known locally as ‘Śródmieście,’ which is a catch-all term for the downtown area. Definitions vary, but generally, you know when you’re in it – wide streets, huge monumental buildings and skyscrapers, construction sites, billboards, busy crosswalks and little to stand in the way of progress. It’s the modern, fast-paced, forward-looking part of the city radiating out from the Palace of Culture & Science, and it’s here that you will find the majority of the city’s hotels and restaurants along with government buildings and places of commerce – the heart of the contemporary capital.
The Royal Castle in Warsaw. The castle is a symbol of Polish statehood and history. Its origins date back almost seven centuries and the design of its present structure has evolved in stages since the fourteenth century. The actual structure is a mid-20th-century reconstruction of the original castle, which was mostly demolished by German occupiers during World War II.
The Palace of Culture & Science. An agreement on the construction of the building was signed between the governments of the Polish People’s Republic and the Soviet Union on 5 April 1952. The tower was an imposed and unwanted “gift” to the people of Poland. It was erected with great propagandist fanfare and named after Joseph Stalin upon its completion in 1955.
Stalin’s ‘gift’ to Warsaw has always been controversial – housing was desperately needed when it was built and 100 of the city’s few serviceable buildings were demolished to make way for it. All the same, the Palace of Culture and Science has remained a massive landmark on Warsaw’s skyline, even as other skyscrapers have grown up around it. The 30th floor offered views of the entire city in all directions.
The Warsaw Rising Museum was opened on the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of fighting in Warsaw. The Museum is a tribute of Warsaw’s residents who fought and died for independent Poland and its free capital. The museum was exquisitely created. Very touching and it made me wonder about our world today.
We could not decide so we went with the mixed plate.
We received a seal of approval from our friend Alex!
“The pierogi look excellent! Good choice! “
The Holy Cross Church interns Chopin’s heart in a crypt. His heart was preserved in a jar and taken back to Warsaw. Repatriating bodies was difficult at the time, so returning a body part to someone’s place of birth was not unusual.
And yes, ABC (Another Bloody Church), many more churches and they were all beautiful inside.
We took the Tram twice to the Praga District. I was telling our tour director all the places we’ve seen when we saw him this morning, and he asked, “You went by yourselves? Naturally, I said “yes,” to which he replied, “You are brave.”
I’ll have to figure out why we shouldn’t have gone on our own!
Museum of Polish Vodka is not only a national heritage, but it is also an essential attribute of ‘Polishness’ recognized all across the world. It is also a crucial element of Polish culture, which has been served on Polish tables during celebrations for centuries. The goal of the Polish Vodka Museum was to create a space where vodka’s unique history could be displayed.
We enjoyed an evening listening to a concert at the Fryderyk Concert Hall
Laundry Day
We’ve never encountered a laundromat this convenient in all of Europe. Fortunately for us, the directions are also in English, and it’s just around the corner from the hotel. We’re all set for our official Trafalgar tour, which begins Saturday afternoon This is our final laundry before we go home!
Demonstration Alerts
Demonstration Alert – U.S. Embassy, Warsaw (May 9, 2024)
Location: Downtown Warsaw, from Castle Square to the Polish Parliament building (Wiejska 6, 00-481 Warsaw).
Event: The Embassy has learned that a demonstration organized by PiS and Solidarity Trade Union is scheduled to take place Friday, May 10, 2024, starting at 12:00 p.m. and is projected to last until 10:00 p.m.
Participants will gather at Castle Square and march towards the Polish Parliament building.
Due to the potential size of the crowds, estimated to rise potentially to 200,000 participants, U.S. citizens are advised that serious traffic congestion may occur. Public transportation may be crowded as well.
Demonstration Alert – U. S Embassy, Warsaw (May10, 2024)
Location: Downtown Warsaw, from Castle Square to the U.S. Embassy (Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31)
Event: The Embassy has been informed by Polish police of a march in Warsaw organized in support of Palestinians. The march is scheduled to take place Sunday, May 12, 2024, starting at 1:00 p.m. and concluding at approximately 4:00 p.m.
Participants will gather at Castle Square (plac Zamkowy), with the march ending at the U.S Embassy.
Police expect the demonstration to be peaceful, although the possibility for demonstrations to escalate always exists. In the event of an emergency, call 1-1-2 for Polish Emergency Services.
We’ve had an exciting and enlightening experience seeing Warsaw on our own the past 5 days. I will include more sites in the “official” photo book once I get it together!
World Blog 
Geez, I hope you get out of there easily. Your memories of this portion of your trip are perfect just as they are. You certainly don’t want it shadowed by some loser laying in front of your bus.
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