First impressions

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So I just feel like sharing some things I saw very quickly, since train to Krakow is in a few hours. Warsaw has been absolutley amazing, despite what eveyone says (not pretty, nothing to do, lacks the soul, etc.) I think the best part about Poland is its people - eveyone has been very nice, even though we don't speak the language (well, my "adjusted" Russian doesn't count). For example, one night, we randomly met a couple of young Polish people, Filip and Natasha (they asked us how to get to some club), which then led to a conversation in English and Russian about Polish history and an invitation to come to the club with them. There, they let us in for free, introduced us to all their friends, and of course danced with us! It was something very spontaneous, and very much by chance, but that is what this trip seems to be all about. I am traveling with my friend Ellen, and it has been working so well. We each have a pretty open mind about trying new things, and the thing we say a lot here is "pourquoi pas?" (why not in french, since we only speak French between us). Like why not try absinthe? why not eat this weird soup with ingredients we cannot translate, why not go to a filarmony? etc., etc.
Another thing that fascinates me is the sad history of this town, that was completely destroyed during the war, and then reconstructed. We visited several rather sad museums (Warsaw uprising, Prison) and some even sadder monuments to the victims of numerous opressions. The Old Town, completely reconstructed, is rather beautiful, with numerous churches all around. We even visited the one where Chopin's heart is stored. So far, Poland has been great, and we have not even seen the beautiful town of Krakow yet.

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Photos

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Old Square, completely rebuilt after WW2

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Old Square, view of the Chateau

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just wandering around

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a sad view of Wisla river

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Ellen and I, while climbing some wall

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Old town

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View of the Krowlevsky Zamok and the square around

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View of Wisla

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View of modern downtown

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House of Culture, built during Stalin's era

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cool exhibit near the National Museum

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Palm tree in the middle of Warsaw - a bit weird

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A Poster I liked, in the museum of Warsaw Insurrection

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Remnants of Wall of Ghetto

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prison, built during the Russian Empire by the czarist government, later used by the Nazis - most emotional experience in Warsaw

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Last dinner in Warsaw - a bit too many martinis and food, but oh well

Comments

[mama]

Privet, Ulechka! Slezhy za tvoei zhizn'u i naslazhdaus' tvoei sposobnost'u ZHIT" nasicenno !!!!!! Molodec !!!!!! Nadeus' ti yzhe soskychilas' po Parizhy. Ved' Pol' sha ochen' blizka k Rossii,"mahni" na denek !!!!!!!!!!!! Ya shychy.