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Published: April 27th 2007
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The Palace of Culture and Science
This would be a "cousin" to the seven sky scrapers Stalin had built in Moscow. It actually was a gift from Stalin to the Polish people. I just love the way these buildings look at night. I enjoyed my visit to Poland, but did not fall in love with it. I thought it woudl be more like Russia and there is no doubt a lot of Russian influence, but it seemed more European to me than Russian. The city is practically brand new, but still looks original. After the wars, it was completely destroyed (95%). There are very few original buidlings still remaining, but different than Berlin, it was rebuilt to look like it did before the wars. So at first glance, you can not tell it is that new, but upon closer inspection, you can see it is fairly new. They did use of the original/old bricks, but it is completely rebuilt so it was very interesting to see.
Warsaw has a population close to 2 million, but I bet you can not guess the second largest Polish city...Chicago with almost 1.2 million. I also did not realize the majority of the Polish people are Jewish. Not just Warsaw, but the entire country has seen huge changes in a very short period of time. There is a large amount of history to see and experience here. I wish I would have taken a personalized
Big Ben
Someone told me the clock at the top is suppose to look like Big Ben in London. I am not sure I believe that, but I have to admit the clock is an addition that is not on the seven sisters back in Moscow. Does anyone know about the clock at the top? as oppose to a group tour to be able to ask more questions. The memorials where fairly plain, but were very moving. I really liked the tour, but just wish I would have had a little more time to see and experience the sites.
The B&B I selected was horrible; but the Inn Keeper did his best to make things right. I had this bad feeling when I first selected it. I could not use their on-line booking form so I called them then several weeks later I get an email asking if I still wanted to reserve a room. I told them I had contacted them directly and have a text message confirming my reservation and airport pick up. I sent a note several days before I arrived just to double check my confirmation and got a message back that they were full and did not have room for me so I called. They worked everything out and told me it was fine. When I arrived, I could not find them at the airport so tired to call with no answer. Shortly after that, I get a text message asking where I was located so I thought they
During the Day
This is the sky scraper during the daylight.
"This building competes with the Warsaw Mermaid as the symbol of Warsaw. It is the tallest 'Polis' building in the capital - 234.5 meters high with the largest surface interior of any building in Poland. It is mostly scorned by the Warsovians as it reminds them of their almost forty five years of Russian occupation. It is also rather controversial in style. Some people regard it interesting, many consider it 'junk' and the majority try to ignore it. Several plans have been put forward to either remove it or change it but all this costs money. So it remains, a sort of landmark, however offensive to some. Now that what it actually represents is slowly forgotten by the younger generation it has become accepted and is used for concerts, exhibitions and as a viewing point over Warsaw. Its distinctive shape is visble from 20km, if not more, and is therefor handy as an orientation point. There are three well known theatres in the Palace. It contains a modern leisure centre, a swimming pool, disco, Casino. It also houses Warsaw's largest entertainment arena, once used for communist party meetings. The building was constructed between 1952-1955 and presented to the Polish people as a gift from Stalin. A 'non-returnable' gift of friendship, in fact a symbol of Russian occupation. It is deceptively large, constructed from over 40 million bricks witha surface area of over 80,000 cubic meters." were at the airport looking for me, but no, they were at the Inn waiting on me to arrive. I explained I was suppose to have an airport pick up but this guy could not speak English so told me to get in a taxi. The taxi driver asked me several times if I was sure I had the right address becasue there were nothing but clubs and bars in that area. I am glad the Inn Keeper was waiting for me because I had to enter a big iron gate, go through an alley up some stairs to a dark hallway. It was a bit scary to say the least. The place was very basic and actually made the Moscow hostel I stayed in several months ago look like a four star hotel. The Inn Keeper showed me my room and collected my money. The room did not look too bad until I sat on the bed that was just a foam pad, not even a mattress. The sheets were too small for the bed and were well worn. They seemed to be cleaned but not rinsed as they and the entire room smelled of fabric detergent. (Jamie, you
Connecting the Library
You can not really see them, but there are names on each of these columns and it connects the libray. It is one of the many memorials around the city. would have broke out big time from these sheets!) To make matters worse, my wall shared the same wall with the local club that beat all night long until 5:30 AM!!!! so I did not get any sleep. I got up around 7 to get breakfast and catch my tour. Our first stop was the Marriott so while we were there getting more people, I ran inside to see if they had any rooms for the night, which they did so I booked it! I had to get some sleep before heading to France.
After the tour, I got off at the Marriott and checked in so I took take a long needed nap. Afterwards, I went to the B&B and told the Inn Keeper I was checking out. I honestly did nto expect any money back as it was 4 PM and I knew it was probably too late for him to book anyone else in the room, but he was real nice and gave me my money back for the second night. To no surprise, he said I was not the first person to complain about the noise. Although the Marriott cost me twice as much it
Plac Krainskich
"Warsaw Uprising Monument - This impressive monument was created for the 45th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. It was to commemorate the heroic (but doomed) uprising against the Germans in the city. The uprising broke out on 1st August 1944 and lasted 63 days. The German armed forces were much stronger than the civilians of Warsaw and the fight was not an equal one. The Russian army holding the eastern banks fo the Vistula did not come to the aid of the insurgents and as a consequence some 200,000 Polish people died. This is considered one of the most tragic and bloody esisodes in Polish history. The Polish communist authorities were strongly against the raising of this monument and it was only towards the end of the Russian occupation of Poland that it was finally erected." was 10x worth it. It was a very nice Marriott and well worth the 90 Euros/night I paid. I just wish I would have paid to be there both nights...lol Oh well, that is part of the fun of traveling to have stories to tell.
Even with all of that, I enjoyed my visit to Warsaw. It was cut short because of my trip on to France, but I do not think I will go back. I got to see most of the things I wanted to and never fell in love with the city. If you are interested in World War history, you should be sure to go and take the time to go on an individualized tour as oppose to the group one. For me, two days would have been plenty but you may want to plan a little more depending on your interest in WW history.
I was speaking with one of sales reps who is Polish and he suggested planning another trip, but this time to see Krakow as it has a lot more to see and do. I was sort of surprised by that, but worth making note if you plan to visit.
Red Army
I really wish we could have gotten out and seen this Memorial as it was emotionally moving for me as we drove by and she spoke about it. But this was in honor of all of those that died when the Red Army attack.
I may have my notes mixed up because when I went back to a self tour guide, this sounds more like the following:
"The monument with tank tracks on the ground...is to remind us of that fateful day 13th August 1944. The defenders of Warsaw and the Old Town had succeeded in capturing a German tank and had brought it inside the barricades. As they were celebrating this victory the tank exploded. It was a 'Trojan Horse' filled with explosives. Some 500 fighters and inhabitants of the Old Town were killed." There is no doubt the memorials are worth seeing and experiencing and I also heard seeing some of the concentration camps should be on your agenda as well. I understand they show the horror a lot more than the one I went to see north of Berlin.
The weather was cold, but sunny. No rain and I did bring a hat and gloves so I was almost prepared for it so with that, I traveled on to France. It was an early morning as I had a 6:30 AM flight to Milan Italy then to Paris so I could catch the train and catch up with my boss who was already there. Even with all of those connections, I made it right on time and found my boss as planned. The only problems, I did not have any time to shop in Milan so nothing from there which is okay since I really did not visit there.
If you want, hold off on reading the descriptions on all of the pictures. I find the self tour guide and will go back and add some more details.
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Great Pics and stories
Hey Vince I am so jelous of you man I could only dream of see half of the places you have been. what a great scrap book you will have and be able tyo share with all of your friends and family. keep the great pic comming and take care. Mark