Warsaw Travel Day

On the morning of our travel day home, I (Rob) made an early start to go for a final walk around the local neighbourhood. Starting at Krasiński Garden the first stop was at the small lake where a statue of fishermen sits in the centre as numerous waterbirds paddled around it.

Next was Monument Battles of Monte Cassino with fresh wreaths resting against the monument. 

Just outside the park lies Warsaw Ghetto Wall memorial and around the base are inscribed iron plates marking the position of the ghetto wall.

The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews was next, sadly this was closed but the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes lies outside and is a very striking monument. 

I then decided to head to the banks of the river Vistula, the streets were very quite at this time of the morning,  no people, no parked cars just the sound of the wind rustling the leaves.

The bank of the river was just as quiet , just a few bird feeding at the water's edge and the distant traffic crossing the bridges in the distance.

My final stop was Field Cathedral of the Polish Army with its large  imposing doors and memorials to battles past.

There was so much more to see in this city, but that's for another time, we have both been impressed with Warsaw,  a capital city that is a credit to the country.

Warsaw Last full day

On our last full day in Warsaw, we woke to overcast skies and a few spots of drizzle. The weather wasn't quite as inviting as the previous days, but we still had plenty of energy left for a little more exploring.

Our first stop was the University Library Garden, which looked like somewhere we would really enjoy. Unfortunately, it turned out to be something of a disappointment. The signage for visitors was poor, and there didn't appear to be any staff around to ask for directions.

After a bit of searching, we eventually found the entrance and made our way up some rather steep steps to the rooftop garden. Sadly, once we got there, we weren't particularly impressed. We weren't alone in our opinion either, as we got chatting to some other visitors who felt much the same way.

Still, not every attraction can be a winner!

After our usual coffee and cake break, we continued on to the Copernicus Science Centre. This was much more to our liking, with numerous interactive exhibits and activities to explore. We spent a good amount of time wandering around, trying out the various displays and generally having fun with the hands-on exhibits.

It was a great way to spend a few hours, particularly with the rather dull weather outside.

In the evening we stayed local, around Dluga street, we had a excellent evening meal at a local Polish restaurant. We then took a short, pleasant stroll around the local area passing the Polish supreme court building, New Town Market and St Jack's Priory. 

Exploring Warsaw Day 2 part 2

After a quick siesta back at the apartment, we decided to head out again and make our way down towards the river.

Our first stop was the Multimedia Fountain Park, where a series of fountains appeared to dance in harmony, creating an impressive display of water and movement. It was a lovely spot to wander around and enjoy the atmosphere.

We continued on walking stopping to admire the sculptures and artwork that seems to be everywhere in this city.

From there, we continued on to the Royal Castle Gardens. The beautifully maintained lawns and gardens provided a wonderful setting overlooking the Vistula River. The gardens themselves were an impressive sight, and with so few visitors around, it felt almost as though we had the place to ourselves, which made the experience even more special.

We then made our way back into Warsaw’s Old Town, taking our time to simply enjoy the sights and sounds around us. One of the things we particularly enjoyed was admiring the architecture of the historic buildings. 

Knowing that so much of Warsaw was destroyed during the Second World War makes the quality of the restoration even more remarkable. The city has done a wonderful job of bringing its historic centre back to life.

As the day drew to a close, we finished off with an Asian meal at NEM Asian Fusion Restaurant. The food was delicious, and the helpful and friendly staff made it a great way to end another enjoyable day exploring Warsaw.

Make the evening feel more personal

Exploring Warsaw Day 2 Part 1

On yet another lovely day, we set off on foot to explore a little more of Warsaw. Our first stop was the beautiful Saxon Gardens, a peaceful green space in the heart of the city, with its well-manicured lawns, neatly trimmed shrubs and small lakes.

At the far end of the gardens stands the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, one of Warsaw’s most important memorials. The tomb is guarded by an eternal flame and is the scene of a regular changing of the guard ceremony.

We arrived just in time to watch the ceremony, and the soldiers looked extremely smart in their uniforms and were clearly very well drilled. There was also a motorcycle club visiting the memorial at the same time, which added an unexpected and rather interesting sight to the occasion.

Afterwards, we stopped for a well-earned coffee before continuing our walk towards the Palace of Culture and Science.

We headed inside and took the elevator all the way up to the 30th floor, where we were rewarded with spectacular panoramic views across Warsaw and the surrounding countryside. From this height, you really get a sense of just how large and impressive the city is, with its mixture of historic buildings, modern skyscrapers and huge areas of green space.

Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps.

A Sobering Day at Auschwitz and Birkenau

It was a 6.00 am start for me (Rob) on a bright but chilly morning. My van arrived on time, and along with six other guests, we began the one-hour drive to the Auschwitz Memorial and Museum.

As we arrived, we started our walk into the former camp, passing beneath the infamous “Arbeit Macht Frei” — “Work Sets You Free” — sign. It was a sobering moment, knowing the terrible history behind those words.

Our guide then took us through a number of the original barracks, explaining what life was like for the prisoners held there. The stories painted a horrifying picture of overcrowding, starvation, disease and unimaginable suffering.

We walked around the perimeter of the camp, much of it still enclosed by the original electric barbed-wire fencing. As we moved from one building to another, the reality of what had happened here became increasingly difficult to take in.

Inside the museum, some of the exhibits were particularly distressing. Personal belongings and other artefacts brought home the sheer scale of the human tragedy, and it was clear that some visitors were visibly upset.

We finished the Auschwitz part of the tour by visiting the gas chambers and crematorium. Standing inside these places was truly awful and, for me, probably the most difficult part of the morning.

After a short break, we took the fifteen-minute drive to the second camp, Birkenau. The first thing that strikes you as you arrive is the railway line running directly through the main gates. It is an image that has become synonymous with the Holocaust and one that is difficult to forget.

Once again, our guide showed us around the camp, including the wooden huts where prisoners were crammed together in horrific conditions, with little food, warmth or basic sanitation.

By the end of the day, it felt as though we had been given a salutary lesson in the terrible things that human beings can do to one another.

It is difficult to put into words exactly how I felt as we left the camps and began the journey back to Kraków. It was a deeply moving and emotionally draining experience, and certainly one that I will never forget.