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Direktlänk till inlägg 28 maj 2023

SUNDAY 5/28/23

Av EvaLena Hallgren - 28 maj 2023 16:44

yesterday in  Warsaw Mom walked 21 095 steps and since I have twice as many legs I walked twice as far right?

It's a bit of a challenge to navigate and find parking in big cities says Mom but first she thought this parking would do, 

 

 but thought better of it and found a more secure space that was very close to the old city

 

There were no facilities but it's ok since Lucy has what we need, ( except charging the PC)

This is an amazing city with so much to see so we started walking early

 

Since its founding in the 10th century, Warsaw has been invaded and occupied numerous times, most notably by the Russians and the Germans. Just before the start of World War II, Warsaw enjoyed a brief period of autonomy.

That rapidly changed in September 1939, when the Germans invaded Poland. The entire Jewish population of Warsaw was herded into the Warsaw Ghetto, cramming between 300,000 and 400,000 people into a 3 km² area.

 

  Copernicus was born in Torun, Poland, and went to college in Krakow. His statue stands in the center of Copernicus Square. Radiating out from the statue are the rings of our solar system.

This is the site of the signing of the Warsaw Pact in 1955. This pact united the Soviet satellite states (Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Albania, Romania, East Germany, and the Soviet Union) against NATO

   

Pilsudski Square is a large open square located just next to the Royal Way. A large plaque on the ground commemorates Pope John Paul II’s visit here in 1979. we also visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This memorializes the Polish soldiers who fought and died in all wars Poland has been involved in,

We did go back for the changing of the guards and filmed but can't add it here.

In August 1944, Polish resistance fighters launched the Warsaw Uprising, in order to drive the Germans out of Warsaw. The fighting was brutal and despite lesser manpower and artillery, the resistance fighters were able to hold out for almost two months. The Germans won the battle and nearly all of the resistance fighters were either executed or deported to extermination camps. In retaliation, Hitler leveled the city of Warsaw with systematic bombings,

From 1945 to 1989, Warsaw, and Poland, were under Communist rule. Many of the city streets, churches, and buildings were restored to their original form.

These little cars are for rent to explore the city if you can't walk


There are buses cablecars and a metro, all-electric and the buses have an accordion in the middle.............   so if you know your way around it's plenty of different ways so you don't need a car

 


Since 1989, Warsaw has been undergoing a golden age. In 2004, Poland joined the European Union. Businesses came flooding back to Warsaw, along with artists, families, professors, scientists, and tourists. Warsaw may have a gloomy past but it has a very bright future. As of 2023, the city is home to 13 skyscrapers (buildings at least 150 meters (490 feet) tall) and tens of other high-rises, ranking sixth in number of skyscrapers in Europe.

There are 4 in this picture, even though they look like they're all stuck together


   

These roses had the strongest scent ever and gorgeous Mom acted like me and went to sniff them ...........embarrassing

 

This was the building we saw when driving and Mom had decided we should get a closer look so here we are



 


This building was originally known as Joseph Stalin's Palace of Culture and Science but in the wake of destalinization, the dedication to Stalin was revoked. Stalin's name was removed from the colonnade and interior lobby of one of the building's sculptures.

Construction started in 1952 and lasted until 1955 during the Soviet occupation of Poland as an imposed and unwanted "gift" to the people of Poland. As one commentator describes it, the Palace "was a "gift of the Soviet peoples to People's Poland" that Warsaw could not refuse. It was erected with great propagandistic fanfare and named after Joseph Stalin upon its completion in 1955

The Palace of Culture and Science is highly controversial. It is often viewed as a reminder of Soviet influence over the Polish People's Republic, a coalition of veteran and nationalist groups, as well as Law and Justice have called for its demolition. In 2009, then Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski supported the demolition of the Palace noting the expense involved in its maintenance. Other prominent government leaders have continued to endorse demolition plans, including the current Prime Minister

 

what is a major city without a Hard Rock cafe, and no we didn't go inside but afterward Mom thought she should have gotten a Tshirt

We also saw this strange roof when we drove by , and now we know it's a mall called Zlote Tarasy

 

We noticed a man walking on top of it so let's go inside and look if we can see him

 

This place is enormous and they have no issues with dogs coming inside. We didn't feel like shopping but a nice latte and a rest wasn't totally wrong. The nice lady even gave me a water bowl

 

Walking around we both noticed how clean the streets are, no ciggbutts or gum. It's nice to see how Polish people still clean outside their shops before opening.

We also noticed these poles in many places and a closer look showed it's a bicycle fixing station with tools and air.

Actually, it's for all kinds of small repairs on the go

How cool is that?

And sure Mom lied, there's a butt

A nice statue we thought but no explanation


 


A James Dean look alike? no explanation on who he was

  Leaving this area there was time to head towards the old city and looking at the app it showed us walking through a big park. That suited us both great. 

covering 15.5 hectares, this splendid garden, founded in the late 17th century, became Warsaw’s first public park in 1727. Initially modeled on Versailles, but later relandscaped in the more natural English style, the garden is filled with chestnut trees and baroque statues Once serving as the gardens of Saxon Palace, this magnificent park features shady tree-lined avenues, and an elegant 19-century fountain 

If it looks as though the gardens are missing a palace, you’d be right. The Saxon Palace was, like so many other buildings, destroyed during WWII. All that survived were three arches of a colonnade, which have sheltered the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier since 1925. Plans to rebuild Saxon Palace from scratch at fabulous expense, so far, remain unfulfilled.

we were so lucky that we walked into a celebration of some sort, the only thing we could figure out was an anniversary of the park. People were dressed so pretty and there were ompaompa bands

a reporter


   



The ladies all looked amazing 

   

Mom is glad the hospitals have better tools now

 

 

    


Our picture is now hanging on the wall in Chopin's house...............;-)

 


This is supposed to be a bike, but neither one of us could figure out how to ride it


 

These bikes Mom would have known how to ride, but they weren't there to be tried out and there was no place for me anyway

   

we better not try any of these bikes

     

A nice paperboy handed Mom a newspaper, but it's in Polish so we can't read it, It was nice though

 


Looking at how well-dressed these ladies are Mom started to think how much more ladylike women looked in the past. 

   


We had a great time in the park but we had to move on to the old town as planned.

Outside the park were these old cars parked

   

As we're walking on the main street looking behind us is first a police car and after it a mob of people. Oh no, it's a demonstration of some sort? hope it's a peaceful one we thought.
As they're coming closer we noticed all the costumes and were told it was something created on TicTok 

a fur suit walk...............well I have the suit, don't I? WFW = Warsaw fur walk

 

   


This is a very nice costume, but it must have been very hot in there................he was carefully approaching the cop for a high five


   


The streets became very crowded and since there were so many restaurants close by and suppertime why not sit down and watch while having a beer and a bite.

 Mom ordered  Zurek because she had read about it being a traditional soup. It's a rich soup soured with fermented rye starter, served with a boiled egg – halved – and a meaty white kiełbasa. Served in a bread bowl

Honestly, it didn't look so good, but it was delicious and very nicely spiced. I did get a little taste of the kielbasa

 



Finally, we reached the old town and now we were both pretty tired so we just sat on a bench for a while taking it all in
Sitting in the center is the Old Town Market Square.

This large, open square is surrounded by numerous restaurants. In the center of the square, is the mermaid statue.

 


Two Polish ladies came and sat next to me so I did my usual hello kissing, who knows she may have cookies in her handbag.

   

The Ukrainian flag is on many buildings showing support for the people, which is nice. We got one for Lucy too

 


Leaving the square we ran into this guy and as usual Mom can't resist cuddling anything furry or feathery for that matter


 

 

This large, open square is surrounded by more colorful buildings, cafes, and the Royal Castle. Proudly standing in the center of the square, on top of the column, is Sigismund, originally erected in 1644 and is one of Warsaw's most famous landmarks as well as the first secular monument in the form of a column in modern history The column and statue commemorate King Sigismund III Vasa who in 1596 had moved Poland's capital from Krakow to Warsaw.

 

The large, reddish-pink building that dominates Castle Square is the Royal Castle. It looks rather plain on the outside but it is very opulent on the inside.

 .For the first time in Poland, we were told I wasn't welcome............Oh well

We've been kicked out of better places, haven't we?  

   

 

We are both getting tired so we walked back to Lucy and fell asleep. In the morning we continued south and Mom had found this quiet peaceful little town to stay for the night.............and that didn't turn out as expected. There's a carnival of some sort here. We did walk around the lake but are too beat to join in any celebration.

Warsaw is a great city a lot to see and a lot of fun going on

Tomorrow is another day for adventure, today we'll rest


Wet Kisses 

Henry




  


 

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Kommentar

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