Last Stop Warsaw

I stayed here one night on Sunday after taking the train in from Berlin but did not leave the hostel at all since I got in late.

Cities like Warsaw, Dresden, and Rotterdam (all places I visited) were left in ruins after WWII so they are somewhat "new" cities.  Obviously  fter the war Poland belonged to the USSR ruled by Stalin.  He came in. and built the communist apartment blocks you think about today when thinking of Eastern Europe.  By the way this is Central Europe While there are many of these blocks on the outskirts of the city, the downtown core is being completely redeveloped.  It's all centered around the Palace of Science which dominates the cityscape.  It was Stalin's gift to Poland after the war however most people found it ugly.  I would disagree with them. I think they say that only because Stalin built the thing.

Wide boulevards surround it along with skyscrapers and a giant shopping mall opposite the train station.

I had planned on going to Czestochowa but missed my train since the ticket lady had plans on chatting and eating for 10 minutes. Also because the machines don't accept large bills. I'm flexible.  So I walked up to a hostel and booked it for one night.  Sweet location right on the main drag.

My first day being a tourist I walked to the old town.  Obviously this was rebuilt after the war.  There wasn't too much going on there so I moved on and headed for the Uprising Museum.

Old Town

On the way I found a farmers market and bought the second tastiest apple I've ever had for about 15 cents. The tastiest was from my buddy's grandfathers farm in Bavaria.

The Uprising Museum documents the failed Uprising of 1944 against the Nazis.  180,000 Poles died. Warsaw almost failed to exist after it was burned to the ground.  The film was what really moved me. When we think of WWII we center more on other countries and kind of forget what Poland went through. It's a terrible history almost impossible to believe. 

You may say yes I went to a museum but I felt this one is worth it and something I was interested in learning more about. Definitely check this place out if you have the chance. 

To eat check out the milk bars, relics of the communist era. These serve homecooked Polish cuisine and are still subsidized by the government. I got a schnitzel with potatoes and salad for about $3 one night. I ate there both nights because I thought they were so awesome.  It tends to attract the homeless and students with the prices so low.  So one drunk came in and started yelling at these other people speaking english. I think it had to do something about communism. Probably for him his life was much better.  It's funny to think about how in that system everyone earns equally and is able to afford a life.  Obviously something this guy wanted back. Well he was warned by the hostess to stop which he did but still muttered under his breathe.

My meal with "the guy"

As for my evenings, I watched the Poland-England game the first night and went to the CS meeting the next. Since my flight was at 6am I decided I would just stay out all night. I left my bags in storage at the hostel without booking a room.

The CS meeting was right next to the hostel at a place called Barometer. Later on we went to a more upbeat place playing music. More vodkas and dancing and it was time for me to head home already.

Since this is my last article I feel I should summarize a bit all the happenings and memories I've made on this trip. Definitely the highlight being the wedding in such a beautiful place with awesome people I will always remember. Being able to hang with my great friends again in Germany something I hope will continue to happen and know it will.  The crazy streets of Copenhagen, biking through the Netherlands, Spanish skies, and of course Poland's comforts.  I want to keep this blog alive and add some other side trips I take but know I will come back to this soon because I have a lot more places to see outside of Europe.  Until then! 

Holy Krakow

Took the train down from Warsaw in the morning and planned on staying one night in Krakow. There's a lot of hype on this town as the tourist trade has really amped up here in the past 5 years. The biggest draw is Auschwitz being an hour away so many choose Krakow as their base.

Main Square

I'd love to visit Auschwitz but it's not my main goal for coming here. I could have gone to Dachau near Munich all those days I spent there studying but I never did. We all know the events that occurred at these places but I felt spending my time in the city would be more beneficial. It's hard for me to describe my thinking here but I choose not to go.

I did however want to check the Schindler factory out but it was my last stop when it should have been my first because I didn't make it there in time. And it was free this day. Ahhhh missed. But the building is completely renovated and the factory itself is hardly recognizable. The art museum decided to swallow up part of it under its glass facade. Not a good decision to preserve something if you ask me. I read in the movie they actually reconstructed the factory nearby since it was so unrecognizable.

There are churches galore here. If you like churches you'll love this place. I like them.

Nuns and priests are everywhere. In the grocery store, the bakery, the bathrooms. It's a very holy city.

Home of Pope John Paul II where his former palace was and where people continue to worship him. I mean they worship here. Every church has about 30 people inside praying.  As a catholic it was surprising and heartwarming to see such devotion on a Monday at 3 pm. People take their religion very seriously here.

Oh there's a castle here as well.  Once used back in the day for the royal family.

Pope John Paul II's palace

Walking on the street here you will notice every block has a bakery and a 24 hour alcohol store. One for the morning one for the night.

I ate lunch at this micro brewery called CK Browar where they make a light, dark, ginger, and a wheat beer. Expecting good beer in Poland was a false assumption. But still better than Italian beer. Did you see that schnitzel picture I posted earlier. That thing was huge and for 8 bucks! It was the second most expensive thing on the list.

I went out to join the couchsurfing meeting in the Jewish quarter at a bar. These people are seriously awesome at these things. The ambassador was a 51 year old transplant from Toronto living in Krakow for 3 years because of his girlfriend. And all the other awesome travelers. I even met a guy from Philly CS that knows the same people as me.

I ended up branching off with some people to get myself in trouble with vodka. It plays a big role in the drinking culture here. We went from place to place in this little square trying all sorts of them. Then I had to get me a Zapiekanka which is not a sandwich as they warned me not to say but more a baguette with cheese and your choice of toppings. Pretty nice after a few vodkas.

I asked one of the girls ordering what she was getting on her sandwich and somehow she was offended by what I said. They warned me not to say its a sandwich here. I don't know. Some people.

Off to some club on a Monday mind you. Again easily offended people here. Start talking to some girl and they give me that look like who are you. So I chase them down later explaining I'm just trying to have a nice conversation here. I don't know maybe they didn't speak English well but don't give me that bitchy face attitude when I'm just being friendly.  So then I left because I was fed up.

I thought this place was a bit over hyped by people saying how lovely it was. It is a nice place don't get me wrong but it's not unbelievably gorgeous or anything. But the inside of every church is. I wish I could have gone to a service.

Town Gate