Vacation in Poland-Part 1 Warsaw

 

Even Peace Corps volunteers get a vacation.  After one year of service, it was time for mine and I took it in Poland.  I left by plane from Chisinau International Airport (Moldova's one and only airport) and flew to Warsaw's Chopin Field via a change in Munich.  Flying is great fun isn't it?  Especially when the clouds are pretty.  As we approached Warsaw, I felt as if I was landing in Ohare in Chicago.  The city's modern skyline and expressways are very similar.  In the area of Old Town, or Stare Maestro, the buildings are quite different.  Here we see Holy Cross Church.  Someone famous is buried here.  Frederick Chopin...at least his heart is buried here.  A statue nearby of another famous Pole, Nicolai Copernicus.  Warsaw has a lot of churches, some right next to each other.  The old town square is perfectly rebuilt from WWII damage  to original specs.  It's a place for outside cafes, roaming musicians, and horse and carriages.  In the center is a statue of a mermaid, the symbol of Warsaw.  The old Roman wall and city gate are restored.  Here we find signs of local food and beverage.   "Piwo" means beer and "Pierogi" are stuffed ravioli type noodles.  The trout was delicious.  Shops sell beautiful crafts such as this ceramic pottery from Boleslawiec.  Along the streets we came across the place Marii Curie discovered radium.  And then there is the beautiful Royal Palace, totally rebuilt since The War.  And also a Presidential Palace for the current democratically elected leader.  The tall spire building is the Cultural Arts Center that was build by the Soviet occupying government.  On the 30th floor there is a wonderful observation deck.   You can see the beautiful modern buildings of Warsaw's central business district.  Much of Poland's renewal was made possible by the kiss of the Marshall Plan after WWII.  This final picture is what 80 % of Warsaw looked like in 1947.  There's more to see in Warsaw. Next time we'll begin with the home of Chopin.