Warsaw, Poland

Arriving from Vilnius by an overnight bus, I left at 10:30 pm and arrived in Warsaw at 6:00 am. In Warsaw I stayed 3 nights at the Hotel Ibis Budget Warszara Centrum. It is the perfect distance to the old town, because you get to explore some of the industrialized area, along with local grocery stores and bakeries (my favorite). Just like any Ibis, it was the perfect accommodation (all Ibis’ are the same – very modern and simple, yet sophisticated). Because I arrived in Warsaw at 6:00 am, I got a chance to see the beautiful sunrise as it loomed over the Palace of Culture and Science, Stalin’s gift to Poland.

The towering Palace of Culture and Science is a reminder of Warsaw’s days of communist rule. Its dark color, yet Gothic architecture makes it the exact opposite of what the rest of Warsaw is like. The building today houses a cinema, theaters, museums, a university, and a panoramic view of the city. It almost casts a giant shadow on the city, which is exactly what the Russians wanted.

Dating back to the 1600s, Poland has had a long history with Russia. Poland invaded Russia, while years later, it was the opposite. In particular, the 20th century left a heavy impact on Poland when it fought for its independence after WWI, only to be divided once again during WWII by both the Soviets and the Nazi’s.

Apart from its relations with Russia, Warsaw was also heavily bombed by air attacks and artillery bombardment by German troops in 1939. It served as the largest Jewish ghetto in Nazi-occupied Europe during WWII where Jewish residents of Warsaw (and later the rest of Poland) were designated into a separate area (sealed off by brick walls, bared wire, and armed guards) – called the ghetto. There were over 400,000 Jews living in an area of 1.3 square miles, while nearly half died of starvation, and during Nazi deportation (1939-1944).

As mentioned in previous posts, I’m a sucker for beautiful historic Old Towns or city centers. Although Warsaw’s city center/old town has been completely rebuilt, the buildings have been completely restored to look as they did prior to WWII. The only real difference: facades – there’s an emphasis on paint, rather than carving (similar to Prague’s). Regardless, it is barely noticeable.

I was impressed by Warsaw’s blossoming creative side with trendy neighborhoods, craft beer in dingy warehouses, artist spaces, and quirky cultural events. There was a lot to do and see in Warsaw, while also making it almost feel like a metropolitan booming city. Warsaw is a tale of rebirth, where you see the old mixed in with the new. While I was there, I also got to spend some time with some old friends. Luckily, they were able to tell me about some of the hardships, yet confidence that Poland has gained firsthand. Because I was with friends, they also took me to local bars/restaurants… I wish I could remember their names. There were some amazing places, that I regret not writing down.

Warsaw should be on every person’s bucket list. Not only for its insane amount of history, and culture, but also for its food. There were so many delicious Polish delicacies – from the obvious pierogis, to doughnuts or pączki. The food was delicious and so flavorful.

Because I had friends in Warsaw, I didn’t really do any research prior to my arrival (besides history class), as I knew they would lead the way – with both local and tourist hotspots.