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Warsaw Journals

Unexpected character

A September 2004 trip to Warsaw by sknight_co

free piano recital Photo - Lazienki Park, Warsaw, Poland More Photos
Quote: My presuppositions about Warsaw were that it was gray, bleak and lacking any charm. As a former Communist center and the site of so much unrest, I was amazed at the strength of spirit exuding from this city.
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Unexpected character Best of IgoUgo

Overview

Warsaw Mermaid Photo - Warsaw, Poland
Quote:
Stare Miasto, or the old town, is a tribute to Polish love of their culture. Nearly leveled during WWII, Warsaw was rebuilt from the ashes, and the old town was restored to circa 1800 by using salvaged material and old artists' paintings of how the city looked. We enjoyed just wandering the streets, admiring the medieval Barbican and castle walls, and enjoying a beer or dinner at an outdoor cafe. I would never have thought of Warsaw as a pleasant tourist destination, and there are certainly parts that are dirty and unsafe, but the old town was as charming and European as any place I've been. Quick Tips: Do NOT call the Poles Eastern Europeans. It offends them, as they view the term relat...Read More
Quote:
This was a gorgeous hotel for being a Courtyard. It is 150 feet from the airport terminal, which can be very convenient, and the accommodations are beautiful. It has high-speed internet access, and the rooms are rather large by European standards with full-sized showers. The beds are soft and long enough for tall people, as opposed to the typical Polish beds. Beware making phone calls, however! We made a 3 minute call to a local cell phone and it cost $12. Yikes!

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on September 29, 2004

Courtyard by Marriott Warsaw International Airport
1 ZWIRKI I WIGURY ST
Warsaw, Poland
48-22-6500100

Quote:
We spent the first several nights here. Ibis is a chain of clean, decent, reasonably priced rooms. The TI sent us here, as they always have plenty of rooms available, and there is one located 10 minutes walk from old town. The windows were totally soundproof, and the hotel appeared brand new. The staff spoke English and was friendly and helpful.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on September 29, 2004

Ibis Warszawa Stare Miasto
2 MURANOWSKA ST
Warsaw, Poland
48-48-3101000

Pod Samsonem Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Quote:
In Old Town, this is a very popular and inexpensive restaurant. Cuisine includes German and Russian influences with plenty of pierogies, cabbage and beet dishes. The roast pork with forest mushrooms is quite tasty. Service is polite if sometimes stretched thin, and the decor is folksy. They also serve red, blue and green beer. Intrigued? The Poles came across the brilliant idea of putting syrup in their beer glasses, making a cross between a beer and a snow cone. Just enough to give flavor without being overly sweet, in raspberry, blueberry, and I have no idea what green is. They also have outdoor seating for warm nights.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on September 29, 2004

Pod Samsonem
Ulica Freta, 3/5
Warsaw, Poland 00-227
+48 22 831 1788

Belle Epoque Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Cafe Galerie Belle Epoque"

Belle Epoque Photo - Belle Epoque, Warsaw, Poland
Quote:
This is the place for atmosphere. It looks like the fairy godmother designed this place from her closet. Cosy, kitschy, cute and tiny, with an older man who played the piano seemingly every night we walked by. The pierogies in garlic butter were the best I had in all of Poland. Delicious coffee drinks. Go downstairs for a peek at the rest of the decor.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on September 29, 2004

Belle Epoque
Freta 18
Warsaw, Poland
6354105

Lazienki Park Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Lazienki Park---free piano recital"

free piano recital Photo - Lazienki Park, Warsaw, Poland
Quote:
Lazienki Park is a beautiful 74 hectacre park containing several palaces, art galleries, and a monument to Frederick Chopin, a native son. On summer Sundays at noon and 4 pm there are free piano recitals on the lawn, which offers a relaxing way to spend an hour or two, followed by a stroll to explore the statues and palaces on the grounds. This is really one of Warsaw's finest sights.

Head south on ul. Ujazdowskie, roughly 15-20 minutes walk from the old town area.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on September 29, 2004

Lazienki Park
Al. Ujzadowski
Warsaw, Poland 00-460

Museum of the Polish Army Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Polish Army Museum"

Polish Army Museum Photo - Museum of the Polish Army, Warsaw, Poland
Quote:
My husband adores military history, especially from WWII. This museum hosts tanks, planes, cannons and heavy armor - the large items are displayed in the yard, and admission is not required for the yard. He was so enamored that we never even made it inside, where they apparently have models and uniforms among other displays.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on September 29, 2004

Museum of the Polish Army
Al Jerozolimslie 3
Warsaw

Royal Castle Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Warsaw Photo - Royal Castle, Warsaw, Poland
Quote:
Burned to the ground after the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, it is incredible that the castle was not rebuilt until 1971 - 1984. Visiting it requires several hours by guided tours, and tickets are limited. There are a couple of tours a day in English, and it costs apx $6. Limited rooms are free on Sundays, but no guides are available, and it gets crowded - for $6, it's worth the tour in smaller groups. Many of the rooms do have descriptions written in English.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on September 29, 2004

Royal Castle
plac Zamkowy 4
Warsaw, Poland 00-277
+48 22 657 2170