Warsaw Journals

Warsaw, Poland

An April 2006 trip to Warsaw by Mandan Lynn

Money, money, money Photo - Poland, Europe

Quote: My first 4½ days in Poland were spent in Warsaw—here's what I did!

18 Photos

Warsaw, Poland

Overview

Quote:

Warsaw is fascinating. It is steeped in history yet has so little physical proof of its rich past, thanks to World War II and the Warsaw Uprising, which managed to destroy the entire city. There is a sense of determination present, and the care taken in rebuilding the city is proof of that.Visit the Royal Castle Museum, eat pierogi (and lots of it!), get ice-cream in Stare Miasto, and beware the east side of the river!Quick Tips: The other side of the Vistula River is basically run by the mafia, so explains my local friend. Use caution, and probably avoid it altogether after dark. If you must visit the Russian market, carry little money (and no passport) and take a local with you if...Read More

Cheer!
Flag

Marak

Restaurant

Quote:

Marak is a small, cozy place to get your fill of local and international soups. The interior is modern, with chic black furniture and bright green walls. The menu (which is also in English) includes three traditional Polish soups (mushroom, tomato, and pickled cucumber) and four "exotic" soups, as well as fruit desserts and drinks. The grzybowa (mushroom soup) was phenomenal.There are three sizes. The smallest one left my taste buds (though not my stomach) hungry for more, but keep in mind that the medium bowl provides you with twice as much soup!Prices vary; my mushroom soup was 5.90 zloty, which is about $2. The cucumber soup was a little bit cheaper, some of the ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on May 1, 2006

Marak
Nowy Swiat
Warsaw, Poland

Cheer!
Flag

Pierogarnia

Restaurant

Quote:

There are many pierogarnias in Poland, but this one is especially delightful. It is located just outside of the old town on quiet Dluga Street.The interior is homey and mock-rustic. You can sit wherever you'd like, look over the menu (in Polish!), and then go to the counter to order. Your meal is ready within a few minutes.For just 14 zloty, you can get soup and six pierogi. They have many varieties from my favorite (mushroom and cabbage) to meat to vegetables to chocolate to fruit to pig lung. Yes, I tried the pig lung pierogi, and I have to say it tasted pretty good, but I just had one and let my friend finish his own plate.The tomato soup was delicious, as was the zurek, a sour rye soup with pota...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 7, 2006

Pierogarnia
Dluga Street
Warsaw, Poland

Cheer!
Flag

Palace of Culture

Attraction | "Palace of Culture and Science"

Quote:

This wasn't on my original agenda, but my Polish friend suggested a visit and I wasn't hard to convince.The Palace of Culture is located right by the central train station. It is also very easy to see from all over the city, so if you're ever lost, just look toward the sky for the top of this building to get your bearings.Apparently, guards at the Palace of Culture sell half-priced tickets, which is, of course, somewhat illegal. It seems that you should be Polish to make such a request, or at least speak the language like a local. So a Pole can say a few words to the guard, who will then walk nonchalantly with you to a corner and sell you the ticket. You then return your ticket to another guard when y...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on May 7, 2006

Palace of Culture
plac Defilad
Warsaw, Poland 00-110

Cheer!
Flag

National Museum

Attraction

Quote:

National Museum (summer hours)
Tuesday through Sunday (except Thursday): 10am to 6pm
Thursday from 12 to 7pm
Closed Mondays

The website says that the museum is free on Thursdays; however, I was there on Saturday and it was free then. The sign in front of the museum also says it's free on Saturdays, so the website must be in need of an update.

This was not my favorite of the European museums I've visited. It holds a rather random collection of paintings, sculptures, and artifacts like dishes. The paintings, mostly by Polish artists, are enjoyable. The best news is that many captions are in English, so you know what you're looking at.

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on May 7, 2006

National Museum
al. Jerozolimskie 3
Warsaw, Poland 00-495
+48 22 629 3093

Cheer!
Flag

Royal Castle

Attraction | "Royal Castle Museum"

Quote:

Royal Castle Museum
Sunday-Monday 11am-6pm
Tuesday-Saturday 10-6pm
Admission: 18 zloty (13 zloty for students)

The Royal Castle is free on Sundays, but be sure to line up early—there are a limited number of tickets given. Be aware that there are two entrances. I lined up early, but I was at the entrance with the fewer number of people. Both doors were opened at the same time, but I was surprised to see so many people ahead of me when I thought I was one of the first in line. (I still managed to get a ticket.)

You then have access to the royal rooms, complete with royal furniture and a collection of art. It's always entertaining to see how the royalty lived.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on May 7, 2006

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

Cheer!
Flag

University of Warsaw Library

Attraction | "Warsaw University library"

Quote:

Here is a little-known treasure. On the roof of this magnificent library is a garden! It's open to the public from 9am to 8pm during summer months—and it's free! Stroll through the gardens and check out the magnificent views of the Vistula River.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on May 7, 2006

University of Warsaw Library
Dobra 56/66
Warsaw, Poland 00-312
48 22 55 25 178

Cheer!
Flag

Lazienki Park

Attraction

Quote:

Step inside this park and you'll feel like you've left the city behind you. I didn't have enough time to scour the entire area, but I did check out the enchanting Palace on the Water and, of course, the peacocks!

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on May 7, 2006

Lazienki Park
Al. Ujzadowski
Warsaw, Poland 00-460

Cheer!
Flag

Wilanow Palace

Attraction | "Wilanow"

Quote:

Wilanow
Hours vary according to season
Thursdays are free
Student discount

Sadly, I didn't go inside, so I don't have much to offer you except a couple of pictures of the magnificent building. I'm told that it's worth a visit. When I was there, people were working on the gardens, so there wasn't much to see outside. If you do manage a visit inside, tell me about it!

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on May 7, 2006

Wilanow Palace
Ulica Wiertnicza, 1
Warsaw, Poland 02-958

Cheer!
Flag

Eating like a Polish Queen

Story/Tip

Quote:

I had a great time tasting all the Polish foods I could get near my mouth. I ate with an adventurous spirit I didn't know I possessed. Go to Poland and eat, eat, eat, my friends. Your taste buds won't be sorry.

Pierogi. Dumplings, filled with anything you can imagine. I was partial to mushrooms and cabbage, but you can order almost any variety—meats, vegetables, chocolate, fruit. Take note that they are very filling; six seems to be a standard order and my stomach was usually too full for the last one.

Zurek. A sour rye soup full of potatoes and sausage. Hearty. Delicious.

Nalesniki. When it comes to crepes, the French have nothing on the Poles. Order them from street vendors for as little as four zloty.

Pomidorowa. A tomato-and-rice soup that puts Campbells to shame.

Paczek. Basically a jelly donut, but I deserve to be punished for calling it that. Paczek are so much better. The jelly is slightly tart, and there's not so much inside the cake that it oozes all over the place. The cake itself is lightly glazed, but again, not overly sweet. I'm told by my Polish friend that the best place to buy them is Blikly.

Bagels. They were invented in Poland, but they're nothing like we're used to in America. You can buy them on the street (especially in Krakow) for one zloty or less, and it's a fairly hard, chewy ring of twisted dough that is nevertheless quite tasty. And they make for an excellent quick, cheap breakfast when you're running to catch a train. For bagels like we see at home, check out BagelMama in Krakow.

Pakora. I don't think this is Polish, but rather Indian. Doesn't matter. These deep fried vegetables are still delicious.

Samosa. Ditto. Not Polish, but eat it (vegetables in a bread crust—reminiscent of a pot pie, but the difference is that samosa is awesome) if you get the chance.

Barszcz. This (beetroot soup) is the only thing I'm going to suggest avoiding. Yes, taste it, but unless you're into beets and the concept of cold soup, don't order a whole bowl for yourself. Read Less

Cheer!
Flag

A home away from home

Story/Tip

Quote:

I tried something new when I went to Warsaw. Something I never thought I'd ever do.I stayed at the home of a complete stranger. A former complete stranger, I should say, who is now my friend.I found him through www.hospitalityclub.org. You fill out a profile and can search for people who live in the city you plan to visit who might be willing to host you for a few days. I was nervous for all the obvious reasons, but it was one of the best things I could have possibly done.My host in Warsaw was incredible. He prepared traditional Polish cuisine for me to try. He brought home sweets favored by Poles, like paczek, and insisted I try them all. He let me use his computer and even ga...Read More