The area of Warsaw I live in is a little run down and sometimes I forget that in the Old Town and City Centre there are some very classy and stylish buildings, shopping complexes and individual shops.
Yesterday was the first day this year that the bright but still cool sun decided to show his face. Having been cooped up indoors and hermetically sealed from the freezing snow, wind and ice for six weeks it was time to venture out. Unfortunately, I wasn't the only person who had the same idea.
Off I went into the Old Town but carried on to Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street leaving the Old Town behind me.This is a very famous streeet in Warsaw and it was part of the Royal Tract which carried visitors and travellers into Warsaw from Krakow. The Tract now runs from the Royal Palace in the Old Town taking in Przedmiescie Street and Nowy Swiat until it finally reaches Wilanowa Palace.
Palaces, churches, government buildings have all been built on these two streets some time or another. Intermingled with stylish cafes, exclusive hotels and regal buildings are some very exclusive shops and galleries.
Some of the buildings are quite spectacular and just along from the Mickiewicz monument and the church is the Namiestnikowski Palace built in the second half of the 17th century. It belonged to various Polish aristocratic families and is now the Presidential Palace, hence all the police guards and flashy motors.
A worthwhile visit is the Kordegard Gallery for its interesting exhibitions. It is free to enter and is open Tuesday-Sunday from 11.00 -1900.
Next to the Presidential Palace is a beautiful looking hotel and very famous. It is also considered one of the best in Warsaw. It was designed by Marconi in the 19th century and has had guests who included Charles de Gaulle, Margaret Thatcher, Tina Turner, the Rolling Stones and Jose Carreras, the opera singer.
On the bottom floor of the Bristol is a coffee bar which is open to non-residents and worth a sit down and a cafe-laite, just to say that you have been in this famous building.
Flower shops are woven in between the stylish boutiques and bookshops and some of the decorative items they display in the windows are very kitsch and somewhat eccentric like golden cherubs and angels. At most corners you will find a lady dressed in her winter coat and hat selling flowers. Tulips and hyacinths are out in bloom at the moment so these are the flowers on sale. Although the lady is dressed in browns and is a little subdued her stall is a wonderful array of red, yellow and green.
Tea drinking has always been very popular in Poland and on Ulica Krakowskie Przedmiescie you will find the odd tea shop as well as several stylish coffee houses. The first tea shop you come to on the right hand side has a window display filled with novelty tins of tea bearing the picture of Mozart. A very pretty display indeed beaming with bright reds and gold with the famous composers face silhouetted in black. Inside you will find a vast selection of teas to choose from including black, green, Earl Grey and lots and lots of fruit teas. Cakes are also available if you feel a little peckish.
Folk art is something I find very interesting and colourful. Every now and again a stall along the street will pop up displaying glass bottles painted with various art noveau designs. There are also commercial galleries selling folk art, sculpture, fabrics and embroidered tablecloths, all of which make use of regional folk motifs and patterns and are known to be of good quality.
I also noticed that the old type kiosks along this street have all been replaced with modern versions. Instead of glass windows they now have reinforced plastic and the shape of the kiosk has changed to a very slimline art-deco style. I personally prefer the old-style just because they were a lot more colourful - green and white insted of black and grey. Here you can purchase tram and bus tickets, cigarettes, phonecards, sweets, soft drinks, deodorant and numerous strange and wonderful items but if you can't speak Polish you will have to point.
I particularly love this street as it has a feeling of grandeur to it and yesterday with the sun shining and happy people milling around with dogs and children, the ambience was just right and one of fun. It is a street where you can stroll and take time out, away from the sea of Communist grey apartments and buildings.