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| We travelled all routes |
What did we see today riding the buses? Too much to recall but here’s a few pix to give you a bit of a taste. In no particular order .....
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| We watch the 'balloon seller' preparing her giant floating bundles |
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| Jan Kilinski statue |
Jan Kilinski was a local who lived here during the uprising of Poland against Russian occupation. He formed a militia unit that at one point numbered 20,000 and fighting broke out on this spot. Ultimately the 1794 uprising failed, and Kilinski spent many years in prison in Russia. He, and this statue, are symbols of Warsaw and Poland's indomitable spirit of never yielding without a fight.
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| Astronomical clock |
This large astronomical clock features the signs of the zodiac as well the four phases of the moon. Every hour, on the hour, not only does it chime, but it plays a tune while a figure moves between the bottom two moons. Quaint.
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| The Supreme Court |
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| No idea but quirky! |
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| Monument to the heroes of Warsaw |
The Monument to the Heroes of Warsaw, also known as the Warsaw Nike, is a monument commemorating all those who died in the city in 1939 to 1945, including participants in the defense of Warsaw in September 1939, the participants of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the Warsaw Uprising, and the victims of German terror in the occupied capital. The city has seen much bloodshed.
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| Another hot day with people looking for respite in the fountains |
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| Vistula river with Stadion Narodowy in the background |
Stadion Narodowy (National Stadium) is the largest association football arena in Poland.
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| The river is quite wild and beautiful |
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| The district of Praga |
The Praga district was historically separate from Warsaw – maybe until a bridge was built over the river Vistula. The rather derelict district experienced a revival following the end of Communism in 1989, as young artists moved into many of the former factory buildings, drawing crowds in search of something different from the Old Town across the river.
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| A lifesize group sculpture of street musicians in Praga |
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| Returning across the Vistula |
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| The lawned area behind the Royal Palace |
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| Złote Tarasy |
The futuristic glass roof of the Złote Tarasy (Golden Terraces) was quite eye catching. Reminded me of Southern across station. Under these glass domes is a large shopping centre. We halted our bus tour to have lunch here - and to shop for new tips for our walking poles as the existing ones were worn out. The centre of Warsaw has some quite grand buildings.
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| Palace of Culture and Science |
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| The Congress Hall |
Palace of Culture and Science houses various public and cultural institutions such as theatres, cinemas, libraries, university faculties and authorities of the Polish Academy of Science (not all Varsovians approve of it). The Congress Hall is a 2,880-seat theatre attached to the Palace.
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| Contrasts |
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| Bronze elm tree |
A bronze replica of an elm tree that honors the victims that perished in Pawaik Prison. Pawiak was a built in 1835 and was the main prison of central Poland, where political prisoners and criminals alike were incarcerated. During the January 1863 Uprising, it served as a transfer camp for Poles sentenced by Imperial Russia to deportation to Siberia.
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| Monument to the Fallen and Murdered in the East |
The Monument to the Fallen and Murdered in the East commemorates the victims of the Soviet invasion of Poland during WWII and subsequent repressions. (Sorry for poor pic - taken from inside the bus.)
We came home just about melting surrounded by the sounds of rolling thunder and sprinkles of rain - delightful after the oppressive heat we’ve had. After such a full day sightseeing, we collapsed on the bed and napped only to be woken by the tinkling cascades of a harp. Below our window a small group is playing beautiful melodies accompanied by a cello - it’s a city of music and we saw small groups of 2-3 younger people lugging musical instruments to various street-side performances. Thank you Chopin.
Tomorrow? Another day of sightseeing - of course. Sometime we feel like we have no cartilage left in our hip joints! Thank goodness for our walking poles - and comfy shoes (Skechers). Without them we simply could cover the ground we've walked.
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