Travelling with MM: Warsaw

14 May 2017

Warsaw

Travelled : 130km to Warsaw
Stay: Warsaw-carpark 54.68789 25.29386 very close to old town 62 zloty/hr, 121 zloty/24hr, no services, noisy

Off again by 7 am which meant that there was hardly any traffic. We stopped for desiel (ON) 4.4 zloty/ltr about the same price we have been paying so far at €1.08. Then we stopped to do the services along the highway finding a pit and water in the truck area. N51.8987 E19.70871

We arrived in Warsaw just before 9 and we were happy that the roads where not too busy as it was early Saturday morning. Having parked Bluey we ventured up into the old town.

Along the way to the main square we came across the lucky Kanonia bell and the narrowest building (as taxes were calculated on the width!).

The two most significant sights in Castle Square is of course, the Castle and Sigismund's Column. The later being a most important symbol of the city and a favourite meeting place. This is where our walking tour of the old town began.

From here we went to the charming Market Square where the statue of the Mermaid is found, who serves as the city's coat of arms, as legend says she founded the city and promised to protect it.

We were then taken on the other side of the wall into the new town, built as only 2,000 people could live in the old town.

It was here that Maria Curie was born and begun here studies.

There are also numerous churches of which all have been rebuilt after Warsaw uprising. Actually 90% of Warsaw had been destroyed by the Germans but has since been restored back to the original in most areas. It is due to this that the old town has been classified as a UNESCO site.

We then went have a look at the Warsaw Uprising monument one was depicting the beginning of the 63 day campaign and the other the end where many escaped the old town via the sewers.

Although Chopin was not born in Warsaw, the city is very proud of the fact he did spend his early years here. Scattered around the city are 16 musical benches that represent an important moment ie his first concert or where he sat to drink his coffee...

Although once he had left Poland he never managed to return, dying at 40, but his heart did come back and has since been laid to rest in a column in the Church of the Holy Cross.

After looking at St . Anne's Church one of the rare original buildings as the Germans had used it to store the city's treasures we ventured up the main street to find a place to eat lunch.

We enjoyed some local dishes - dumplings and potato pancake with stew, before continuing our journey passing many lovely buildings.

We stopped to pay our respects to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and then made our way back to the old town where we saw the statue of the 'Little Insurgent' commemorating the youngest participants of the Uprising.