We visited Warsaw with side trip to Treblinka. I don't hold anyone who is alive today for the terrible things that happened here. Dispite what happened we enjoyed out time here.
|
As you enter the central square of Warsaw, you are overwhelmed by the beauty of the ancient buildings and clock tower. At night the square is ablaze with thousands of lights. Lazienzki Park is a beautiful park that was the former summer residence of one of the former kings. There is a palace within the park and a lake. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is an arch is all that remains of the Saxon Palace that was destroyed during World War II. It gives an indication of the destruction which occurred in the city.
|
|
Favourite spots: |
Old Town has been rebuilt in its original style with narrow streets. The Modern Art Centre is in Ujazdowski Castle. There are some fantastic modern works of art and the café is almost as interesting because of the interior design. We walked around the area near the Synagogue, trying to imagine what our friends’ families felt like when they were living in the Ghetto. Today there are many lovely homes in this area. There were a few monuments to the uprising in the Ghetto. On Mila Street, we saw the bunker where 100 people died. We saw the Stadium, where they had found the bones of over 100,000 people that had been interned at the city's cemetery. We went to see the Judaic Library and Museum of Jewish Martyrology.
|
|
What's really great: |
There are so many bars, cafes, and restaurants to choose from. Polish food is on offer as well as Chinese, Italian, Lebanese, Mexican, Vietnamese, and the standard fast-food places (Burger King, KFC, and McDonald's). You must try a zapiekanki (a baguette that has a pizza like cheese topping), barszcz (hot beet soup), and placki (potato pancakes). The best Polish beers were: Okocim Porter, Okocim Zagloba Pils, Perla, and Zywiec. The best vodkas are Belvedere, Chopin, and Lususwa. The wine we liked was Winnica Golesz and Leoville Barton (similar to a Bordeaux). We tried to find a Milk Bar to have lunch. These are canteens where you can select the Polish food you want to try. We didn't want to eat in the fast-food places, and the Milk Bars were the cheapest places to eat.
|
|
Sights: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post Card I bought
at Treblinka.
|
|
We walked around the area near the Synagogue, trying to imagine what our friends’ families felt like when they were living in the Ghetto. Today there are many lovely homes in this are.
On Mila Street, we saw the bunker where 100 people died. We saw the Stadium, where they had found the bones of over 100,000 people that had been interned at the city's cemetery.
We went to see the Judaic Library and Museum of Jewish Martyrology.
|
|
Accommodations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Picture of the Jewish Getto in Warsaw. From a post card I bought
|
|
Kanonia Hostel has the best location here. It is in the middle of Warsaw's Old Town and 30 meters from the Old Town Square.
The building is an old historical one and is on a quiet street just between the castle and the sqaure. And Warsaw's center is just a 20 min. walk. You won't be bothered by traffic because cars are not allowed in Old Town.
|
|
Nightlife: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outside of the Shrine to the Black Madonna
|
|
We took the train to Krakow, to visit here for a day. Krakow has some of the most impressive art culture in Europe and has been listed on the European Culture lists and List of World Heritage for its Castle Wawel, literary history and monuments which stand throughout this city. Krakow is a town of historical interest and architectural beauty. The city was founded in the year one thousand and there had been evidence of large settlements there growing rapidly up to the 16th century. 740,000 people live here. When we arrived in this city I thought it was fabulous. The buildings have been made out of ancient stones. Now that the Columnists have left, there are a lot of Catholic Churches. We hired a cart and with a horse and to take us around the square. You feel that you have gone back in time as you see this area. A few blocks away are the into Antique shops and other stores. The market stalls selling food, jewelry, handicrafts and souvenirs. It seemed unfair to pay the incredibly cheap prices for such incredible and artistic work. However it is seen as a disrespectful action to offer more than is requested. Amber and pure silver jewelry are the best things to buy. Krakow is a beautiful place to be based and the locals defiantly know plenty of English. We had lunch at Klezmer Hois restaurant and orders a bowl of chicken soup with kreplach, (like small meat filled buns). After lunch we went to see the painting of the Black Madonna Shrine in Czestahova. There is a lovely story about this painting. The painting was slashed and after that happened people swear they saw it bleed. Today, there are people who belong to different religions, come here to pray for the Madonna's intervention, so that they will be healed. Thousands of people travel to Poland, to view places where the present Pope has stood and spoken. Then we took the train back to Warsaw.
|
|
Restaurants: |
One night we ate at Argo. They served food from Georgia. We enjoyed the lobia (a spicy black bean casserole) and the hatchapurit (a pita-like bread filled with cheese).
Karczma Gessler serves Jewish food (hot and cold beet soup, blintzes, cabbage rolls, brisket, chopped liver, potato pancakes, among other).
Blike Café is the oldest cake store in the city. Their donuts are the best thing to order.
|
|
Other recommendations: |
Treblinka is the closest extermination camp to Warsaw (50 miles northeast of Warsaw).
They came on death trains and when they arrived the people who were not sent to be killed were sent to be de-loused and then went to the showers.
Above the bath house was a Mogen Dovid (star of David) and an inscription that read, This is the gate through which the righteous pass.
Once they entered the showers, they were killed by gas. Then they were sent to a shed.
In the shed, there were piles on a cement floor that had a drain in the middle, for the blood to drain out of their bodies. Gold and silver teeth were removed here.
Then as many as possible were sent to the ovens to be burned.
|
|
Published on Friday September 8th, 2006
|
|
Publish on Facebook
|
Sun, Dec 31 2006 - 12:39 AM
by maehof
hello, it's good report, gratulations Lyla, lot of useful information, there is another concentration camp called aushwitz - oswiecim, it's about 50 -75 km. from Krakow,,, few tiny spelling mistakes but don't worry about them. ps . from all of old cities i love Krakow the most too. greetings, martin |
Fri, Oct 20 2006 - 03:41 AM
by barcelona
very gud!!! your reports very best Globo, 5 points, por favoor, write report Catalonia, barcelona or spain, you write veri gud. no go away |
Wed, Sep 27 2006 - 10:22 AM
by eirissa
A very interesting report from your stay in Poland. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit here, come again and visit the seaside and the Polish Tatra mountains:) |
Sun, Sep 10 2006 - 03:04 AM
by gloriajames
Nice report! Thats an interesting pic in the museum. |
Sat, Sep 09 2006 - 12:19 PM
by st.vincent
A very thought provoking report |
Sat, Sep 09 2006 - 07:23 AM
by frenchfrog
Very interesting report, yes it s good to rememeber and never forgot what happen during WW", I saw Auswitch, Dachau and Terezin, I will never forgot what I saw! Good infos provided! |
Information: |
Login if you are a member, or sign up for a free membership to rate this report and to earn globo points! |
|
Canada |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Egypt |
|
|
Indonesia |
|
|
Poland |
|
|
|