Day 5 - Warsaw - Random Views

Here are some random views of Warsaw taken during our tour today.

Vodka Factory

Modern Warsaw

Stalin's buidling

Polish Uprising Monument

Barbican

New Town Square

New Town Street

Street view

Old Town Square

Old Town Square

Day 5 - Jewish Memorial

Warsaw was home to the densest Jewish Quarter in Poland. The tiny section of land was brimming with Jewish people. In 1942, over 6,000 Jews were transported from the Ghetto to Treblinka death camp about 100 km away. At one point in August 1942, about 54,000 Jews were deported in 15 days. In less than one year, over 800,000 Jews were sent to their death before September 30, 1942.

Jewish Memorial

Judaism Museum of History

Monument was constructed of marble left by the Nazi Germans in Warsaw

Monument carving showing march of Jewish people with Nazi Guards

Marking of old Jewish Ghetto Wall

Bronze map showing Jewish Ghetto boundaries

Day 5 - Lazienkowski Park

Lazienkowski park is the original hunting grounds of the royals in Poland. Today, the park is surround by the Embassies from around the world. The park is home to several palaces (stopping spots for the royals) as they traveled from their place of work and home. Not too shabby if you ask me. The European Union is helping Poland restore some of these monuments including the foundation of the Island Palace. So - you have to work your way around a little construction.

Sobieski - Victor over the Turks

Island Palace

Island Palace

Island Palace

Island Palace

Island Palace - The King had over 2,000 painting and moved them every time he changed palaces

Island Palace - Bath

Island Palace - Baca's Room

Oriental Lane

White House

White House

Day 5 - Touring Warsaw with Hubert Pawlik

We met up with our private guide Hubert Pawlik (http://www.warsaw-citytours.com) at our hotel for our 5 hour walk/drive tour of Warsaw. Hubert is a 44 year old licensed guide and third generation living in Warsaw. He surprise us by telling us that he had talked to Marta (http://www.privateguideinkrakow.com) our guide in Krakow yesterday. They are friends and collaborate on tour arrangements sometimes. We were surprised since we discovered separately - small world - though Hubert reports over 2,000 guides in Warsaw.

Our day started by visiting some old pre-war buildings in Warsaw. Most of the city was destroyed during bombing. Very few examples of these structures remain today. Hubert also took us to a local market - a common place during communist times for materials and food. Yes. We tried the soup made of liver and stomach.

Pre-war Warsaw

Local Market

Soup with liver and stomach

Food vendor

Day 5 - Touring Warsaw

The rains have passed and it is a beautiful sunny day in Warsaw. Perfect for our walking tour of the city with our guide Hubert Pawlik. Unlike Marta who I found from Rick Steve's travel guide for Krakow, I found Hubert via the Internet. His website is http://www.warsaw-citytours.com . For all of us Trip Advisor users, Hubert is #11 on the tour guide listing. After researching several of the guides, he a good match for a private guide for our small group.

I am looking forward to the experience and hope I made a good selection of guide. Time will tell!

View from outside our Le Regina Hotel window (room 112)

Day 4 - Dinner - Zapieckek

Our hotel restaurant was fully booked so we had to search out another location for dinner. The front desk clerk sent us to Zapieceke. This place appears to be a tourist trap at first glance - but the food is fantastic. A real treat of Polish traditional food.

Pierogi with meat

Crepes with spinach 

Apple pie

Day 4 - Warsaw Street Views

Despite the rainy weather today - we enjoyed our walk around the city. Now it is time to put our feet up and rest a bit before dinner. Here are some street views from our hotel in New Town down the Royal Way.

Day 4 - Warsaw Defense

Much like Krakow, the Old Town in Warsaw was originally a walled city. It also had a barbican fortress to protect the main entry into the town.