Arrival in Poland
Today started at 4:00 am in order to catch a bus and then plane to Warsaw, Poland. By the time I got to my hotel I needed a power nap and then raced through the public transport to see the Castle because for the time I will be here, it was only going to be open today.The castle is in Old Town, which is a series of colorful buildings surrounded by the original Barbican and walls. Just the town itself is worth seeing. The castle does not disappoint either. You enter into the Kings rooms, which are gilded, covered tapestries and old paintings. One room was originally covered in silk and then covered in hand paintings. Two of these are depictions of Esther and Rebecca. Other rooms were for greeting statesmen or for guardsmen. Each had their own flair. Even the floors were made of inlaid wood. No detail was missed.
For dinner I tried Polish dumplings and a cucumber salad. I liked both, but probably wouldn't crave them again. Honestly, it is so cold here I was just happy for a warm meal in a warm cozy environment. Each table had a vase of tulips and my table was near the window so I could people watch while I ate.I walked back to the hotel with a to-go cup of chai in hand to stay warm. I like to walk the streets so I can make a mental map of how everything is connected. Plus, the architecture or chance boutique store is like finding little gems along the way. You can also get the feel of the city. This one is busy. Almost all of the buildings are ornately old with a few high-rises thrown in the mix. I saw a labor union protest which lasted all but 5 minutes. Pockets of Polish football fans kept honking horns. They must have won a match today, the celebrating didn't seem to end the whole time I was outside. I was a little too tired to keep up with the pace, so I am going to rest up and enjoy a full day tomorrow. :)
