Between skyscrapers and old ghetto walls: One week in Warszawa

At the beginning of August, I made my way back to Poland. This time Warszawa was the travel destination. I expected Warszawa to be a big place which needs more time to discover so we went for a whole week to the capital. We were blessed with sunny days and constantly 30-degrees heat which did not necessarily uplift our trip. Everyday we walked around 20 kilometres and you don´t want to know how our shoes and feet smelled after a long hot day in the sun. The first days we were on the traces of the Jewish culture around the old Jewish Ghetto. Unfortunately there is nothing really left anymore. You can find some hidden leftovers in backyards and might just have a cup of coffee in one of the last houses which was left like the old walls used to look like without even knowing it.

Of course Pierroggi had to wander down my tummy quite often whilst I was there. The following days we made it to the old town centre, which is not even ´old´ if you want to be precise. Warszawa was completely destroyed in the Second World War. It is unbelievable that they rebuilt the city just from paintings and pictures. It is always hard to understand how a whole city can get rebuilt after such a trauma in such a short time. Whilst the west of the city is pretty cold, not charming and covered with skyscrapers, the old town just brightens every heart with its cute buildings, restaurants, shops and narrow streets. The castle just sits on the top of the city impressing everyone like a King full of pride about his city.

(T-shirt: Urban Outfitters // Bag: Urban Outfitters// Skirt: Asos// Shoes: Vagabonds)

Warszawa is covered with war memorials and the phrase Warsaw Uprising will always follow your steps through the city. We went to the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising, which gave us some further information about the war in Poland and the occupation of the German Nazis. After those heavy 3 hours of reading, listening and watching we filled our tummys with even heavier cake and coffee in the sweetest museum café I have ever been to.

Once we went up my favourite building: The Palace of Culture and Science (Palac Kultury i Nauki). I fell in love with this building straight away. Yes I have a weakness for socialist classic buildings. It´s said that the building was meant to be pulled down seeing it is kind of a ridiculing reminder of the times Warszawa was oppressed by the Sovjet Union. To me it belongs to the face of Warszawa and it would leave a big hole which cannot be refilled that easily.

After we have discovered the west part of the Danube we also made our way over to the east: Praga. Praga gives you the proper Poland feeling. You can find the cutest and weirdest cafés and bars (try the place called W Oparach Absurdu) and eat amazing food in the grey and loud streets where the reputation of the Polish car drivers can be proved 100%. Also the backyards here are worth seeing. This week full of history, culture and fun in one of my favourite countries seems already ages ago. I cannot wait to go back to Poland. I would have never thought Warszawa is such a modern, vibrant city which changes from corner to corner. If you need more information I am happy to help you out.