2022 Poland
Poland is very much in the news these days, headlines make for scary thoughts of what life might be like in this part of the world. Covid is now overshadowed by the Soviet invasion of the Ukraine. The news never looks good, and with reports flooding through of the destruction of the Ukraine we all sit and hold our breaths of what could happen. But Poland is standing strong aligning itself with the Ukraine and the rest of the world because it knows only too well what the Soviet crushing machine is capable of doing.
Warszawa has been destroyed numerous times, the city nearly ceased to exist in 1944 when 90% of it was destroyed. This city was rebuilt and today is a modern and vibrant city, although there are still socialist realist remnants of Soviet domination. Amongst the skyscrapers there is one you cant miss it sits in the middle of the city - the infamous Palace of Culture, a reminder by the the Soviets that they are not far away. There is nothing better to do in Warszawa than to stroll through the numerous parks, Lazienki Park my absolute favourite with its summer time Sunday Chopin Concerts as well as the beautiful Saxon Gardens with it Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. These parks are huge and you can spend hours walking through them, just gorgeous. The Vistula River now has a beautiful boardwalk which is lined with cafes and restaurants. The old city offers you a glimpse back in time and here you can sample traditional polish cuisines the perogi (dumplings) and borsch (beetroot soup) I love this part of the city, I never get tired of it, you have to keep reminding yourself that this was all rebuilt to the original plans after the war, everything is authentic. If you fancy more culture there are many galleries and museums that are on offer in Warszawa, and to top off your day there is a visit to the popular pastry shop located in Mokotowska Street .
In June I fly into Warszawa to find out for myself what and if anything has changed since my last visit in 2019. My friends in Poland have kept me updated but I want to see for myself so I will be based there for a few months. I want to capture on video as much as I can of my favourite places in Warszawa and find some new ones for you. I have lists of new restaurants and galleries to visit, food to try, wine to taste I am going to be very busy. Poland comes alive in the summer months, that three month window from June to end of August its all on, outdoor concerts, summer markets, national celebrations, the vineyards are open for business and I am going to be part of it this year.
Off now to pack my bags, if you are in Warszawa please look me up. H