Warsaw, Poland: Part 2 of 2 - Stare Miasto and Outdoor Restaurants

After the rain, we continued our walk through Warsaw towards Stare Miasto.  Stare Miasto consists of two main areas: Castle Square and the Old Town Market Square.  Sigismund's Column is at the center of the square which was built to commemorate King Sigismund III Vasa who moved the capital from Krakow to Warsaw.  Originally erected in 1644, it has undergone multiple renovations and repairs when damaged during conflict.  Adjacent to the square, broken pieces of the original columns were on display.  From the square, you can see the new National Stadium completed in November 2011 and hosted the opening match for the EURO 2012 European Football (soccer) competition.

Castle Square

Sigismund's Column is to the right.

Sigismund's Column and the Royal Palace

The National Stadium

We continued on to the Old Town Market Square where we enjoyed a bratwurst and sauerkraut lunch while listening to a harpist.  It was reeeeeally nice and super delicious :)  Following lunch, we passed through the Warsaw Barbican (built in 1540) as we walked towards the Warsaw New Town.  In New Town, we passed the birthplace of Marie Curie (pioneer in nuclear physics) and the Monument to the Heroes of the Warsaw Uprising.

Old Town Market Square

Warsaw Barbican 

Marie Curie Birthplace and Museum

Warsaw Uprising

Monument to the Heroes of the Warsaw Uprising

Warsaw is much more than the historic old town --  there is a thriving restaurant scene.  Even in early May, when temperatures at night could reach the mid-50's, people could be seen sitting outside under blankets provided by the restaurant.  Nowy Swiat was a popular area for restaurants like this.

Finally, a few miscellaneous photos from Warsaw: Contemporary art meant to represent a bit of Israel in Poland (a palm tree in the city center), soft serve ice cream was huge and you could always see people (adults, children and babies) walking around eating it, an interesting little car, and our stop in Warsaw would not have been complete if we didn't try some pierogi.

Notice that the baby is also eating an ice cream cone

Next destination: Krakow, Poland

Warsaw, Poland: Part 1 of 2 - Metropolitan Warsaw, Royal Route, and Saxon Garden

Warsaw (known in Polish as Warszawa and pronounced "var-sha-va") was our next stop.  So much larger and more metropolitan than Gdansk, we were greeted by skyscrapers upon exiting the train station.  The Palace of Science and Culture is the tallest building in Poland and was built in 1952 as a gift from the Soviet Union to the people of Poland (it was originally known as the "Joseph Stalin Palace of Science and Culture").

Palace of Science and Culture

View from our Hotel towards to Palace of Science and Culture

Also rich in history, much of the Warsaw Old Town was destroyed during World War II.  Following the war, it was rebuilt to reflect its original condition (e.g., they built buildings slightly crooked or painted them to look old).  Many travel books we read said that this area would be disappointing for a tourist looking for "real" history (actually old buildings), but we were amazed to think of the destruction in this area and the efforts to rebuild the city as it was.  We enjoyed that aspect of the history.

We started our walking tour along what was know as the "Royal Route."  We walked along Nowy Swiat to the Copernicus Monument, then turned down Krakowskie Przedmiescie towards Stare Miasto (Polish for "Old Town").  Before reaching Stare Miasto, we detoured to Pilsudski Square and the Saxon Garden.  Pilsudski Square is the largest public square in Warsaw and contains a cross and plaque to commemorate a Mass given by Pope John Paul II.  Also in Pilsudski Square, near the entry to the Saxon Garden is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  It was built after World War I in the only remaining part of the Saxon Palace originally on this site.  The adjacent Saxon Garden was beautiful.  Filled with gorgeous flowers, ponds, fountains and statues.  We even saw a bride and groom taking pictures there!  We got stuck in our first brief rain shower here in the gardens, so we pulled out our rain coats and huddled under a tree.

Copernicus Monument

Images like the one in the foreground were used for rebuilding this area.

I believe the name of this was, "Man Admiring His Abs" or maybe that's just what we thought it should be.

A Monument to Jozef Pilsudski

The view from Pilsudski Square.  In the distance is the Palace of Science and Culture.

Pilsudski Square

A plaque commemorating Pope John Paul II

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Saxon Garden

After the rain

Part 2 to be posted soon....