It's hard to believe that we've already been in Warsaw for five weeks, but October has been a beautiful time to explore this young, vibrant city and settle in for the next nine months. We've met a lot of friendly people, seen some amazing sights, and eaten some incredible food, all helping to make Warsaw feel like home.
Nasze mieszkanie (our apartment) is in Stara Ochota, about a kilometer to the Southwest of the city center. It's in a pleasant neighborhood near the Technical University, with tons of shops, restaurants, and transportation options just a few feet away.
Centrum (the city center) is marked by several tall skyscrapers - a rare thing in Europe - and the Soviet era Pałac Kultury i Nauki (Palace of Culture and Science), the city's most prominent landmark and a harsh reminder of Stalin's former influence. Instead of tearing it down after 1989 however, the citizens of Warsaw decided to reduce its prominence by building their own skyline around it.
Most of Bryan's research is done at the Uniwersytet Warszawski (University of Warsaw), on a beautiful campus on ulica Krakowskie Przedmieście - the main street of the Royal Route leading to the Zamek Królewski (Royal Castle). These 19th-century gates lead off the street into the oldest part of the university campus.
At the end of ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście opens the Plac Zamkowy (Castle Square) and the entrance to the Stare Miasto (Old Town). This medieval and Renaissance-era section of Warsaw was completely destroyed during WWII but was meticulously rebuilt after the war, creating the only UNESCO Heritage Site in the world that is a complete reconstruction. Today it abounds in museums, shops, cafes, and restaurants, as well as beautiful reconstructions of residential, commercial, and military buildings, including the Archikatedra świętego Jana (Archcathedral of St. John), seen here above the first row of houses.
Very near to the Stare Miasto, we found the only English-language parish in Warsaw, located here at the Kościół świętego Pawła (Church of St. Paul), a beautifully reconstructed Baroque church. Because it's the only English-language Mass offered in the city, our fellow parishioners come from all over the world and form a passionate, active, and eclectic congregation.
One of our favorite things to explore has been Warsaw's numerous parks, all of which are beautifully assembled and quite extensive. Our favorite so far has been Park Łazienkowski (Royal Baths Park), the former grounds of the royal summer palaces. Here is the North Pond of the Pałac Łazienkowski (Baths Palace/Palace on the Water), with the Palace in the background. It's been beautiful to watch the parks' personalities change as we move through the fall season.
Do widzenia (Goodbye) for now, and thanks so much for reading! We promise a lot more to come as we explore our new hometown and the numerous other beautiful cities Poland has to offer!
