Warsaw
Warszawa
Namiestnikowski Palace
July 26, 2004
My dad and I had a layover in Warsaw before heading to St. Petersburg tomorrow morning.
Our hotel, the Hotel Bristol is ridiculously nice; primarily a business hotel so
the weekend rates are fairly cheap.
The short day consisted of little more than seeing the big sites such as Old Town,
New Town, Namiestnikowski Palace, and the highlight, Lawienki Park for the noon
playing of Chopin in the Park. The pianist played under the statue of Chopin as
old couples sat on the nearby park benches listening and the paths were filled with
young couples walking hand in hand.
Zygmunt Statue
September 11, 2004
We arrived in Warsaw at about noon and immediately got started at the Rynek in Old
Town. Warsaw's Old Town was completely destroyed during WWII, but reconstructed
from pictures and memories of the square so it looks quite authentic, however as
you inspect any building you notice it's been recently re-built. Nearby New
Town is similar to Old Town in that it's picturesque, but less than authentic.
Our next stop was at the monument to the Warsaw uprising, which took place just
prior to the Soviet's arrival to Warsaw during WWII. The Poles rose up to liberate
their city from the Nazis, unfortunately, the Soviets allowed them to do this, as
they waited on the east side of the river as many Poles were slaughtered and the
city destroyed.
For dinner we went out to a Mexican restaurant, which is one reason I typically
avoid organized tours; tours tend to take you to places that they want to go, to
places that they know the owner, or to places which they feel will suit everyone's
tastes, instead of any place authentic, but less neutral. Authentic Polish food
was successfully avoided and I couldn't do anything about it, so ordered a couple
tacos.
Stock market in Warsaw
September 12, 2004
The day started with the Jewish ghetto tour. The area is now a neighborhood and
the only remains of the ghetto are a couple monuments. The rest of the day was spent
on the east side of the river and walking around the local neighborhoods there.
Warsaw Uprising Monument
May 30, 2008
I had a business meeting in Warsaw at the Marriott hotel, which has become somewhat
of a city landmark due to its size and location. Business in Poland is similar to
conducting business anywhere in that personal connections and relationships are
more important than anything else.
Our hosts were gracious and every dinner was at a new Polish restaurant giving me
the opportunity to have my favorites Polish dishes like Placki po Wegerensku and
perogi, plus additional dishes I've never tried like pork knuckle... which wasn't
as good as the prior dishes. Another benefit of going to these restaurants is that
most of them were in Old Town, so we got out each night.
St. John's in Warsaw
May 29, 2009
Another business meeting in Warsaw. This time I needed to escape and just live like
the people, which I missed on my last trip. The meetings are at the Marriott again
and business is simply business, however I want to feel submerged and there I don't.
I went down into the underpass between the hotel and the central train station where
there are multiple shops and incredible activity due to the train station. Here
I found a great kebab, a Polish candy bar I like and other small snacks you can't
find in the US.
The meeting as a whole was no different from my past meeting, and I again got out
of the business district and spent half a day in Lazienki Park to relax and people
watch.
Church in Warsaw
October 22, 2009
I met a young woman named Barbara, who was very lively, energetic, and motivated.
She didn't seem to care if everyone followed her or if she trekked alone; she's
a determined woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it.
She also seems to know what she doesn't want and in our first conversation she
said "don't even get me started on Polish men." I kept my lips sealed
as I thought to myself "don't even get me started on Polish women."
The Poles are some of the friendliest people on this planet, however while living
in Krakow I learned stepping across the line from friend to partner is not easily
accomplished for people like me. I didn't even know this woman, however from
her comment and personality I quickly felt I could relate.
I was told when I arrived in Poland that Polish women make excellent wives, however
if you're looking for a partner the task becomes more difficult. My personality
simply doesn't seem to mesh extraordinarily well with the Polish culture in
their attitude towards marriage, each individual's role, and most importantly
the life which comes with the relationship.
To me a relationship should be about two people improving the other's life,
not taking it from them. I'm too independent to see another as my "other
half," but rather view a relationship in which both parties mutually improve
the life of the other while both make the other happier than either could be alone.
Everywhere in this world it seems relationships too often are based on dependency
and need; before people even begin to understand themselves, they give themselves
to another, stealing something from one's own while giving the unknown to another.
While living in Krakow I found every relationship of mine was based on dominant-submissive
roles and there was almost a need to be dependent on the other.
Old Town
October 23, 2009
Today, I again talked to Basia, as I was now calling her. Her and a couple other
doctors invited me and an American doctor, Dr. Earl out for dinner after my meeting
and so we made our way to an Italian restaurant. After parking, Basia said "that's
where we're going" as she pointed to Pizza Hut. While in India last summer
my Indian host insisted we go to McDonald's because it's "America's
favorite," so I feared the worse and this time restrained myself from laughing
at what I hoped was a joke. Fortunately, she was being sarcastic and we found a
little Italian restaurant around the corner.
At dinner I had this odd feeling that overcame me and I couldn't get over: how
is it that I feel more at home in Warsaw than I do in my real home of Milwaukee,
in which, at times I feel like little more than a foreigner.
The only answer I could come up with was that a place is only as much or as little
as the people there can offer. History, architecture, food, etc. simply don't
matter when you're surrounded by people you can relate to. I can be anywhere
in the world, but if my family is there I feel at home and comfortable... home is
not a place, but a feeling, an emotion. Here I felt comfortable, perhaps that's
because I've spent a lot of time in Warsaw, or perhaps part of it was due to
the company.
Culture dictates so much of one's thoughts, beliefs, actions, and personality,
however attitude, upbringing, experience, and perspective always trump that ingrained
culture if you let them. Where a person is from is not nearly as important as that
person's attitude and at dinner I felt like I was surrounded by people who's
lives were dictated by their will and attitude and this relaxed me as our food and
conversation seemed unforced as time quickly passed.
Reconstructed Old Town
October 24, 2009
I severely lack the ability to freely and openly express myself. After meeting people
like Basia I want to better myself in this area. Basia seems to be very happy and
carries little baggage around with her since she can easily express what she wants,
needs, or fears... leaving everything on the table so she can move on and smile
at the end of the day. While there must be people she doesn't like, she has
the ability to move on, finding others who aren't perfect, however in whom she
can find the good and the positive traits that make her seemingly so optimistic.
It seems Basia doesn't only seek out those who are complimentary to herself
or only those who can relate to her every interest or hobby, but instead finds a
way to relate to anyone and everyone. She can find good in anyone it seems; she
can find a mutual level of understanding on which she can communicate. While she
lives in the present, she never seems to take her eye off of the future.
As we parted ways we kissed each other on the right cheek as is custom for friends
in Poland who are setting off on different paths. In three days her optimism and
positive attitude encouraged me to only see the good in others and to try
to fully live in the present. A young woman I met as Barbara, today I left as Basinka.
Sejm in Warsaw
October 25, 2009
At times I feel like I spend too much time in airports... and hence too much time
to think.
It's always easier arriving than leaving a place. Arriving may inject fear of
the unknown, however it's easy to allow your excitement and sense of adventure
to overcome that fear, making a journey into the unknown an adventure... and a journey
to the familiar a return to all that was left behind and cannot be obtained elsewhere.
Leaving a place gives you the sense that what you are leaving may be lost forever,
a part of you gone or left behind, and you a new person, a different person, a new
person returning to the familiar and unchanged.
With each trip I hope I grow for the better, yet only sometimes succeed. If you
allow those people and places around you to transform you, they will.
Eternal Flame