Posted on 03/08/2006 8:50:13 AM PST by lizol
Warsaw looks back, ahead
Polish city proves vibrant, affordable
By Beth D'Addono, Globe Correspondent | March 8, 2006
WARSAW -- When Danuta Mieloch wants an upscale, energetic getaway from her busy Rescue Rittenhouse spa business in Philadelphia, she doesn't jet off to London or Paris. She heads to Warsaw, the capital of her native Poland. ''It's the most happening place in Eastern Europe, and Americans don't really know about it," said Mieloch, who came to America 15 years ago. ''The bars and restaurants are fabulous, the shopping is great, and the city is very young and vibrant. And best of all, for Americans, it's still very affordable."
At first glance, there's nothing particularly picturesque about Warsaw, a city of 1.6 million residents located near the center of Poland. But the fact that Warsaw is growing and changing quickly, as evidenced by a gaggle of cranes dominating the downtown skyline, is evidence of the indomitable Polish spirit. The country's most modern city bears a tragic past. The city's darkest days came during the World War II Nazi occupation, when its Jewish and Polish citizens were slaughtered, an estimated 800,000 residents in all, almost two out of every three Varsovians. The final indignity was the city's razing by the Germans and the Russians, leaving it virtually uninhabitable, as depicted in the chilling final scene of the movie ''The Pianist." Put another way, 70 years ago, Warsaw was a thriving European capital. Sixty years ago, it was a pile of rubble. What stands today, and what the city promises to become, is worth seeing.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
This is a most cool thread.
You know this joke?
2 drunk tramps are sitting on stairs of Palace of Culture and Science.
Suddenly they see a motoglider approaching the building, and striking it.
After having seen that - one tramp says to another - "You see Jozek, bloody hell, those terrorists here are just like the whole country".
'Stacja Warszawa' by Lady Pank is a great song too.
I actually remembered when their video played here on MTV years ago.
Wow, great!
And who would even think, that most of it was also completely destroyed after WW2?
Lizol, what a super-super-super posting!!!
Probably the most mispronounced Polish city of all, most pronounce it "Row-Claw".
But at least it's easier than Szczecin. (ugggh!)
Or Pszczyna :-)))
Wow, you sure posted a whole album...
I can name most of the buildings... but not all:
1.) Plac Trzech Krzyzy
2.) "
3.) Old Town viewd from Wislastrada
4.) Sheraton Hotel
5.) Station in Praga
6.) By the Marriott
7.) Some building in Old Town (NBP?)
8.) Royal Palace
9.) "
10.) Column of Zygmunt
11.) Another view of the old Rynek, column of Zygmunt, Royal Palace
12.) "
13.) "
14.) Old Town Square
15.) "
16.) "
17.) "
18.) Barbakan (Barbican)
19.) "
20.) "
21.) "
22.) Old Town backstreet
23.) Old Town
24.) "
25.) "
26.) "
27.) "
28.) Highway under Old Town
29.) View of Old Town from the Vistula
30.) Belwedere (Belvedere - Old Presidential Palace)
31.) Bristol Hotel
32.) Warsaw University
33.) New Presidential Palace
34.) Ratusz
35.) Old building on Tamka
36.) Gates to Presidential Palace
37.) Presidential Palace
38.) Parliament
39.) Opera House
40.) Church
41.) Orthodox Church in Praga center
42.) Lazienki Park theater
43.) Bath House in Lazienki Park
44.) " winter view
45.) Belvedere restaurant building in Lazienki Park
46.) Wilanów
47.) Lazienki Park
48.) Statue of Frederick Chopin in Lazienki Park
Wow! I'm impressed?
Are you a Pole?
No. I'm not a Pole. I'm an American.
(ale mieszkam w warszawie :^)
Dunkin' Donuts is gone. Didn't survive.
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