Poland – Warsaw

Continuing on with the bike trip through Warsaw we encountered these folks dressed to stimulate interest in the history of the Polish uprising of 1944.

Krzysztof said there is an old legend saying there were actually two mermaids in history that traveled together with one stopping in Copenhagen the other in Warsaw.

The door of St. John’s Archcathedral in the old town tells the story of the creation of the mermaid in pictures.

Marie Curie,  the well know recipient of the Nobel Prize for discovering radium and its    application in medicine,  was Polish but because she was a woman was not allowed to study in Poland so therefore moved to France to pursue her education.

Krzysztof indicated that this street is used in many films as it has no signage or any other features to designate that it is in Warsaw.

Famous Polish poet, Adam Mickiewicz, Krzysztof  said every school students has to memorize his poetry which he can still recite.

The first coffee shop in Warsaw maintains its original Italian name.

Church where Pope John Paul II first met youth and began World Youth Day

Even though this Polish dignitary was not Roman, the statue was not allowed to show any designation that portrayed Polish nationalism so he was represented as a Roman.

This famous Warsaw hotel was not destroyed because the Nazis used it.

 

University where Chopin lived with his family when his father taught French.  Here he was exposed to all of the musical talent of the day.

Building where he lived with his family on the campus

This is the church where Chopin’s  heart is buried. Even though he never returned to Poland his sister brought his heart back to this church.

 

The street where this church is was destroyed during the war but thanks to paintings like the one below,  buildings could be rebuild as they once were.

In the square near the church a celebration for the birthday of the Europen Union was being held.  The union has helped Poland grow and they intern will help others as they further develop.

 

The Royal Castle facing the river Vistula.

A bronze model of the castle grounds just outside the gate.

We noticed the gas mask on this bike when we returned.