Our train from Wroclaw arrived in Warsaw just in time for rush hour. Whew! The Metro Station was very crowded and the day hot, but Larry managed to buy Metro tickets and we were on our way! Once we dropped off our luggage, we walked to Warsaw’s Old Market Square which looks a little like Wroclaw’s Old Town Market Square! The statue in the middle is of a mermaid – an image on Warsaw’s Coat of Arms.
Continuing on from the Old Town is a walk along the pedestrian-friendly Royal Way. Warsaw is a huge, grand city which was almost totally rebuilt after World War II. It has a complicated history – one we hope to learn more about while we’re here.
We’re happy with our choice of Hotel Le Regina as a place to stay – the breakfast however, costs an outrageous $33.00 per person! Instead of breakfast at the hotel we found a very nice cafe nearby. This breakfast (salmon, poached eggs, toast and coffee) cost a much more reasonable price of $7.50!
Today had a great day at the National Museum with works of Polish artists and artifacts from Polish history.
This is an etching of a former Polish King,
and cleverly displayed in a case nearby is regalia, similar to the robe, crown and orb shown in the image above.
The medieval religious art was more graphic than we are used to seeing with many carved pieces including these wooden carved pieces depicting the scene of a nearly life-sized Jesus carrying the cross.
We liked the painting by Wojciech Weiss (1909.)
And the real thing!
Flowers in a Vase – Warsaw Cafe
Yesterday the temps were hot – above 80 degrees and today it’s barely 60 degrees outside! Rain is in the forecast but we hope to explore more of Warsaw tomorrow! It’s a BIG city!