Seven days in Poland
Nov 1st, 2007, 07:48 PM
#22
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Thanks, all for the encouragement. I'm going to try to finsih up maybe tomorrow, but birthday celebrations are continuing, (the more the merrier, at my age)
So glad a lot more people are interested in Poland. I haven't been so interested in a country in a long time. I have loved France and Italy and Ireland and Portugal for a long, long time, but this is a new and unexpected infatuation ( a mature love affair, I guess)
So glad a lot more people are interested in Poland. I haven't been so interested in a country in a long time. I have loved France and Italy and Ireland and Portugal for a long, long time, but this is a new and unexpected infatuation ( a mature love affair, I guess)
Nov 4th, 2007, 11:00 AM
#23
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This is the fourth section of my Poland Trip Report:
CZECHTOCHOWA
I hope this spelling is correct.
First, let me say, I am not a fan of religious pilgrimage sites. I find it depressing that people give up a lot to go because they hope for cures. I do not, however, wish to denigrate anyone's belief.
Here goes:
As we left Krakow on the bus, our dear tour director, Beata, said: "Krakow is crying because you are leaving." (A really sweet way to pass off a little rain. Probably been used before but I liked it)
There were many surprising things about this pilgrimage site. I was not surprised to see gigantic parking lots, but I was surprised to see a beautiful slim graceful Cathedral spire, of what looked like the spire of a stunning 18th Century Congregational church in Litchfield, Conn!!
We were led directly into this basilica, and to the chapel of the Black Madonna, where a mass was being celebrated to a standing room only audience of pilgrims. I have to say, that it was all conducted in a most quiet and courteous way, and I was very impressed by the quiet devotion that I saw, as well as the way the whole place is organized.
Now that I have been there, I would not hesitate to suggest that tourists go to the place, so revered by the Poles, 98% of whom are Catholic. It is very much a part of the culture of this higly Catholic country.
We lunched, along with hundreds of pilgrims, in one of the many restaurants down town that cater to the busloads of people who come every day. (Ours was a fairly light day, we were told.)
WARSAW
Our bus motored on to Warsaw, where we arrived in the very late afternoon, and checked in to the Intercontinental Hotel, right in the center of the city, near the train station, a huge new shopping center, and most of all, across the street from the Cultural Center, a terminally ugly high rise building which was a gift of Russia to Poland. (Think University of Moscow) The Poles say that the best view of Warsaw is from the top of the Cultural Center, because you can't see the Cultural Center from there!!
The Intercontinental Hotel occupies 20 or so of the highest floors in a brand new building. Our 25th floor room was extremely lovely, perfectly outfitted, and featured a staggering view over at least one-half of Warsaw.
All around us we saw new skyscrapers, a testament to the new economic advances in Warsaw.
I liked the location of the Interconental very much, and the service was first class in all ways. Breakfasts were buffet style, with every known breakfast food, and a few unknown choices. There is a marvelous health club way up on the 42nd and 43rd floors,with 360 degree views, and all of the best state of the art equipment you could possibly imagine - also a charming little cafe, with free apples and lemon water and orange water and newspapers and CNN. The pool looked mighty inviting, but of course I left the bathing suit at home.
CZECHTOCHOWA
I hope this spelling is correct.
First, let me say, I am not a fan of religious pilgrimage sites. I find it depressing that people give up a lot to go because they hope for cures. I do not, however, wish to denigrate anyone's belief.
Here goes:
As we left Krakow on the bus, our dear tour director, Beata, said: "Krakow is crying because you are leaving." (A really sweet way to pass off a little rain. Probably been used before but I liked it)
There were many surprising things about this pilgrimage site. I was not surprised to see gigantic parking lots, but I was surprised to see a beautiful slim graceful Cathedral spire, of what looked like the spire of a stunning 18th Century Congregational church in Litchfield, Conn!!
We were led directly into this basilica, and to the chapel of the Black Madonna, where a mass was being celebrated to a standing room only audience of pilgrims. I have to say, that it was all conducted in a most quiet and courteous way, and I was very impressed by the quiet devotion that I saw, as well as the way the whole place is organized.
Now that I have been there, I would not hesitate to suggest that tourists go to the place, so revered by the Poles, 98% of whom are Catholic. It is very much a part of the culture of this higly Catholic country.
We lunched, along with hundreds of pilgrims, in one of the many restaurants down town that cater to the busloads of people who come every day. (Ours was a fairly light day, we were told.)
WARSAW
Our bus motored on to Warsaw, where we arrived in the very late afternoon, and checked in to the Intercontinental Hotel, right in the center of the city, near the train station, a huge new shopping center, and most of all, across the street from the Cultural Center, a terminally ugly high rise building which was a gift of Russia to Poland. (Think University of Moscow) The Poles say that the best view of Warsaw is from the top of the Cultural Center, because you can't see the Cultural Center from there!!
The Intercontinental Hotel occupies 20 or so of the highest floors in a brand new building. Our 25th floor room was extremely lovely, perfectly outfitted, and featured a staggering view over at least one-half of Warsaw.
All around us we saw new skyscrapers, a testament to the new economic advances in Warsaw.
I liked the location of the Interconental very much, and the service was first class in all ways. Breakfasts were buffet style, with every known breakfast food, and a few unknown choices. There is a marvelous health club way up on the 42nd and 43rd floors,with 360 degree views, and all of the best state of the art equipment you could possibly imagine - also a charming little cafe, with free apples and lemon water and orange water and newspapers and CNN. The pool looked mighty inviting, but of course I left the bathing suit at home.
Nov 4th, 2007, 02:47 PM
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Thanks so much for taking the time to post about your trip to Poland. I think the University sponsored program sounded great- a good combination of history, culture, and experts to guide you, then time to do your own thing. You've inspired me to start planning a trip there....
Nov 9th, 2007, 08:17 AM
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Ok, all those who are STILL reading - for the benefit of POLAND, I'll finish my trip report. (That is to say, that this country deserves many more visitors,in fact, we hope to go back with Dutch friends in the spring.)
WARSAW, (cont.)We were fortunate to meet with a young Polish student who had spent a year in Syracuse studying, and a much older gentleman, who was a survivor of the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. It was mesmerizing to hear him reminisce, even tho he spoke only Polish. The young man was shy but charming, and gave us a glimpse of what Poland could become.
Of course, one of the highlights of WARSAW was the Old Town, "the newest medieval city in the world" (it really did look a bit like a movie set, since its all been rebuilt from old photos, etc.) where we had a really good meal at a place just off the square, called TARTUFFE, where we had a delicious beef strogonoff and REALLY good white wine.
That evening in the pouring rain (it only rained for 20 minutes the whole time I was in Poland, but this had to be it, when I put on my best shoes.) we walked thru Lazienski Park past the Chopin Monument to a lovely palace for a thoroughly enjoyable Chopin piano concert, by the head of the Music Dept. of Warsaw Univ.
On our last day, we drove out of the city to WILANOW, pronounced "veelanov" called the Versailles of Poland. An elegant sprawling palace, this was fun, even though it was another tour through another castle, because we had the chance to see lovely gardens there, plus a view of the "suburbs" on the way. Even better, our bus got "stuck" in traffic on the way back, for, guess what, a MARATHON!
Lunch at CARPE DIEM (near the hotel) was quite good stuffed rolled chicken, roasted potatoes, cole slaw, and apple cake.
In the afternoon we went to the new WARSAW UPRISING MUSEUM. This museum is all the rage, and is certainly done with all the most contemporary ways of exhibiting, it is really full of interactive stuff, appeals to children, but is rather confusing. That is not to say one should not go there. I think it is one of the MUSTS.
Our final meal was at the FRENCH BRASSERIE , in an office tower, between the Intercontinental Hotel and the new Golden Circle (or Golden something) shopping center, but I can't remember an exact address. Too bad, cuz it was a pretty good meal - that is to say that everything but the beef roulandes themselves was excellent, lots of veggies served, which I love, and a frozen chocolate mousse for dessert, and lots of good wine.
My impressions of Poland were excellent all the way, with the possible exception of food, about which I have talked earlier. I found it charming, much of it beautiful, enigmatic in its history, sad yet full of promise.
There is a lot more to see in Warsaw, and I would want to go to the mountains at Zakopane, as well as to Gdansk and Torun, and especially out in to the countryside more.
For further information re hotels:
The Sheraton is in a very upmarket part of the city, (you can tell by all the shops around it, like Escada) in the embassy district.
There is a new Hilton, which is near the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising, that those who love contemporary architecture would really dig.
And finally, there is a new Courtyard By Marriott right at Warsaw Airport, always good to know.
WARSAW, (cont.)We were fortunate to meet with a young Polish student who had spent a year in Syracuse studying, and a much older gentleman, who was a survivor of the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. It was mesmerizing to hear him reminisce, even tho he spoke only Polish. The young man was shy but charming, and gave us a glimpse of what Poland could become.
Of course, one of the highlights of WARSAW was the Old Town, "the newest medieval city in the world" (it really did look a bit like a movie set, since its all been rebuilt from old photos, etc.) where we had a really good meal at a place just off the square, called TARTUFFE, where we had a delicious beef strogonoff and REALLY good white wine.
That evening in the pouring rain (it only rained for 20 minutes the whole time I was in Poland, but this had to be it, when I put on my best shoes.) we walked thru Lazienski Park past the Chopin Monument to a lovely palace for a thoroughly enjoyable Chopin piano concert, by the head of the Music Dept. of Warsaw Univ.
On our last day, we drove out of the city to WILANOW, pronounced "veelanov" called the Versailles of Poland. An elegant sprawling palace, this was fun, even though it was another tour through another castle, because we had the chance to see lovely gardens there, plus a view of the "suburbs" on the way. Even better, our bus got "stuck" in traffic on the way back, for, guess what, a MARATHON!
Lunch at CARPE DIEM (near the hotel) was quite good stuffed rolled chicken, roasted potatoes, cole slaw, and apple cake.
In the afternoon we went to the new WARSAW UPRISING MUSEUM. This museum is all the rage, and is certainly done with all the most contemporary ways of exhibiting, it is really full of interactive stuff, appeals to children, but is rather confusing. That is not to say one should not go there. I think it is one of the MUSTS.
Our final meal was at the FRENCH BRASSERIE , in an office tower, between the Intercontinental Hotel and the new Golden Circle (or Golden something) shopping center, but I can't remember an exact address. Too bad, cuz it was a pretty good meal - that is to say that everything but the beef roulandes themselves was excellent, lots of veggies served, which I love, and a frozen chocolate mousse for dessert, and lots of good wine.
My impressions of Poland were excellent all the way, with the possible exception of food, about which I have talked earlier. I found it charming, much of it beautiful, enigmatic in its history, sad yet full of promise.
There is a lot more to see in Warsaw, and I would want to go to the mountains at Zakopane, as well as to Gdansk and Torun, and especially out in to the countryside more.
For further information re hotels:
The Sheraton is in a very upmarket part of the city, (you can tell by all the shops around it, like Escada) in the embassy district.
There is a new Hilton, which is near the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising, that those who love contemporary architecture would really dig.
And finally, there is a new Courtyard By Marriott right at Warsaw Airport, always good to know.
Nov 11th, 2007, 03:10 PM
#28
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Betsy, I'm so glad you pointed me to your report! I never noticed it before. It looks like you didn't click on "Poland" when you originally posted it; I wonder if you can get it filed there now, so that when people are searching Poland, it will come right up.
You busted me on my hotel -- not sure it's the most expensive, in Krakow, but yes, it was more than many.... To me, the location, the pool and the rooftop terrace of the Copernicus were really worth it. And, compared to many other destinations, luxury hotels are a relative bargain!
The two museums I really regret not making it to were the one in Krakow with the DaVinci and the Uprising in Warsaw, but it was hard to fit everything in as it was!
The "In Your Pocket" guides are all available online, at, surprisingly enough, inyourpocket.com
They have a list of cities to choose from.
Great report, of course, Taconic Traveler!
You busted me on my hotel -- not sure it's the most expensive, in Krakow, but yes, it was more than many.... To me, the location, the pool and the rooftop terrace of the Copernicus were really worth it. And, compared to many other destinations, luxury hotels are a relative bargain!
The two museums I really regret not making it to were the one in Krakow with the DaVinci and the Uprising in Warsaw, but it was hard to fit everything in as it was!
The "In Your Pocket" guides are all available online, at, surprisingly enough, inyourpocket.com
They have a list of cities to choose from. Great report, of course, Taconic Traveler!
Nov 11th, 2007, 05:45 PM
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Skatedancer: Thanks for the kind words. Not intending to bust you, but to inform people that staying in a Relais & Chateaux in places like Poland is a real travel "coup." Something one should look for, why not??? You have good taste, or at least you have similar taste to mine, and if I go back to Krakow with DH, he's most likely want to stop at Hotel Copernicus. (though I must say, Andel's Hotel was superduper.)
Nov 12th, 2007, 12:08 AM
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Though I'm still somewhat confused, I thank you all for trying to help. Eventually I'll figure it out. just want to get info to people who are traveling to Poland, as it hasn't been as popular as it should be.
Lucky you, FIDEL, that you're going in a couple of weeks.
I realize, in reviewing my overlong report, that I didn't go in to much detail about Krakow's sites - and I just want to say there is much to see and do, easily found, once there, and most things are accessible on site. (e.g. not like the Scavi tour in Rome.) Enjoy.
Lucky you, FIDEL, that you're going in a couple of weeks.
I realize, in reviewing my overlong report, that I didn't go in to much detail about Krakow's sites - and I just want to say there is much to see and do, easily found, once there, and most things are accessible on site. (e.g. not like the Scavi tour in Rome.) Enjoy.
