I was on a much larger trip to the Ukraine and managed to get a couple of days in Poland. Arrived in Warsaw in the late evening and after a night in a nice hotel, had a half-day for a tour of Warsaw before heading to Krakow. Booked a guide who drove an old blue 1970s Fiat (pretty cool).
Started in some parks with really nice palace grounds (lots of autumn trees, morning sunlight).
Drove through Old Town. Streets are mostly cobblestone. Buildings have that classic European look – yellow, white, lots of detailed windows.
Went by Marie Curie’s museum (she’s from here). Weird to see a place where a famous scientist grew up.
Downtown is mix of old and new. That big Communist-era Palace of Culture is massive (looks like something from a different planet). Modern buildings around it. Apparently Stalin gifted the palace to Poland (people have mixed feelings about it).
Took a modern train to Krakow. These new Polish trains are really sleek (blue and white, very clean). Whole transit system seems efficient.
Interesting day. Warsaw feels like a city that’s been through a lot but keeps moving forward. Lots of history everywhere you look.
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