Warsaw

We arrived in Warsaw in one piece, which seemed like an achievement after turning left at a busy junction of two main dual carriageways where the traffic lights weren't working and the traffic was going wherever it pleased.  Our campsite this time was called "Wok" and was in a residential street.  The site was the smallest, we almost drove straight past it as it looked like someone's back garden, and nicest that we encountered.  It was only three stars but it was clean and very friendly (they even gave us a complimentary bottle of water for our onwards journey).  What is more, they did actually have the internet access that was shown in the DCC camping guide.  Unfortunately, it was only available through a Windows 98 machine that kept crashing and refused to recognise our flash drive - the blog updates would have to wait.

Barbican city defences

Warsaw itself was surprising.  We had prepared ourselves for a bit of a post communist concrete jungle (based on the warnings in the Rough Guide) but actually found a charismatic centre rich in architecture and history.  Admittedly it was a kind of pseudo-history as the castle, cathedral and much of the "old" and "new" town had been demolished by the Nazis and later rebuilt in the 1950s, a replica of how it would have been in the 18th century, but the character was still there.  The plaster work on the exterior of some of the buidings was crafted into intricate painted designs and was very attractive.  There were lots of impressive monuments, interesting sun dials and stautes and nice parks to sit in.  We seemed to fit quite a lot into our two days in the centre, including a visit to a ghetto street in the Jewish quarter that was almost unchanged since the war and a ride on the local tourist mini-train around the town. 

Barbican city defences

Impressively, Gavin consented to use the public transport system for two consecutive days - the most I have ever known him use on holiday!!!

Warsaw Palace

Palace Square

Palace of Culture and Science

Tourist tours on old post wagon

Tram

Decorative plasterwork on walls in old town