Warsaw

Thursday, July 2

Had breakfast next to the hotel at a bakery/sandwich shop. Got 3 éclairs, 2 coffees & a tea for 32zł + 5.80zł for 2 OJ. The water at the bakery was horrible (tap water? was served) so we bought 3 bottles of water (6zł) at the nearby sidewalk kiosk with 2 cold drink machines. When the purchase was made at the kiosk, the salesperson inside pushed a button and the drink machines outside dispensed the purchased items!
Bought a bag of cherries at a fruit stand for 5.20zł. Met our relatives/hosts and walked to Łazienki Royal Park, a beautiful area with a regal feel to it. Lots of trees & paths with spotless, manicured gardens, a lake, statues, peacocks and a palace – the summer palace of King Stanislaw August Poniatowski, 18th century. The park suffered damage during the war & was rebuilt soon after. The palace remained intact because the Nazis occupied it during the war, and although there were plans to destroy it and holes were drilled to place explosives, they never got around to detonating them. Our hosts treated us to coffees & milkshakes at Trou Madame Café in the park.
Went to a great Boleslawiec Polish pottery store not very far away where I purchased a few items, and a couple of small pieces of hand-cut crystal. Just to give you an idea: I bought 2 cup/saucer sets, a teapot, 2 eggcups, 2 tiny dishes – for teabag or salt - all for 105.80zł ($32.65), and a crystal shot glass & a crystal aperitif/communion glass for 24.85zł ($7.67). A lot cheaper than anywhere else I’ve seen, and very beautiful! I would have liked to buy more, except that I had a cruise to go on & everything had to travel with me. (Next time I go there, I’m bringing an empty suitcase!) We returned to Old Town & visited the gothic St. John’s Cathedral. I remember that there were no prayer candles as in other Catholic churches, but furniture that looks like desks where the people can pray. Stopped next door at the church store to purchase a few items. The WC nearby cost 2zł and had clean toilets with paper! Also soap & water, but no towels. We asked & got them from the attendant upon leaving. We went to our relatives’ home, where we ate a delicious Polish dinner cooked perfectly by my young cousin, a theatre graduate & now working actress. They have no microwave, considered unhealthy by many Poles. Drank bottled water, as the people don’t usually drink the tap water here.