At the end of WWII Warsaw was a pile of rubble. The war ended on September 2, 1945 and the people of Warsaw started reconstruction on September 3.
The photos above show a 200 year old painting and a less than 50 year old building. Strolling through Warsaw you get the feeling of a very old, medieval town. Not so. It’s all been rebuilt with as exacting detail as possible, from paintings and first-person recollections.
During our afternoon free time I discovered a ceramic shop. I couldn’t help myself–I’m now toting around a beautiful Polish ceramic bowl!
So is the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen Danish? No, she’s actually the twin sister of the polish mermaid. Here’s the legend of Syrena https://syrenadancers.com/about/legend-of-the-warsaw-mermaid/
(She’s behind us)
Our lunch was iced coffee and doughnuts but Don needed more!
We had a post-chat with our guide about the WHY of the Polish reputation, butt of jokes, no respect. With a shrug of her shoulders, Sabrina told us the country has been continually invaded. They’ve never won a war. Children are taught to be loyal to Poland. Life is hard, yet the sense of family and community is vital, strong, and at the heart of Polish life.
They are a strong people. Unwavering. Brave. Extraordinarily hard-working.
Should I admit to having mentally dismissed Poland in the past as a place I had no need to visit? Ok, guilty.
Travel changes people, and this short visit had shifted me totally!
Having grown up in the PA coal region, there would be many Polish and other Eastern European descendants there, including me. You are right about the hard-working people. They are very proud of their heritage. I’m so glad you’re enjoying your travel in this part of the world. So interesting for me-I had been to Eastern Europe when it was communist. Nice to see the changes. Safe travels!
Jean, all the redheads were in Poland!!