Warszawa – jag hade inga förväntningar alls…Sönderbombat under andra världskriget – återuppbyggt och pietetsfullt restaurerat. Det skulle bli regn nästan hela resan…läste vi.
Warsaw – I didn’t know what to expect, really. My memories from school of a black and polluted country and my colourful memories from Gdansk last October. This time we were expecting rain as well.
Warszawa nämns i skrift första gången kring 1300, och namnet betyder närmst ”plats” eller ”mark”.
Warsaw is mentioned for the first time in texts from the year 1300 something. The name meaning ”place” or ”land”.
Det första som mötte oss när vi gick av tåget var en jättelik rest från kommunisttiden – Kulturpalatset. Och strax intill ligger det här – Zlote Tarasy (De gyllene terrasserna), ett toppmodernt shoppingcenter som öppnade 2007.
Stepping out of the train, the first thing we were met by was this old communist building, The Palace of Culture. Some 50 metres, just over the road from this giant, is a brand new shopping centre located – Zlote Tarasy (The Golden Terraces), opened in 2007.
Överallt skyskrapor – gärna i glas.
Everywhere around there were new skyscrapers built and under construction. Much glass.
Arbetena pågick dag och natt och man kunde se stora framsteg varje morgon.
They were working day and night, and every morning the results were clearly visible.
Aldrig har jag sett så många hundar och hundägare…minst en hund per rastare i alla fall.
Never have I seen so many dog owners – everyone seemed to have at least two dogs. I always feel a bit sorry for dogs having to live in big cities.
Vi siktade på Gamla Stan, som är pietetsfullt återuppbyggd efter kriget och det förödande Warszawaupproret 1944. Nazisterna dödade 250 000 civila och sedan kunde Stalin bara gå in med Röda Armén. Huvudstaden blev så förstörd att man övervägde att flytta den till Lodz, men polackerna återuppbyggde sin stad till dess forna glans.
We headed for The Old Town, reverentially rebuilt in the old way from before the war. WWII and the uprising of the Jews against the Nazis in 1944, resulted in the killing of 250 000 civilians and the city was almost totally brought into ruins. The Polish people even thought of moving the capital to Lodz, but decided to rebuild their city to its former glory.
Lite påminner den om Gdansk, men charmen är inte riktigt densamma. Warszawa är större och ligger heller inte vid vattnet.
In colours and style it is reminding of Gdansk, but Gdansk is smaller and also situated by the water.
Slottstorget med den 22 meter höga kolonnen med Sigismund och så Kungliga slottet.
Castle Square with the 22 meter high column with Sigismund on top. To the right, the Royal castle.
Färger, färger –
Colours, colours –
– och den gamla stadsmuren.
– and the old City Wall.
Vår Anita Ekberg fick också vara med på ett hörn…
Our own Anita Ekberg was here too…
Kanoniatorget med kyrkklockan liggande i mittten.
Kanonia Square with the church bell in the middle.
Gamla Marknadstorget är Gamla Stans hjärta – totalt sönderbombat…
The Old Market Square is the heart of The Old Town – and was totally devastated during the war…
…och återuppbyggt!
…but rebuilt!
Gamla Marknadstorget med Warszawas symbol, flodsirénen Sawa. Legenden berättar att fiskaren Warz fiskade i floden Wisla, när sirenen Sawa lockade honom till sig. De gifte sig – och staden fick så sitt namn: Warszawa.
The symbol of Warsaw, the river siren Sawa, is standing here. Legend has it that a fisherman, named Warz, was fishing in the river Wisla when he was lured into the sphere of Sawa – and they got married. Hence the name Warsaw!
Runt torget ligger skönt bemålade hus, och en del slitna, berömda fasader.
Around the square there are many famous houses.
Postkontoret påminner mest om en kyrka eller ett kloster. Nunnan som uträttade ärenden förstärkte känslan.
The post office was reminding of a nunnery or a chapel – and we also met this nun inside.
Vi gick vidare till den vackra katedralen, som är ärkebiskopssäte. Många berömda polacker ligger begravda här. Norrmannen Thorwaldsen har varit med i utsmyckningen, men vi fastnade för några impressionistiska verk av Håkon Gullvåg.
The beautiful cathedral for the archbishop, is a burial place for many famous Polish men. The Norwegian Thorwaldsen has contributed to its beauty, but we admired the impressionistic art of Håkon Gullvåg as well.
Ute på gatan igen blev vi snart sugna på fika. Många fina caféer finns med lockande kakor – och interiör.
Now we felt like a cup of coffee and something to eat…Many lovely cafés and designs here…
Leya 
For a moment, I thought ”But I’ve seen this post !” – and then I remembered it was not Warsaw, but Gdansk ! So there must be a great similarity, as you say. Well, at least SOME …
This is fascinating stuff, Ann Christine: I would never have thought Warsaw could move so well with the times.
Love it ! – thanks very much ! 🙂
They have much in common, yes. Polish people are very good at restoring former glory.
And they have had need to be, eh ?
No doubt
Fantastic photos, Ann Christine. I would love to visit Warsaw. the architecture and the lovely colours of the buildings are so wonderful to see. The new Market Square is gorgeous. Yes, those poor city dogs don’t look very happy at all.
I’ll post some more on Warsaw when this working week is finished. I
was really positively surprised by the city.
What a great post Ann-Christine, the old with the new, but it’s the history in this short post that is so intriguing. A place that I’ve never been too, but presented with an opportunity I would go. I can see why the city dogs would bother you ~ where is the freedom to roam and smell the earth.
Freedom is important, for dogs as well☺
I enjoyed this tour. My impression of Poland is that it is bleak so it is good to see the color and vibrancy of some of the areas. I, too, feel sorry for big dogs trapped in inner-city apartments. There are some breeds suited for living in the city but the big herding and farm dogs surely must be miserable on some level.
Let’s hope they are not left alone all day…
Very intersting !
Very nice photos !
Ciao ciao
Max
Thank you, Max!
Poland is on my list of ‘must go’….with Warsaw, Wroclaw and Kraków as earmarked destinations. Your post has intensified my wish to go! 😀
Those are on my list too!
Ah! Great minds 😀
What a wonderful visit you had. There seems to be a lovely harmony of old and new.
I think so. Let’s see what you say about my next stroll!
Vad mycket det verkar finnas att se där. Har aldrig tänkt på Warsawa som ett tänkbart resmål för min del, kanske jag ska omvärdera den tanken? Härliga bilder!
Staden har fina träd också, och vi funderar på att åka när det grönskar igen!
Men oj så vackert! Så många fina hus att fotografera, jag gillar slitna fasader med mycket krusiduller och kupoltak m.m.
Bilden på glasfasaden som böljar var helt underbar.