During a recent visit to Warsaw, I said to my friend living there that I felt it was a city ‘dusting itself off’, to which he replied that that was a fair summation.

What makes the city so interesting is that aggressively punctuated stages of its recent history are still evident. There are some (though very few) remains of old pre-war Warsaw. Gorgeous colourful architecture crowned with domes and spires. Many of these building however are post-war reconstructions based on old photographs. Then there are lots of reminders of Russian communist rule. Grey, concrete apartments reminiscent of those 1970’s movies of espionage. But rising from all this is an abundance of optimistic construction work in every direction. Glass towers smashing through the skyline. Naturally Starbucks, McDonalds and Hard Rock Café have wasted no time putting their flags in.

As always, it is the overwhelming hospitality of the people that made this journey so memorable.

Here are some glimpses of what I saw: 

Reflection of Palace of Science and Culture



Heroes of the Warsaw Uprising. One of many war memorials around Warsaw


Mermaid in Rynek Starego Miasta


Palace of Science and Culture. A gift from Soviet Russia, 1955.



Inevitable developements.


 
















Modern glass architecture contrasts the old pockmarked buildings






Tomb of the Unknown Soldier






Janusz Korczak. Fought for childrens rights until he
voluntarily went to the death camps with the children
from his orphanage in 1942. All perished in Treblinka.

 
This derelict building in the area of the old Jewish
ghetto has large photographs of its past residents
around its walls.


 
Covert rendezvous?



Palace of Science and Culture by night.