Whats in Warsaw? #13

Getting there

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This piece will be the last country of my Eurotrip. I had been visiting a mate of mine in Sweden while visiting Malmo. I had met this mate while in Australia as he was on exchange. After enjoying two fun filled days with him I decided to take the plane over to Warsaw to visit one of my oldest mates and celebrate my birthday while there. To get to Warsaw from Malmo I highly recommend you take a flight there. Even though its during the peak months of travel season it ends up being quite cheap and very convenient.

I was a bit bummed knowing that this was the last country I would be enjoying with complete freedom of the holidays. Although, the fact that my exchange semester was just around the corner made me quite happy. I was looking forward to it all. The subsequent experience I would have in Poland would also cheer me up quite well as it’s honestly an experience I would recommend to all.

I recommend you check out Wizz air as they are one of the best budget airlines if you’re looking for quick transport over the ‘pond’. As I had only been travelling with a backpack that had weighed under ten kilograms, then weight wasn’t much of an issue. I had planned to spent three nights in Poland while visiting my mate. As he had work on the day I did a bit of exploring while waiting for him to clock off. Wizz air is the budget airlines of the area. Its very similar to Ryanair when it comes to operating strategy. So, if you want a cheap way to get around then do not hesitate to get yourself onto one of their planes. Also, keep on the lookout for any deals that they may be having during your stay. You would be surprised to see the amount you could save flying with them rather than taking a train or any other flight.

Solo travelling

At the time I had arrived early in the morning at Chopin airport. The airport itself was relatively big and I found it very charming that they named it after one of classical music’s greats. Now, if you aren’t aware the Polish use Zloty (pronounced zwoty) as their currency. This translates roughly to 4.2 zloty to a Euro at the time. As you’ll soon find out, Poland is quite an affordable place to visit compared to the higher priced countries of Belgium, Italy, France etc. When you get off your plane I recommend only converting a small amount of your currency to Zloty. Airports and train stations generally offer cutthroat rates so I wouldn’t recommend converting the majority of your cash here. Rather, convert enough for a meal and transportation.

That's what I usually do as a rule of thumb. You’ll later find plenty of currency changers in Warsaw for you to enjoy a killer (which is positive for you) rate. Once you convert what you need you may want to get the cheapest and fastest form of transport to Warsaw, which is the metro. You could grab a coffee from the airport if you’re flight is quite early or need a boost of energy. The airport offers a few cafes and restaurants for you to do this or rather if you wanted a dessert or snack to keep you going. As you pass all these eateries and follow the signs you will be heading underground towards the metrolines. On the way, there are a few metro ticket machines for you to use. The ticket is just under a euro for one way. I was gladly surprised it had only cost as much as it did. It was refreshing to not spend so much money on transportation after my Danish and Swedish experience.

After you buy your ticket you could head to your required trainline. If you’re unsure of how to get around then simply use google maps. Connect to the wifi airport and from there look up where you need to go. If you don't have any 4g then I recommend you take a few screenshots of all the stops you have to get off. While most of what you’ll see will be predominantly in Polish, this won't be much of an issue as getting around is pretty simple.

I would recommend you get off at Warszawa Ochota station. From here you’ll be close to the heart of Warsaw and in the middle of the shopping district of this city. A place worth checking out is the Złote Tarasy.

Złote Tarasy

This shopping mall is located only a five minute walk away from the station. Here, you can buy all sorts of things or enjoy a meal. I recall while I was here that I bought a screen protector and some hair styling powder due to the incredible prices which would have cost much more while in another country. Although, that is to come much later. The first thing I did was beeline it to the foodcourt.

The foodcourt of this shopping centre is located on the top two floors of the mall. From here you can find many different types of food from all over the world. The reason why I had come here for a late brunch is due to my mate’s recommendations of eating a divine Pad thai. This rice-noodles based dish is one I had never tried before. He said that while it isn’t the most original recipe, this dish is heacenly tasting. You can find this dish and many of its prawn, chicken, veggie or beef variants at a brightly coloured take-away shop called Thai Wok located on the top floor of the mall. This eatery with two large pink flowers flanking the shop is quite difficult to miss.

There are many different restaurants to try cuisines from all around the world. Although I didn’t pay much heed as I was single-mindedly hunting for this Pad Thai. For the price I paid and the portion size I got I was very satisfied. There are many tables and seats strewn around this top floor food court to enjoy your meal. You also have multiple vantage points to enjoy a spectacular view of the mall below.

This will afford you great views of the area around you outside. It's also quite impressive when it rains (which it did while I was there) as the water flows down like a river from different angles. It was a surprisingly calming sight to experience while enjoying my incredibly tasting Pad thai. After enjoying a delicious meal I made my way to the ground floor where you can find a large carrefour.

If you’re budget travelling then I would recommend doing a bit of shopping here. As the prices are relatively lower than other European countries then you could splurge a bit. I would recommend buying kielbasa (sausages) of different types if you’re looking for an ‘on the go’ local taste. One thing that you might find interesting is the alcohol section. Here, you will find your usual different selections of alcohol. What you might find unusual is the massive allocation of space dedicated to Vodka.

As the most popular drink of this nation, vodka brands range from quality drinks to incredibly priced bottles. If you’re looking to grab a bottle to take home then I would recommend ‘Chopin vodka’. After shopping I decided to have a look around in Warsaw. I wanted to check out as much as I could before my mate picked me up.

Palace of Culture and Science

The first thing I ended up admiring is the Palace of Culture and Science. This high-rise building is a marvel to look at. It basically looks like a four rocket spaceship. It was made in 1955 while Poland was under Soviet control. It was originally dedicated to Joseph Stalin until the eventual loosening of Soviet control over Poland. The building can be seen quite easily from surrounding areas due to its height. I highly recommend you check this place out. I didn’t have time to check the interior.

I continued making my way to Łazienki Park. My mate had highly recommended that I check out this place due to its historical significance and beauty. I carried my backpack and walked all the way there. If you aren’t keen on doing quite a bit of walking then you have two main options. You could use one of the city bikes. These bikes are strewn all around the city. You will need the Veturilo city bikes app to use them. They make getting around easier and quite faster. However, I was not keen to drag my heavy backpack while cycling. It’s not the healthiest course of action for your back.

Your second option is simply picking up an Uber ride. As previously mentioned, it is relatively cheap in Poland compared to other European countries. Taking an uber, especially if you are travelling with mates is an easy and affordable alternative to walking around. Regardless, I was looking to save as much money as possible so I could spend excessively on more enjoyable activities. I also recommend that you try walking most of the time rather than taking transportation. It’s a great way to have a better feel for the city and what it has to offer. It also allows you to get a better look at the local architecture and even some sights that you probably would have missed if you had been taking the public bus (the reason why I didn’t recommend the bus before is due to the fact that getting to the park involves zigzagging which is not convenient if you’re walking from the Cultural and Sciences building.

Łazienki Park

Regardless, after a long walk I made my way to the Łazienki Park. The area was not too busy although had a decent amount of people. Luckily, I hadn’t faced any large groups of tourists marching around. As I had about an hour and a half to burn I decided to casually walk about and reading all the plaques along the way.

This park is the largest one in Warsaw. It is known for many things including the different animals living within it. From squirrels to peacocks. I was kind of sad I didn’t spot the latter. However, at the time it began to rain so I assumed they headed in for cover. I also found out that they host festivals of different kinds in the area. I wasn’t surprised. The area is very serene and elegant. Perfect for a good time away from the city. Like being thrown into a different and more green world.

Ujazdów Castle

As you walk around you’ll spot different busts of military and regular leaders. The area, as my mate later would explain to me, was used by the King and whomever he brought along simply to walk around and enjoy being away from all the hustle and bustle of politics. At the heart of it all you will be able to spot the Ujazdów Castle. This beautiful structure is not exactly what you would normally imagine when you think of a ‘Castle’. Regardless it is a very elegant structure. Inside, you would have access to quite a few sights within.

At this point it had begun to rain and I was sheltering under the outer roof of the castle. From my spot you could look a couple of hundred meters down the lake. If you want to have a more scenic view of the forest then you could rent the services of a small sightseeing boat. The view is very striking and should not be missed from the castle. After a while of relaxing and shading myself from the summer showers, I then made my way out of the park to catch my mate as the rain subsided. After quite a bit of marching getting from the centre of the large park to the streets I returned back to the Urban world of Warsaw. My mate and I were overjoyed to see each other again and I jumped into his car.

As university students, my mate and I couldn’t really afford to drive around in cars. My mate explained to me that this was a new initiative. It worked similarly to the City bikes. You will need to sign up to whichever one of the companies that is doing this initiative. When you find one of their available cars parked throughout the city (using one of their phone applications), you can scan yourself in and drive off. You’ll have to pay for time and distance of usage. I can’t recall the exact amount although I remember being shocked as to how affordable it was.

The Old city

We drove off to his place where we caught up before the next day began. Early the next morning we decided to head to the Old City of Warsaw. I was keen to learn more about Polish history. We first decided to have a large breakfast. We scoured the internet and found :Bułkę przez Bibułkę. This restaurant offers some very delectable goodies to enjoy, I ended up having a full English breakfast due to the fact that the price was incredibly in my favour for such a large platter. We devoured our meals and sat down for a while defeated.

We then made our way to the Old city. The streets leading towards the main entrance to the Old city are filled with many hip shops, souvenir vendors, cafes and bakeries to check out. I had a massive pastry (they call it a donut, although it's not what we would call a regular donut) completely filled with nutella as a post-breakfast snack. We kept walking down this road until we finally reached the main area.

Zamek Królewski

The main area opens up to a large entrance that allows you a spectacular view on either of your two flanks. As you walk closer to the Old city you will spot the Zamek Królewski (Royal Castle). Walking down the street you will be able to spot the performers. Now, these performers range from people doing magic tricks to musicians. You would even be able to spot people selling their wares. The most notable thing that you will probably see will be the tower standing high in the plaza. This tower is actually more of a monument and right behind it you will be able to see the castle with its red walls. What's interesting about this castle is that it had been destroyed during the second World War. It has gone through quite a bit of renovations to restore it. Although originally this is the heart of the different Polish Kingdoms where the king would have his seat of power. The castle itself was built around the 15th century.

Right in front of it, the tall monument was built to celebrate the king of Poland who had moved the capital from Krakow to Warsaw. The initial area was full of history. I enjoyed reading about it quite a bit as well as my friend was acting as my tour. It's always a good idea to have a local act as your tour guide whether it's a friend or a paid local guide. If no other option is feasible or possible then I would look up on your phone all the different information and pieces of history of the different areas you get to see. You would have a better appreciation of what's going on around you. For example, my mate was telling me a story about one of the Polish Kings whose name I cannot recall. He explained how this medieval King pushed for cultural enrichment and scientific Innovations. Also, that the investments had come straight from the military as in less money was sent to the army and more towards these innovations. He had done this with the promises of the surrounding neighbours that there would be no attacks on his lands. Unfortunately, he was betrayed. It was a very interesting story which helped to explain how European Powers used to view the world back in the day under the monarchies.

Also, while you're in this area don't forget to marvel at the views that you can witness. The castle is built quite high while the surrounding area is built lower. So you're able to see a bit of Warsaw from that area. Before, while travelling around the city you probably would not see many tourists around Warsaw. However, this area had several groups of tourists. Although, it wasn't too bad so you're able to enjoy the history without too many distractions.

There is quite a lot to see in the Old city. From the cobblestone floors to the bars and restaurants to the walls that used to stand tall and proud. There are also a lot of souvenir shops that sell many beautiful pieces. I would recommend to a bit of price comparison. I recall how I had saw a wonderful piece to take home. A copper colored metal eagle about 24 cms high. It was standing tall on a wooden platform that said ‘Polska’ with a crown on its head. The first place I had found it was selling it for a decent price of only 20 Euros. However I make it a rule of thumb to always look at more than one souvenir shop before I buy something. I'm glad that I did that. I found the same souvenir in another shop down the streets for 50% of the original price of the first one. Regardless, along the way you'll find a lot of sweet shops that would be selling ice cream or chocolate waffles. Make sure to take time to admire the architecture around you.

Old market square

One last place I would recommend that you check in the old city is the old Market Square. My friends and I spent quite some time here as he explained to me the history of the place. The markets has been created in the late 13th century in one of the prettiest areas of the city. They would usually hold celebrations of different sorts or they would handle sentences with the Judiciary. The area is very picturesque. You will have many different restaurants to choose from and a lot of them are of high-quality according to my friend. I recall seeing a violinist play in the square. He seemed to be in his late 70s or 80s. He was a master at the violin. A lot of tourists including my mate and I were watching him perform different songs.

If you have taken the same entrance as I have with my mate then you would have entered from the southern part of the market square. If you walk northwards you will be able to spot the bordering castle walls. Right before you reach the walls there is a really nice waffle shop which I highly recommend you try out. I had their creamy Nutella and strawberries waffle. Along the way you will also find a bar and a couple of restaurants. As you keep walking forward you'll be able to see the walls and from here there will be a few artists selling their wares. My mate's explains that this is the usual spot where they sell artworks of different types.

(Source:https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g274856-d274989-i53996660-Old_Town_Market_Square-Warsaw_Mazovia_Province_Central_Poland.html)

Dinner

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It was a shame that I did not have room for the artwork or else I would have bought one and taken it with me. After a bit more exploring we decided to have dinner. At this point it had been getting dark and the restaurants, along with the street lights, of the beautiful old city were coming to life. It really felt as though I traveled back in time several hundred years to medieval Europe. When my mate and I were much younger I would visit his house and his mum would make us a Polish dish called pierogi. Pierogi is a type of polish dumpling which you could fit different types of meat or vegetables or even desserts like strawberry or raspberry jam.

I was very excited as I was aware that portion sizes in Poland were very good. We went nearby to a chain that specialises in Polish cuisine called Zapiecek Polskie Pierogarnie. Lucky for us, we did not have to wait too long to get a seat. As it was a popular chain there were quite a few people during dinner time. However after ten minutes you were able to get in. I ended up getting the pork pierogi with a Polish style soup that was very thick and flavoursome.

One of my biggest regrets was not ordering the dessert pierogi. I recommend you try this venue out as the prices are reasonable and the portions are quite large. By the end of this we decided to double back and return all the way to where we got the doughnut in the streets right before the Old city. The reason for this is because during the night when all the lights are lit in the Old City it seems as though you are in the different world. Keep in mind that even though it's the summer, Poland is normally a cold country. So I would recommend packing a light jacket even during a hot summer's day in your backpack, at the very least.

The street that leads to the castle area is one of many connected streets that leads to the heart of the nightlife in Warsaw. If you're looking to go to a bar or a Shisha lounge then this is the right place to go. Be careful with roaming employees of clubs. They will try to entice you with drink deals to go to their clubs although there are usually hidden costs. My friend explains that they often prey on tourists and that they are also quite persistent.

Warsaw uprising Museum

Another thing I would recommend checking out are the museums in Warsaw. Poland is full of history especially due to its location between many different mediaeval European powers such as Germany (Then Prussia) to the west and the Tsar Russian Empire to the east. However, the best museum I have ever been to and will remain one of my all time favorites due to my love for learning about World War 2 is the Warsaw uprising Museum.

A trip to Warsaw will not be complete without checking out this museum. I will not going to detail due to the fact that it is very spectacular and I would not like to spoil any of it. The only thing I will say is that at the very end of the museum there will be a a short video which will help explain more about World War 2 and Poland under wretched conditions. After a couple of hours wasting time, we decided to head back home as it was getting quite late. We took the most convenient mode of transport, which was the metro.

Aioli

The very next day we decided to sleep in and have an amazing brunch. We explored more of Warsaw. We used the city bikes to get around. We then stopped by areas where Polish resistance fighters had fought skirmishes against the Nazis. I would recommend checking out the Warsaw uprising monument. It's a very sobering piece and it is very well made. The detail is very exquisite. After exploring a couple more areas with historical significance we then decided to have lunch at a place called Aioli.

This place usually gets quite full during lunch time. So you may have to do reservation. Luckily we winged it and were able to find a spot right next to the window. There are many options for you to try. There were some Polish oriented meals that looked really good. Although, my mate recommended that I try out their burgers. You can get quite a lot of meat in the burgers. I recall how I choose to have a double beef burger that had somewhere between 280 grams or perhaps 340 grams of meat. Regardless it was a massive meal which came with a side of fries. The burger had a hint of blue cheese and quite a few different ingredients which were all written in Polish and I did not recognise. I had just trusted my friend in ordering this. It was honestly one of the best burgers I've ever tried in my life. I highly recommend you try out Aioli if you're looking for some really tasty food. You will be able to get massive portions for actually affordable prices.

After having our meal and taking a mini siesta at the restaurant, we then decided to spend the majority of the daylight wandering around different streets and looking at more monuments. Tonight was when I was going to experience a proper night out in Warsaw. That day has been my birthday and as far as I was concerned the food part of the celebration was amazing. Later on, when the sun began to set we returned back to his place and got dressed. When we showered and were dressed we headed back to the city to meet my friends girlfriend and go out for a few cocktails and a shisha.

Night out

One thing you might notice is that there is quite a bit of food influence from countries in the Middle East. We ended up having a falafel for dinner right before the cocktails and it was very delicious. I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was so I do recommend that if you're looking for a large meal to get you going for the night then you should grab a falafel or a kebab from one of the doner shops. One thing that was interesting about tonight was that Uber was having a special deal. One lucky person would be able to order a helicopter for a single trip. Unfortunately we were too slow on this promotion and somebody else claimed this much anticipated trip.

At this point of the day it was quite cool. While it was not as cold as it was in Sweden, Poland is still a chilly country. I realise how popular shisha lounges were in Poland. We ended up going to a shisha lounge that was nearby. The price was pretty good and they were surprisingly large amount of locals smoking there.

Something I found quite interesting was the fact that there was a fully stocked bar ready at your disposal with alcohols of all types. Vodka was the most prominent of all the alcohols with a wide variety to try from. It was crazy to see all the different types up there. It seemed as though the shisha lounge was in reality a supermarket for alcohol. I remarked this to my friend and he simply shrugged. It was perfectly normal for him to have such a selection of alcohol at a shisha lounge. Back in Australia it is illegal in (at least South Australia, I do not recall the laws for the other states) Adelaide to sell alcohol to patrons in a shisha lounge. Perhaps they thought that the mixture of the two is detrimental to your health. Another theory would be is that they are simply trying to cut down the amount of alcohol people consume in Australia. So along with taxes they also try to narrow the amount of places you could go to grab a few beers or a spirit.

My mate was interested when I told him this but not surprised. Australia is known for its strict rules and regulations on more than one topic. He then decided to share with us several shots of alcohol which we took along with our shisha. I was quickly reminded how much I disliked mixing smoking with drinking as it made me quite ill. I recommend caution doing both (or either one or the other) as you could get quite ill and that would not exactly contribute to a great experience in a new country. Also, it probably is not a good idea to get sick in a foreign country as you may fall pretty ill and have to go to the hospital. The price of a service there could be exorbitant. So, I recommend you get sufficient health insurance when travelling around or at the very least use common sense and not overdo it. There are quite a few news stories throughout the year that talk about wild and drunk tourists ending up in pretty ugly situations. So, think it thoroughly. I was with my mate so I was sure I would be in good hands as he was a local. I also was not keen to drink more than what was served as it did not drastically improve my experience here.

After that we decided to go to a bar nearby for a few drinks. As we walked through the different streets I noticed how many different types of bars with unique themes there were. As the night progressed I also realised how exciting Warsaw’s nightlife really was.

We ended up going to a cocktail bar. I can't recall the name of the place but I do recall that the cocktails were considered luxurious but the pricing was very reasonable. I highly recommend you splurge while in Poland as you're able to find good quality food and services for relatively low prices.

At the end of the trip I had to return to France which was my original point of departure. Getting from Poland to France by train is a very expensive proposition. The only way to get there through train without going way over your budget is to take the Interrail pass which would allow you unlimited transport on certain days. For example, travelling from Warsaw to Paris would take about a day and a half. It would have cost me more than 160 euros just to make the trip. However, I used one of the 7 days of unlimited transport on my Global interrail pass. Make sure to buy seat reservations travelling distances using your interrail pass.

Even with the luxury of the interrail pass it was quite a pain to travel that trip. It took about 30 or so hours to get from one side to the other due to layovers and delays. I recall how the trains I was taking was almost an hour late on average. I also had to take multiple trains which meant my sleeping schedule was all over the place. If you plan to take this arduous journey then you should be prepared. Bring a sufficient amount of food and water for the trip. I recommend taking healthy food as you do not want to feel ill or guilty from eating unhealthily and sitting about doing nothing all day. Rather, get some rich tasting snacks which you could have between trips to raise your mood. If you’re keen to stay on a diet plan even on holidays the nI recommend jerky. Not only is chewy and takes time to eat which makes it a good snack to enjoy without it disappearing in your mouth in one go it's also low in calories. It's quite salty which means you may have to drink more water but it far outweighs the cons with the pros. I would recommend getting some teriyaki beef. Or Barbecue beef. Another option is to buy sausages from places you’ll be stopping by. For example, I had to stop by Berlin for an hour. That was plenty of time to go to a local supermarket and grab some sausages (which tasted divine).

Also, keep a close eye on your stuff as there is the possibility of thieves on the train. Even the people you are travelling with on the booth could snatch your stuff while you’re asleep. A common issue is that they get off at earlier stops. So, they would grab something while you’re asleep and get off a stop sooner than yours and you would be none-the-wiser. This is especially a problem if you are travelling around with your laptop (which I highly recommend you don’t) So, make sure to stay on your toes and keep on the lookout for suspicious behaviour. Its true that you are on holidays and would rather not worry about such things. However, some people would like to take advantage of that carefree nature. Luckily, I had not gotten any of my things stolen although I have heard quite a few stories where people have had their possessions stolen right under their noses and have heard enough friendly warnings about such behaviour. However, do not let that dampen your mood during your trip or give you a negative view of people around you.

I would recommend that you keep your stuff in a hard to reach spot from others. Meaning, that they would have to disturb you if they were to attempt grabbing your things. If you have your laptop then I recommend keeping it with you at all times rather than the overhead locker. Sometimes, people would walk in the doors while everyone is asleep (if the door is not kept locked) and grab the closest bags they could get their hands on. So, I also recommend that you book a seat far from the entrance to the cabin. Yes, it would be a pain maneuvering yourself to the toilet but it's also worth not getting your stuff stolen. It's an enthusiasm dampener if you have your stuff stolen when it could have easily been avoided.

Summing it up

Overall, I enjoyed Poland quite well. it is a country that is very thick with history and has quite a bit to offer. I only managed to see Warsaw during my visit although Krakow is another highly recommended city to visit with its sombering auschwitz camp and local history. The food has been very enjoyable in this country and the people were welcoming. Don’t forget that if you’re planning to get around then you have quite a few different forms of transport that would take you around for quite cheap.

I would also like to remind readers to be a bit cautious for tourist hunters. Besides that, I felt quite safe in Poland. This here also concludes my Eurotrip. At this time, it was the 25th of August and I had spent three and a half weeks travelling around Europe. It was honestly an adventure of a lifetime and something I would not have been able to do if I was not doing an Erasmus in France at the time. My most important piece of advice is to be adventurous and try different things. You never know what new stories you’ll make. Whether this is done through meeting new people, trying new foods or simply having new experiences. Make sure to take advantage and travel whenever you can. Always make sure to try out the local cuisine and also check out the culture that is on offer. Hopefully this blog has inspired you to do some travelling in one of these many countries I had visited and beyond. Happy Adventuring!

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