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The last train journey
of this trip from Kraków to Warsaw and a city
tour
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We were pleased that
the man with his van turned up to collect our luggage today,
unlike last time when we had to take our luggage with us
on the train. It made travelling a lot easier. Rather than
rely on getting food on the train, we were advised to buy
something from the Carrefour supermarket at Kraków
station. |
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Our tour manager had
spent time rotating our seating arrangements so that everybody
got a turn to have a window seat, however when our train
arrived, it was not the one he was expecting and the seating
configuration was completely different. |
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There were no separate
compartments - the configuration was much more like the
trains we were used to back home and we got window seats,
which wa lucky. Furthermore, we weren't expecting to be
served a meal which was a nice surprise. |
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During the journey, Geoff
managed to get a few more train pictures to add to his growing
collection. |
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We arrived in Warsaw
on schedule just after 12 noon, 2 hours and 50 minutes after
leaving Kraków. |
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A local guide met us
at the station. It was rather hot and Bruce had managed
to leave his cap on the train. |
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Fortunately
it was only a short walk to our hotel,
the Polonia Palace, which looked very elegant and exceptionally
well located. We later found out that it opened for business
in 1913 and somehow remained intact during the Second World
War. See Polonia
Palace Hotel's history (from its own website).
Our luggage arrived in a van a few minutes after us, but
as our rooms weren't yet ready, it had to be put into storage
temporarily. Our afternoon tour was only due to begin at
2:00pm, so we had just over an hour to relax and/or have
a snack beforehand. |
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Bruce took the opportunity
to seek out a replacement cap. He didn't have far to walk.
He discovered a branch of Uniqlo near the hotel which was
ideal, although it did take a little time to find the cap
department in the vast store. In the end, he was happy with
his purchase. |
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A coach arrived at 2:00pm
and we set off on the tour. The first stop was at the huge
Lazienki
Park. |
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Our guide was animated
and very knowledgeable, but as ever, we couldn't take in
all the information that she was giving us, but we do remember
thinking at the time that it was all relevant and interesting.
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We walked towards the
Market Square, passing ... |
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... and this interesting
looking building opposite it. |
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The Simonetti Tenement House is
a historic building located in the Old Town Market
Square.
A translation of the text on
the corner of the house is as follows:-
"The Old Town Market Square
A monument to national culture and the revolutionary
struggles of the Warsaw people, destroyed in the
ruins by the fascist occupiers in 1944.
The Government of the People's Republic of Poland
rebuilt it from the ruins and restored it to the
nation in the years 1951–1953."
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This bell was cast in
the 17th century and was supposed to hang in the bell tower
in Jaroslaw, but it cracked and was never used. Is has been
in this square since 1972. According to legend, it grants
wishes, but you have to make some effort and perform a ritual
beforehand. Several students were hanging around working
out what the ritual was. |
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The Copper-Roof Palace,
built in the eighteenth century, is now a branch of the
Royal Castle Museum. |
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After a very interesting
tour, it was back to the hotel to check in to our very nice
room. A bit later, we met the group again for dinner in
the hotel's restaurant. |
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Geoff chose the tradtional
Polish soup as his starter. After the meal, we met a few
other members of the group in the hotel's bar for a drink
and a chat before going to bed. |
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