Warsaw Poland [ By Maciej Majewski ] 
Poland is a truly unique nation. Situated in the true heart of Europe, it was the strongest empire in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries, only to be partitioned by Russia, Prussia, and Austria-Hungary in the 19th century. After World War I, Poland was independent for merely 21 years before Nazi occupation. In the World War II period, it was one of the few occupied nations to not surrender and continue the fight both in exile and at home via the Polish Home Army. At the end of the conflict, all but deserted by her Western Allies, Poland was forced into 40 years of Communist rule. Now, in the 21st century, Poland is again a quickly developing and independent nation. This little history lesson is important because when visiting Warsaw, Poland's capital, one should always keep it in the back of the mind. Walking around the city, you have to remember that you are seeing something completely destroyed and then rebuilt from the ground up. Some parts of the city were rebuilt according to original pre-war plans, whereas others were completely redone, with widened streets and even entire patches of the city taken out in order to contain new buildings. As a result, the combination of architecture ranging from the 15th to 19th century and social realist architecture makes Warsaw one of the most visually interesting cities in Europe, a mix of old and new like no other. Most of the architectural gems, such as the Old Town, are contained within the area known as mid-town. It's a great thing to just walk around and explore. Many buildings have information panels on the history of each individual structure. There are also plenty of plaques and memorials related to World War II and the famous Warsaw Uprising of 1944. There are several large and beautiful parks around the midtown area, the most amazing one being Lazienki, or the Royal Baths. As far as museums go, the Modern Art Gallery and the Warsaw Uprising Museum are a must for every visitor. When the night comes around, it's time to explore the rich nightlife Warsaw offers. Clubs and bars are basically all over the place in every shape or form. Whether you want to just sit down and have a drink, listen to some live jazz, go to a pub for a few pints, or dance the night away, there is something for you. Additionally, everything is open every single night of the week. Food also comes in every shape or form, from traditional Polish dining to 24 hour Kebab Bars, the latter which I definitely recommend during late nights out on the town. It's also a good idea to try the Communist era "milk bars" which offer simple but filling meals for the equivalent of $3 to $5. One way or another, the key is to just explore and try whatever you feel like at the moment, because it's hard to go wrong. Almost everybody knows English, so communication is not really a thing to worry about. Warsaw is a city that should be knocked off the list of every Western traveler. Its rich history and overall uniqueness are something that cannot be matched by most other European capitals. The key is to just always be active and walk around, because finding something to do or see just sort of comes naturally here. O autorze. Maciej Majewski urodził sie w Stanach Zjednoczonych, ale mieszkał na stale w Polsce. Pochodząc z lotniczej rodziny, od dziecka interesował sie samolotami i postanowił podjąć próbę spełnienia marzenia, aby zostać pilotem liniowym. W szkole międzynarodowej w Warszawie ukończył dyplom IB i w tej chwili jest studentem drugiego roku na Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University w Daytona Beach na Florydzie. Pisze i fotografuje dla gazety szkolnej i jest aktywny w sprawach polonijnych na uczelni. top  | ||