Old Town
Trip Start
Oct 14, 2009
1
2
Trip End
Nov 07, 2009
Warsaw, Poland
Thursday, October 15, 2009
It's 3:51 AM on Friday morning and we are still jetlagged (there is a six hour time difference here), so I thought that I would invest my insomnia in updating my blog on my iPhone: hurrah for free wireless Internet!
After taking the plane from Ottawa to Toronto, we ended up leaving two hours later than expected due to a delay in the arrrival of our plane (on top of our three hour layover!). Kasia and her uncle had fun sorting through and placing the 125 pictures we had printed for him that morning in a new photo album... Stefan had come all the way from Poland in order to attend Maggie (Kasia's sister) and our weddings in September and October respectively. The flight was OK on a plane by the Polish airline Lot; disapointingly, no pierogis were served during our flight! :p Upon arriving in Warsaw (Warsawa in Polish), we were warmly greeted by Peter (one of Kasia's cousins) and his faimly who had been waiting for us since 8:00 AM! We arrived around 12:00... Stefan left with Peter's parents for Belchatow (Kasia's home town) and Peter very kindly drove us to our apartment in the Old Town; a UNESCO World Heritage Site which was rebuilt after being destroyed in WWII. The narrow streets, surrounding protective medieval walls and beautifully crafted historical buildings remind us of Old Quebec back home. We will post pictures soon; my iPhone cannnot upload pictures to TravelPod.com
The owner of our apartment is very kind and she showed us ournew home: the Polish Chamber. It is a very romanticly decorated apartment made to resemble the late 1800s. We have a small kitchen, digital cable TV, full washroom, free wireless Internet and three small yet unique restaurants on the lower floors of our building.
Following a short nap in our new home, we ventured out into the cold -they had their first snow the day before our arrival! - and walked around the old town to identify some key resources for our stay ad well as absorb the atmosphere: tourism office, pharmacy, ATMs, restaurants... We got some local currency, Zlote (pronounced zwo-te) and bought ourselves some very tasty pierogis (a sample of six or so different kinds of fresh homemade pierogis) in a cute and very touristy Polish restaurant. The prices are more expensive than outside the capital but reasonable nonetheless. One zlote is about 36 cents Canadian and a good coffee is about 10 zlote including tax. Depending on the food, there is either 22% or 7% tax which is already included in menu prices. Tips are up to 10% and volountary. The pierogis and service were great and we topped off the evening with a cappucino and tiramisu at the Italian restaurant below our apartment... They were authentic!
That's all for now, I'm feeling sleepy again...
