East of Eastern Europe. Poland

Poland

Arriving to Poland I had no idea what to expect. I have been all over Europe many times, but now that I know what I know,  I wonder why Poland was never included as part of the popular Eastern European cities like Prague and Budapest. So much

Art Deco with a dash of Gustav Klimt

culture that as Barbara from  the POLIN museum said " Warsaw is the new Berlin." Now I'm not sure I would go that far yet but it definitely has potential. The check in the the Bristol hotel was the first shocker. A beautiful hotel from 1901 that served as a palace a home a military housing and with such beauty that Michael Jackson even toured the hotel to add to his repertoire. So much history that it has its own book written about it. Mix of Art Deco and renaissance with now all modern touches and a crowd  of models and bourgeois posting away pics on Instagram of them partying on the roof top.

To think of all the mega deals that have been signed in this historical cafe

Pillar Bar @ Bristol

Now the city of Warsaw was a bit of a shock.  Pretty much the whole historical part of the city was bombed by the Nazis. If no one told you, you would never think that they pretty much reconstructed the whole city universal studios style and did an amazing job.. We unfortunatly got  a rainy cold day but that didn't stop us from breathing in the history.

Singing in the Rain!

First stop was the Royal Castle with its great rooms and magnificent art collection. Don't ask me why. But I'm obsessed with floors and there was not 1 room in the palace where the rooms had the same parquet. So much detail and with paintings of  Rembrandt  and Canaletto, you get the point.

Floor Obsessed

How's that for a Rembrandt

Copernicus

Thanks to paintings from the past the city was rebuilt

Afterwards  we went for the work part to see the boutique hotel Le Regina As with the whole city it was also bombed down except for the first floor so all with the past and the future ( I see Berlin theme here) the hotel was reconstructed and I loved it. With all small boutique hotels you get their quirkiness but truly a lovely hotel and with an underground pool you now have two great options in Warsaw

Later that evening we had the honor of having the museum director Barbara give us a guided tour of the newly opened Polin museum. This masterpiece of a museum designed by world famous architect xx of Finland is a site on its own made of glass and steel.  Super interactive where you see adults playing with the displays intended for children. The museum starts from the beginning of the history of Jewish people in Poland.  Not being Jewish myself it wasn't so much about the religion. It's more  about the first settlements of people. It takes you in detail of how this great city came to be with all its hardships and catastrophe, through the holocaust to the present vibrant city. Unfortunately they wiped out most of the Jewish population and those who survived left. It went through many dark years. But the people of Warsaw, known as Jars, reconstructed their own city. They are referred to as jars because they would be sent to work with their lunch in jars as to it spend money and use it for the reconstruction paid brick by brick. But happy to say that with all the new possibilities the population is slowly growing back full of All faiths.

POLIN Musuem

Helsinki-based Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects collaborated with Polish firm Kuryłowicz & Associates to build The Museum of the History of Polish Jews.

The next day we were off to Kraków by train, comfortable and efficient way of travel, as always. On arrival we went of to take the royal route of the city with our guide Barbara. I have to say one thing about Exeter that puts them in a whole different ball game as operators. It's their guides! Knowing that they are all personally interviewed and tested by Exeter makes you understand the value of these walking encyclopedias. Barbara is one to never forget and to see the city with out her is like watching a documentary on mute. That being said we started off to Wawel castle. The story begins when the people find a great hill surrounded by water filled with fish and fertile soil. The king starts building his castle in the 8thcentury. They later discover a dragon was living in the cave below and every night would pillage the city and eat it's beautiful woman. So the king declared whom ever killed this dragon would take his crown and his daughter. The strong willed shoe maker named Krak fed the evil dragon a sheep filled with sulfur. The dragon feeling the heat inside drank as much water as he could till he finally exploded and voila the town became "of krak" - Kraków.

Arriving to the church built in 4 different spires representing the eras, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and baroque in which time has passed. Large palace filled with tapestries of gold and silk from Belgium. Inside is one of the 5 Da Vinci painting left-The lady with the Ermine. Story goes that she was the Jewish mistress of Ludovico Sforza whose nickname was Ermin, so to paint her with an ermine in her arms was the tribute to include his patron.  Must also mention that the courtyard of the palace was built for the Italian princess as a wedding gift and covered in beautiful frescoes. The Nazis loved this palace so much they took it up as their home and luckily enough did not destroy it. 

Continuing the route we ended up in Ryak which is the largest medieval square eastern  Europe. Beautifully filled with more churches history restaurants people. Very vibrant city mixing 8th century food markets and antique horse drawn carriages. We came back the next 2 nights to this square as it is so beautiful.

Largest Medieval Square of Europa

Vintage Carriage Rides n the city

Baked smoked Cheese. I call it RND

Last stop before heading back to the Sheraton was the church of st Francis with an amazing Art Deco window lit up beautifully I the church right in front of Saint pope john Paul II s home. Very Gothic inside with a touch of Renaissance. Hidden behind some secret doors we saw the Most beautiful nativity made of paper mâché. The town of Kraków is famous for these beauties that encapsulates the cities history of Mongols dragons and take overs and the focus of celebrating Jesus' birth. Truly a beautiful stop not to miss.

Gem of Krakow!

Outside the fort wall of Kraków lies the Jewish town of Kazimierz. Going back to the history of WWII we again see the impact of hatred on others. Luckily not all destroyed but the old synagogue of the 16th century now serves as a museum for the Jewish faith  explaining what each ritual is for and what each instrument is used for. Sort of Jewish for dummies, like me. Directly across was the other Remuh Synagogue where they discovered after detailed restoration the zodiac on the ceiling. This is quite shocking as this part of their kaballah faith was no longer really recognized. Behind this active synagogue is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries of Europe left intact after the war.

Oldest Cemetary luckily still intact after WWII

Zodiac discovered under grey plastered walls

Jewish Marriage

Nearby is the famous Schindler Factory. Arriving you see the pictures of all those he saved from the raids by their employment there. You can see how Spielberg's film was a big deal here as the pictures of the set are everywhere and in it built a great museum showing the life as was before and after the war. Now it's the hip part of the city. 

After the load of history was time for a private lesson in Poland's national dish- Pierogi, This local restaurant was decorated like a typical mountain cabin, so cute! Aprons on we started to work kneading the flour and eggs and then stuffing them with cheeses, meats and onions.

After being stuffed ourselves we set off for some work passing my favorite church of St Peter& Paul to the Copernicus hotel.

St Peter & Pauls Cathedral

A Relais & Chateaux from the 14th century. Boutique and modern touches with a beautiful roof top bar. President George Bush stayed here although this whole 200 secret service entourage didn't fit into their 29 rooms. Nearby we saw the Stary hotel which wasn't so much to my liking except for their public areas. Great restaurant, pool and rooftop though

Rooftop view from Copernicus Hotel

Rooftop View from Stary Hotel

Very cool pool @ Copernicus

The day to experiencing Auschwitz Birkenau arrived. It's a touchy place where I've always toiled with the idea of going. Clients would ask me for my opinion and not having been personally I couldn't give an honest opinion. Again, not being Jewish but an avid history buff I felt I should see this horrid part of history because it is from our past that we can build a better future. All I can say is don't  go. It's such a horrible place that it sucks the life out of you. Seeing the crematoriums and stock piles of hair and children's clothing is not anything anyone could bear seeing with out it affecting your faith in humanity. It's a savage place that I could never suggest some one to experience. That being said, my heart goes to all those who dealt with this inferno and seeing it with my own eyes I just hope that something like this ever happens again. To think this had been going on for 4 years before the USA finally stepped in. This can not happen again....EVER! All in all I'm glad I went just to know that I never want to go back. 

I was so thankful that our next stop was full of love and family- Christmas Ornaments! This company has been around for decades and who knew that in this small polish town some of the best hand made ornaments are being made year round. After trying to do one myself, even after the grass vodka, I have the utmost respect for these artisans. Here they are only 40 zotkies ($12) but back home these babies retail for $50.

Exeter's Extraordinary Experience Exeter

So proud of my little torero

I have a great magination #FridaKahlo

4:30pm and the city is dark. The gang went out to one of the great italian restaurants of the city but my heart was too heavy from all the atrocities even after the Christmas ornaments to be merry. Glass of red and delightful conversation with Armanda and June, was ready for bed at 8! :)

Today en route to Vienna!!