Warsaw

          After arriving in Warsaw on Saturday afternoon, we dropped our bags at the hotel and considered our options. Conscious of what little time we had in this city, we couldn't waste the afternoon. So we decided to head out into the Old Town and get a feel for Warsaw. The day before our trip, we had watched the movie "The Pianist" in preparation. The movie provided a bit of background to the city and the specific events throughout WWII that took place there. We learned that Warsaw had a Jewish population of 350,000 pre WWII, but by the end of 1945 it had been reduced to 11,500. Along with the Jewish population, the city of Warsaw had also suffered. So many bombs had rained down on the city, that it became the most destroyed city in world history. On a guided tour throughout the city, were shown picture after picture of comparisons from pre WWII destruction, post WWII destruction, and then the reconstructed city in person. It amazed me how closely they had replicated the destroyed buildings. Churches, castles and apartments had been put back together again brick by brick to once again resemble the original.

Aside from the constant fact that "yes, that was rebuilt after being destroyed", Old Town, Warsaw was quite pretty. Particularly in Old Town Market Square, the renewed buildings were vibrant and patterned. It did not disappoint me and I enjoyed the European feel.

Elena