Warsaw, Poland

                During the summer of 2021, I moved from Kabul, Afghanistan to Warsaw, Poland. My family and I had already visited Poland one time prior in 2008 when we were taking a road trip from The Netherlands (Holland). We drove through Germany, Poland, and then into the Czech Republic. While in Poland we visited the Krakow area. The drive was quite memorable. I distinctly remember the condition of the highway. It was concrete and in horrible condition. I will write more about Krakow later.

                Warsaw is a genuinely wonderful place to visit and live. The people are extremely friendly. It has an older Eastern European charm. You can see the old Soviet architecture in the area. Because of the devastation that Warsaw sustained during the Second World War, I would estimate that at least 95% of the buildings here are new. Unlike other popular destinations throughout Poland.

                I really enjoy the river walk along the “Wistula” River (BTW – the “W” in Polish has a sound of a “V” in English). If you Google Wistula, “Vistula” will show up. Anyway, Spring is here, and I think everyone in the city was out walking along the river. I was surprised to see so many people out welcoming spring, but it was still enjoyable. Sunshine and a slight breeze – the weather was awesome! This area also has great bike paths, but I just enjoy walking. Got to get 10,000 steps daily. It is my exercise regimen. The first picture on the link is about 15 minutes from my house and has changed recently. There is a significant construction project taking place. The city is building a walking bridge across the Wistula to connect the area of Praga to connect the eastern and western sides of the river. I think they will finish this bridge in the next few months. The eastern shore has beaches and primitive trails in contrast to the western side which is concrete and developed.

                A couple of weeks ago I visited “Kampinos” National Park which is situated on the western outskirts of Warsaw. The trail system in the park is well-maintained and accessible to all ages. The trails are very wide and flat. I have not encountered any difficult areas, yet. It was more like a walk than a hike. However, it was quiet. Birds are starting to make their presence known and this was nice to hear after a long winter. This park does host a variety of wildlife. However, thus far I have only seen squirrels, birds, and a snake. Still a bit early. I did notice areas that had been disturbed by something. Feral pigs that area in the area. The park is a truly short drive from downtown, 15-20 minutes. Well worth the trip.

                Since growing up through the ’70s and ’80s visiting an arcade was a highlight. Well, I found a place in Warsaw to bring these memories back to life.  The interactive museum of pinball or “pinball station” was the place to go. It has pinball machines that date back to the 50’s along with a lot of other arcade games. Many of which were the very ones that I spent my allowance on. These machines are all in working order. They even sold beer on-site. That was new, but I did enjoy playing these relics. It really brought me back to my childhood. It was even cheaper than I remember. It cost about $11-12 (49 PLN) and I was able to play for hours. They had one rule – “If you start a game, you must finish it.” My wife and I had a great time.