A Weekend in Warsaw
This is the year that we turn 40 (my generation, that is). My birthday was celebrated in Thailand, and my friend Joanna, whom I met only last year, flew around the world to celebrate with me. So, of course, I had to return the sentiment. Joanna is from Warsaw, Poland, and last weekend she had friends from five different countries join together to ring in her 40th. Vannah sent her regrets, and Michael stayed with her in Bologna.
If I had to describe Warsaw with only one word, it would be "vodka." The obsession/passion is real. The weekend began with a trip to the Museum of Vodka, which took us through a complete history of vodka, a collection of historical “artifacts” donated by various passionate Poles, and a tasting of a variety of vodkas. I found the best to be a raisin-apple flavor. As you stroll through the streets of Warsaw, you'll notice numerous bars proudly named after and dedicated to different types of vodka, with a special emphasis on cherry vodka. At every event I attended, the cocktails were exclusively vodka-based, with no mention of any other spirits.
Aside from the history of vodka, we also had the opportunity to visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum. It vividly recounts the story of Poland's occupation during WWII and the courageous uprising of its citizens against Germany and the Soviet Union. The museum spans over 3,000 square meters and features 800 exhibition items, along with approximately 1,500 photographs, films, and sound recordings that chronicle the events leading up to the Uprising. This was one of the most well done exhibitions I’ve ever seen, with a mix of reconstruction of streets and bunkers to actual displays of real artifacts such as weapons and Uprising Fighters ID Cards and uniforms. Definitely worth a visit if you find yourself in Warsaw.
One of Joanna’s friends is a local tour guide and offered to give us his tour of the city, complete with history and tasting of their famous rose-petal jam filled pastries.
A few take-aways:
The below statue of the child is know as “The Little Insurgent”. It is located on Warsaw's Podwale Street to commemorate the child soldiers who fought and died during the Warsaw Uprisings of 1944. The statue depicts a young boy wearing a tin helmet too large for his head and holding a captured German submachine gun. This is a very famous icon and even has become a popular subject for tattoos among Warsaw citizens, representing both a personal and collective memory of resilience and patriotism.
The entire city of Warsaw was bombed to the ground during the war and in the 20ish years after was rebuilt based on the original plans (and photographs for reference). This effort was so successful that the reconstructed Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.
The Mermaid Statue, known as the Syrenka of Warsaw, is one of the most famous symbols of the city. It is located in the Old Town Market Square (Rynek Starego Miasta). The statue depicts a mermaid wielding a sword and shield, symbolizing her role as the protector of Warsaw.
There are, of course, folklore tales about why the symbol is a mermaid. Here is what Wikipedia has to say about it:
“The City's literature and tour guides say the mermaid decided to stay after stopping on a riverbank near the Old Town. Fishermen noticed something was creating waves, tangling nets, and releasing their fish. They planned to trap the animal, then heard her singing and fell in love. A rich merchant trapped and imprisoned the mermaid. Hearing her cries, the fishermen rescued her. Ever since, the mermaid, armed with a sword and a shield, has been ready to help protect the city and its residents.[1]
Sometimes this legend is expanded to say the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen is the Warsaw mermaid's[2] sister and they went separate ways from the Baltic Sea.”
