Warsaw - A foggy place where mysterious Soviet businessmen rush through empty streets?


Wroclaw airport is small but bright. We left to the terminal and hurried to the bus stop. Bus No. 106 was already waiting for us. We asked the bus driver whether wheelchair users needed a ticket or not – I didn't need one. Perfect, free ride to the main station. And as good as the more expensive Airport Express bus.  

Wroclaw station

Travelling by train in Poland is economical. We bought our train tickets to Warsaw (there is no free ticket for the carer like in Germany) at the ticket counter and paid 75 € for both of us. Don't forget: these aren't tickets for just any trains. These are tickets for the Polish Express InterCity Premium trains!

Express InterCity Premium train

I entered the new train via its own wheelchair lift. Inside the passenger car the bright green interior design catched my eye.

On-board wheelchair lift

What was that? Did they play classical music over the speakers? The friendly waitress took our coffee orders and I was in train heaven.

Wheelchair space inside the EIP

EIP's accessible restroom

A few stops and 3 1/2 hours later we got off the train in Warsaw. One of my friends' ex-boyfriend had studied one semester in economics in Warsaw a few years ago. I remember that she visited him once during his stay. I always had pictured Warsaw foggy with mysterious Soviet businessmen with long trenchcoats rushing through empty streets. Sorry to disappoint you. This is not the city we got to know.

Radisson Blu Sobieski hotel room

Our hotel in Warsaw was the Radisson Blu Sobieski named after the Polish king Johann III. Conveniently located 15 minutes away from the main station, we decided to walk there. The only problem was, that it took us a while to get out of the labyrinth of tunnels under the station and the streets around it, because we couldn't find an elevator. In the end my boyfriend pulled me up the stairs. We would find the accessible way a few days later going back to the station.

Bathroom with wheel-in shower and toilet

Sink and mirrors

The hotel was elegant with a nice lobby. Our room was spacious and the bright bathroom accessible with a wheel-in shower. After a long day of travelling complimentary water bottles were refreshing and the tea and coffe making facility – normaly rare in non-UK hotels – a nice surprise.

Outside view of ORZO

Inside view of ORZO

Inside view of ORZO

Inside view of ORZO

For dinner we walked to Plac Konstytucji and ended up having a perfect start-of-the-vacation-dinner at ORZO, a mediterranean restaurant. Orzo is a form of short-cut pasta, shaped like a large grain of rice. My bowl of stir-fried orzo with shrimp, kimchi, chili sauce, poached egg, corn, soy, romaine lettuce, pistano macho chips and mango salsa was light and delicous. And the rosemary gin went perfectly well with it.

Bowl of orzo and rosemary gin

On the way back to the hotel we made a short stop at the Hala Koszyki. This beautifully renovated market hall is full of street food stalls and is a place where young Varsovians like to celebrate after work. We had no choice but celebrate, as well. Whiskey ice cream is a good way to. Continue here.

Outside view of Hala Koszyki

Inside view of Hala Koszyki

Inside view of Hala Koszyki

Whiskey ice cream

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