I have a habit when it comes to clothes. I buy my clothes only while I'm on vacation. Firstly, because different places have different stores and different stores have different clothes. Secondly, because when I go back home I have everyday souvenirs to reminisce.
Warsaw has a couple of shopping malls, one of them is Arkadia. This shopping complex is huge and was once the biggest one in Central Europe. I wasn't lucky finding a souvenir first sight. My boyfriend doesn't like shopping too much and I didn't want to torture him. So we left this modern marblepalace.
POLIN entrance hall
Our next stop was POLIN, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews which is only a few blocks away. The museum opened in 2013 and won the European Museum of the Year Award in 2016. It takes visitors from the first Jewish settlements in Poland all the way to modern Jewish history. The narrative core exhibition is very detailed and you can easily spend several hours at POLIN. One of the museum's highlights is the replica of the 17th century Gwozdziec Synagogue roof and painted ceiling. The museum is definitely worth a visit!
Replica of the 17th century Gwozdziec Synagogue roof and painted ceiling
We wanted to end your first day in Warsaw in the Old Town and the sun was slowly setting. So we started walking there. I'm still fascinated by Warsaw's topography. The modern city centre seemed endlessly flat to me. But when we arrived at the Old Town we realized that Warsaw's historic core is located on a plateau above the Vistula river.
Stare Miasto Warsaw
Old Town Warsaw
Through one of the gates of the medieval city wall we entered a different part of the Polish capital. Narrow picturesque streets paved with cobblestones, painters, street vendors. A wave of tourists carried us to St. John's Archcathedral. Unfortunately the crypt is not accessible but the hidden platform lift to the nave was a nice surprise.
St. John's Archcathedral platform lift
We left the cathedral and decided to explore the area. Suddenly, in the side streets of the lively Swietojanska, all the people were gone and it was quiet and peaceful.
Old Town Warsaw
This part of our walk was bumpy and partly steep, but definitely worth the effort. In one of the many restaurants around we had a solid but not noteworthy dinner.
Plac Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego
Finally, on our nightly way back to the hotel we were able to catch a glimpse of one of our next days sights: The Palace of Culture and Science. Continue here.
Hotel Bristol
Palace of Culture and Science
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