Totally in love with Warsaw!

Warsaw is BEAUTIFUL! We were on the road about 10 hours today and saw some very interesting places: quaint little villages, cities, countryside, and towns that never recovered from World War II. I try to imagine what Poland must have been like during those 12 years of Nazi rule. There is definitely a presence of that history here. In Germany, which I'll get to next, life has greatly moved on; yet, they take responsibility for their actions 60 years ago and raise their children to prevent any such repeat.

Poland has a really unique old-world charm. In the old city, cars can't drive into the square, making it feel really open. Our hotel is absolutely beautiful and is next door to the president's palace (ie, White House). The evening air is cool and people are outside eating everywhere. I love it!

Berlin was also nice. It has a much more modern feel, but was still a good "walking city" with lots to do, and of course, plenty of history. Yesterday, we visited Bergen-Belsen, the concentration camp Anne Frank lost her life in. She doesn't have a grave of her own- only a memorial- as the victims of this camp are buried in mass graves with thousands of others.

I am excited about being in Poland. This is the last leg of our trip (albeit the longest)- i can't believe it's going so quickly.

Tomorrow, we tour Warsaw, including a Jewish cemetery, the Warsaw ghetto (and the location of the uprising), and others.

The pictures you see are from my very nice evening walk: first, the president's home, still with flowers after his death. then, old town Warsaw, lit up. The third picture is our hotel.





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Location:Krakowskie Przedmieście,Warsaw,Poland