The week before my trip was probably one of my busiest as I was transitioning my tasks for next 17 days of PTO and was also sick. Needless to say, I barely planned and wasn't packed on Friday. I had a vague idea of where I was staying and had some train plans outlined, but no tickets were bought nor reservations made. Rushing home from work at 5:30 PM, I somehow miraculously packed and was out of the house with my 2 carry-on bags by 7PM. Arriving at the airport at 8PM, I was an hour and forty five minutes early for my flight; never in my life has "Taylor Time" been so completely destroyed. I luckily had an aisle seat for the 10:15 Lufthansa flight, but I was not so lucky when it came to getting a vegan meal. The air hostesses were the most accommodating, nice, friendly people in the world, however. When I inquired about the menu options, the flight attendant said that she could offer me fruit since all dinners had meat or cheese; when she came back, I had to hold myself back from laughing. I was expecting some small fruit cup, but instead my meal looked like a fruit platter with a banana, apple, giant slice of pineapple, and elephant-portioned slice of watermelon overflowing on my tray. The flight was uneventful and arriving in Frankfurt was painless as I didn't check a bag. My following trip from Frankfurt to Warsaw was awesome as well since the empty seats beside me allowed me to sprawl out and sleep.
Having had no time to plan the week before, my plan landing in Warsaw was for a couch surfer to pick me up. Relying on trust and good people, I was, needless to say, a bit hesitant. Departing the baggage claim area, I was quite anxious to see whether this couch surfer would show up. Fortunately, Tom was right there as he said he'd be. We made a quick stop at the ATM and arrived in the downtown area around 6PM.
With my last meal around 7 AM Poland time, the first thing we did was stop for dinner. Using happycow.net (a website with vegan restaurant listings), we stopped at a vegetarian cafe and had the night's meal: rice with a nutty topping, a cauliflower-broccoli curry dish, a lettuce salad, some sort of patty with a tomato sauce, a lentil dish, and a pumpkin soup. It wasn't the best food I've eaten, but it was certainly filling and very conveniently located downtown. We then walked down the main street, Nowy Świat, where countless cute cafes, churches, and historic buildings are, contributing to a very cute and relaxing ambience. After the walk through Old Town, we took a break for some tea at Polyester Cafe. I learned some interesting things here: unlike Asia, cafes have free wifi like America; many public bathrooms are dual sex, missing toilet paper, and smell; and they don't serve you water for free. It's a little disheartening that every time you want water, it comes out of a bottle.
We next met up with Tom's friends at what is apparently a fancier bar in Warsaw but were there for only a few minutes before my host for the night, Aga, called that she was there. We stopped back at her flat for a few moments to drop off my stuff and allow her to refresh herself, then headed back out to the bars.
The first place was a rather casual bar, but I still managed to take a Polish vodka shot with a local, chased with coca cola. The vodka was not clear as most that you see in America but had a brownish tint due to the way it was processed. We next went to a livelier place where there was dancing and the atmosphere was much more club like. We did not get to the first bar until half passed midnight, but somehow it was all of a sudden six am. The hours between approximately two thirty and six were filled were various clubs and lots of dancing....We headed to a mediterranean place for some falafel, then finally went home. I have never in my life been out until that late until the sun started rising; needless to say, it was a successful first night in Warsaw.
Day 2:
Due to the late night, I did not manage to rise until around two thirty PM. Despite this, I was still able to get a pretty good local tour. We headed to Łazienki Królewskie Palace Garden Complex, which is a beautiful park filled with the Palace and its accompanying buildings. An extension to this area displays a Chopin Statue, flanked by a piano, and since it was Sunday, an incredible pianist was performing Chopin pieces for a free concert that is held weekly. After, Tom drove Aga and to his favorite library. On the roof was a spectacular garden that gave an exquisite view of Praga, the area east of the Vistula river. They told me how the river was a point of divide among the citizens, and much of the eastern part is poorer and less developed. After the library visit, we stopped at an art gallery showing where his friend was displaying unique lamps that he created. As his friend was not at the show yet, we drove through a little bit of Praga where I was able to see their sport stadium and take in the less tourist traveled route. When people tell me I am crazy for couch surfing, this is an example of a reason why I love it; had I simply stayed at a hostel or hotel, I never would have visited any of these things and gotten the opportunity to see a much different side of the city.
As it was already late due to the late start, Aga and I headed to her favorite church for mass. It was definitely an experience as I understood zero of the service; it was also interesting to experience mass in such a dimly lit room. During communion I was further surprised to see that very few people took communion. I do not take communion if I miss one week but would consider myself a rarity in America as most take communion any time they go to mass, despite their previous attendance or sins. Aga told me that this is typical in Poland; even she did not take communion because she felt that she must go to confession before taking it at mass. After the service, we met up with Tom and his friend who had the art show, Maciej, at Tel Aviv Cafe for a quick drink before heading home.
Day 3:
Tom first helped me get my train ticket to Krakow in the morning, and then he dropped me off at The Warsaw Uprising Museum. It gave a very depressing albeit informative view of Warsaw's involvement in WWII. I then spent the rest of the day touring the gorgeous city and met up with Tom, Maciej, and Aga for dinner. I also was communicating with a vegan from Warsaw that I met through instagram; she took us to her favorite vegan burger place in Warsaw where we had seitan and chickpea burgers. It was a great way to end my stay in Warsaw. Despite having stayed there for only a short time, I already had inside jokes with them and was very sad to leave.
