We can not believe that we actually were in Warsaw for one month.
During our time we stayed at two campsites. The first campsite was Camping Wok http://www.campingwok.warszawa.pl/ The site is well located but still a bus and a tram ride away from the historic centre. The facilities were modern and there was a nice bar/restaurant area. However, we found it very expensive at £33 per night. We stayed two nights and it rained heavily, the ground was a mix of sand and soil which made keeping the motorhome clean a nightmare with the dogs.
So we decided to move to Camping Kaputy 222 http://www.camping222.pl/ which was slightly cheaper at £24.00 per night. Although this site was a little further away we caught a taxi into Warsaw which cost about £6-£8 each way, alternatively you can get a bus from just outside the campsite. We found the facilities to be good and the staff were very helpful.
For those of you that are wondering why we were in Warsaw for such a length of time here’s a quick update for you. Oakley our GSD became paralysed on his rear left leg suddenly. We had an MRI scan which showed he was suffering from IVDD (Intervertebral Disk Disease). We were told he had an 80% chance of walking again if he had surgery-so this is what we did. We stayed in Warsaw so that Oakley had continuity of care and rehabilitation.
So back to Warsaw….. Unfortunately it was bombed heavily in World War II and 85% of Warsaw’s buildings were left in ruin. The city has been restored so well to look like the original that the historic old town was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status.
The Palace of Culture and Science is the tallest building in Poland and an icon of the city. The socialist-realist building is visible from nearly everywhere in the city. It contains theatres, a cinema and museums. You can also go up to the observation deck on the 30th floor to admire the panoramic view. We really wanted to go up but the queue was monstrous so we decided against it on this occasion.
We walked to The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This symbolic grave-memorial honours the unnamed heroes who died in the battles for Poland’s freedom. The arcades under which the tomb is placed are a fragment of the colonnade and the only part of the Saxon Palace that survived World War II. At the grave an eternal flame burns and soldiers perform an honour guard.
We strolled along The Royal Route which showcases the Cities three former royal residences. The Royal Castle, Royal Lazienki Park and Wilanow Palace.
The Royal Castle was rebuilt after World War II and was the seat of Polish rulers from the 16th century. Towering above the castle square is a column commemorating King Sigismund III Vasa, which is the oldest secular monument in Warsaw.
The Old Town is just beautiful and full of colourful houses and narrow streets.
After the war it was rebuilt by the people of Warsaw based on part paintings of Canaletto. The Old Town Square has a really great vibe with lots of cafes and restaurants.
As we walked around the city we saw several monuments commemorating the heroic struggle of Warsaw during World War II. We went to Krasininski Square to see the Warsaw Uprising Monument and the exit from the sewers where the insurgents escaped from German forces.
We thought Warsaw had plenty of charm and so much history to devour. Its a wonderful city and a few days really aren’t enough to see all it had to offer.
