Staying in Warsaw’s Old Town
Poland Day 16. For my middle visit to Warsaw I chose to stay right in the Old Town to make good use of the meager half-day I had allocated to explore both it and the riverbanks in between my side trips to Toruń and Ukraine.
It was an early departure from Toruń and I had one final quick look around as I trekked to the bus station. I was happy to say goodbye to the rock hard bed (and I thought China was bad!) and the most vile coarse bedspread in the history of bedspreads.
I returned to Warsaw by bus which took longer and was less comfy than the train but cost only about NZ$10. Couldn’t see much due to fog… and the laminate signage over the windows. At the other end I faffed for ages trying to work out the public transportation, with the choice of bus, tram and, I twigged belatedly, train. In the end it was simple. I walked the last 15 minutes or so but MAN it was hot. I had hoped by now that I’d be able to wear more clothes rather than carry them!
A site of relevance to the Warsaw Uprising
I arrived in the Old Town and found my hotel (and my Parisian styled room) which was just off one of the main squares. I cooled off before venturing back out, then kind of just followed my nose.
Looking over the Royal Castle Gardens across to the east bank. I stopped for lunch here and splurged on my main meal of the day
Royal Castle
The Vistula here has two distinct riverbanks: the west (being nearest the main old and new towns) is relatively cultivated; the east is more wild. I decided to head over the bridge for a walk on the wild side (ho ho)
The extremely low river levels are plain to see. However the city is taking a positive spin on this and using the opportunity to clean up rubbish from the river banks and bed and also make some archaeological discoveries
A big statue I found just before I realised I had to alter my course as the riverbank trail petered out
I returned to the west bank via this bridge
Might just be my odd imagination but these appear to be sheep
Such a shame I don’t have a selfie stick…
Further development in progress on the west bank. The bridge I crossed is behind and the National Stadium is behind that (retractable roof football stadium)
This is the far point of my walk the other day. From ground level…
…and above thanks to another good old viewing tower. My hotel was in the top right corner next to the tree and the yellow digger (those cutting/drilling/whatever noises were back at it from 6.30am)
Most of what can be seen here was rebuilt after WW2. Incredible.
Behind the mad transportation hub is the first bridge I walked over
I’ve never seen as many ‘people of the cloth’ as I have in Poland
Close up of the dude on the pole (King Sigismund; the figure is the original from 1644 but he got a new column after being on the receiving end of a tank shell in WW2)
I’ve lost count of the number of wedding photoshoots I’ve seen on this trip
Inside the castle courtyard. I didn’t have time to go inside but I found myself drawn into the excellent photo exhibition – world conflict over the decades
Part of the old city wall
I guess there has always been a truck load of pigeons here as someone in ye olde times got a do-dad for above their door
Distance walked: 11.18km
tall tales 
Wonderful photos. I love especially those town sceneries. Thank you.
Thanks Matti!