Heading to Poland

 Wednesday, April 2nd

Not much of consequence today as most of the day was spent on the bus driving from Vilnius to Warsaw.  

However, all was not lost as Simona imparted lots of history on the drive. Poland is full of historic landmarks and UNESCO sites, and has a population of about 39 million people. They are one of the rare countries in the European Union that still use their own currency (Polish złoty).

Of the countries on our tour, Poland and Lithuania have the strongest ties (and not just because our driver was Polish and our guide Lithuanian).  In 1569, the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania unified to become the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, creating one of the strongest powers in Europe at the time.  They were quite advanced and in 1791 had the first European Constitution (second in the world after the good 'ol USA)!  Unfortunately, its long period of strength and prosperity were in decline shortly after the Constitution was signed it all went downhill quickly. By 1795, the Commonwealth had been divided into 3: Russia, Prussia, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire each took a part.  We're all a bit more familiar with Polish history post-1920's so I won't add any of those details.

We also learned about the Suwałki Gap, although we did not cross it.  Knowing so much more history of this region, and their 'tussles' with Russia, it's easy to grasp the strategic and military importance of this choke point since Poland and the Baltic states joined NATO.

We finally arrived in Warsaw with a smidge over 2 hours before our farewell dinner (odd timing, yes, but it's the only free evening before many on the tour leave in the early morning hours Friday).  Anyway, I had no other free time in Warsaw, so I had to quickly choose how I wanted to spend my time.  Depositing my backpack quickly into my hotel room, I booked an Über and headed to the POLIN Museum.  The museum is actually dedicated to the history of the Jews in Poland, which actually dates back a thousand years, and was erected in the former Jewish ghetto.

POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews

 

The entrance fee was about $12 and included an audio guide, but in the end I found it unhelpful.  The guide didn't read the displays, so I would start reading the plaque next a display I was viewing and then would end up missing what was being said via the audio guide.  The museum was astounding, and they say you need about three hours to get through it.  Seeing as I had less than 2 hours eventually turned off the audio guide and continued through the very extensive and masterfully done exhibits.  

Jewish communities in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1765

 

Replica of the Gwoździec synagogue roof & ceiling

I read only what caught my attention and easily could have spent another two hours there.  To my dismay, I had to zoom through the WWII era in about 15 minutes and quickly head back to the hotel. I had a few moments to 'powder my nose' before the farewell drinks and walk to AleGloria for dinner.  It was a unique spot, served delicious food, and I had a fabulous time with some of my favorite tour-mates.