N I G H T S T O PS A whistle-stop tour of Warsaw Exploring the beauty of Polands capital city By First Officer Victoria Bottomley, Log Board member I n 1944, the Nazis reduced Warsaw to rubble in an attempt to stave off Polish resistance. So, naive as I am, I was expecting to see a city lined with ugly post-war buildings, such as we have in the UK. Honestly, I do not understand what happened to peoples eyes during that phase of architecture! Warsaw, however, was the exact opposite. Its old town is a feast for the eyes, with building styles spanning the 13th-20th centuries, and gorgeous stone bridges. It is hard to believe that, in fact, all of these buildings were reconstructed in the 1950s an effort that landed the city on the UNESCO World Heritage List. I am an absolute sucker for old buildings and history, so when I stumbled across the Lapidarium, an antiques shop in the heart of the old town, I couldnt help but peer through the window. Inside, a penny farthing and a vampire-killing kit hidden in a violin case were the first things I noticed. Now, Im not so sure on the authenticity of the latter item, but its not difficult to imagine such a thing in a place that would look very much at home in a Bram Stoker novel. clock tower, it looms at a height 237m. Built as a gift of friendship from the Soviets in 1955, this building is highly controversial given its tie to Stalin, and many have called for its demolition over the years. While its still around, however, its worth hopping in the lift to the 30th floor to get a panoramic view of the city. One cannot talk about Warsaw without mentioning Chopin, who loved his birthplace. On his death (in Paris), he asked that his heart be cut out and buried in Warsaw, so his sister secreted it away in a jar of cognac Holy Cross Church interior Beat the snow Visiting Warsaw in winter is chilly. So I would recommend visiting before the snow sets in. My most recent trip there was a bitter -7oC, and I did not stray far from the hotel on that occasion but do not let that deter you from visiting in December. The Christmas markets here have been voted among the best in Europe, with affordable original artwork and cherry wine that is not to be missed. In the old town square, Bistro Warszawa offers a charming respite from the cold and good hot chocolate. The Palace of Culture and Science is one place that cannot be missed. Currently the worlds second-tallest 54 THE LOG Spr 24 pp54-55 Nightstops.indd 54 16/02/2024 11:17