The Okie Doki is a wonderful social hostel, and it wasn't long before I started meeting people; actually I had even made friend with a few before I even walked in the door. Just inside the entrance you became greeted with the big boobed statue of a mermaid. After a few invitations, and the severe twisting of my rubber arm, I finely made that lie to myself as you do, I'm only going out for one drink...
Nek Minet... 4:30 am. I got back to the hostel, went to bed got back up later to go to the bathroom. Realised I didn't have my key on me, or any clothes for that matter (at all). So I found myself at 5:30 in the morning knocking on the door to my room completely naked; certainly is an interesting way to meet your room mate.
The next day went out, came home 6 am, all good. Next day, quite one... almost... Two of the girls I spent a lot of time talking to and I went out together to a nice restaurant, at 3am we came back; I started writing again. Getting my last tea at 4am, at that point I ran into my friend, as she was coming back in from a bad night out, so stayed up talking shit, absolute shit... great value, shit. Nek Mintet..6am!
..Tonight, tonight is the night, I get to sleep before 6! New hostel, though I swear to the staff at the Oki Dokie it meant nothing to me (We had build up quite a repor at this point). I wrote, watched The Untouchables, with no English subtitles, but with a little help from my new friend from Quabek, it was easy enough to follow. Struggled with writing some more until some Polish rugby players came in at 4am. NEK MINET! 6Am! Next night ...one drink.. that was a lie... pretty girls.. 6am... five days running.. fuck it. In my defence, I may not of seen much of Warsaw so far, but I have met a lot of Polish.
Not entirely true, we took a couple of free walking tours. One of the old communists buildings. I love the subtle Polish sense of humour, the old communist head of state, (the white house) is now the home of Ferrari Warsar. The other of the old town, which is still a lot reconstructed after 90% of Warsaw being flattened or uninhabitable after WW2. The tour conduced with traditional food and drink, bread with pork grease and pickled cucumber, and of course vodka; before coffee. My room-mates and I had our cultural Vodka tasting that nigh, we were meant to go out with a group, we don't know what happened with them so we improvised. In a little underground bar, by location and nature, with live local hip hop and good vibes. I've got to note my room-mates are Australian, I came to Poland thinking I would meet less Aussies, nope, including two from Newy (Newcastle). We stumbled home singing bohemian rhapsody, arms over shoulders kebab in hand and happy.
Before leaving I went to the uprising museum, it's horrifying, but important to see and recognise, such a black part of Poland's history (and the worlds), that has had so much of an effect on how Poland is today. During WW2, an estimated one fifth of the population was killed, six million people. Many in mass excursions deported to Auschwitz extermination camp. One quote that really struck me, was about a man telling his son, “he wont stop his from fighting in the uprising, or expect him not to be killed, just asking that he does not get killed in a stupid way”. It was in parts shocking and gruesome; the photos, videos, and testaments of the survivors really hit home the capacity of evil and also the strength in people. Along with empathy I felt humbled in the fortunate in which I have lived life, to not to have experienced war... I will leave my serious not there, and let you do your own research. What I can say is it was one of the most powerful days, so far.
To sum up Warsaw as a tourist in the best way I can: It is a place I spent long nights drinking and laughing, and one of the most sobering experiences of my life.
"Greetings from Jerusalem Avenue"
Socialist realism, the architecture of poetry
Well if socialist realism at least made some beautiful skate spots
I left a lot unsaid about my time in Warsaw. This is the palace of culture, tallest building in Warsaw. It also contains a cinema, by amazing coincidence I was lucky enough to be there during the international film festival. It was an absolute huge highlight to be there, and shared with friends.
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