BOU AVENUE
Warsaw
On 12 January 2018, Zosia Zgolak and I wrapped up our 3-week trip to Poland by traveling to Warsaw from Łódź.  After a lengthy journey by bus, train, and on foot, we finally arrived late at the home of Zosia’s friend, Aleksandra (Ola) Kauc-Żelichowska, her husband, Adam Żelichowski, and their two young children, Maciej and Nina.

The next day (13 January 2018), all of us went for a long walk in Łazienki (“Baths”) Park near the center of the city.  The park is notable for a number of historic palaces and monuments of famous Poles.  Despite cool temperatures, the park was still quite busy.

Later in the evening, Ola and Adam took Zosia and me for a tour of Warsaw’s Old Town Market Square.  Much like in Wrocław and Kraków, this is the tourist hub of the city showcasing old style architecture (mostly all rebuilt after World War 2) amidst numerous shops and restaurants.  Unfortunately, the sub-zero temperatures made it rather uncomfortable to linger for long outside, and we eventually ended up at Pijalnia Czekolady (“Chocolate Bar”) E.Wedel to warm up and have some refreshments before returning to our hosts’ home.

After only a few short hours of sleep, Adam graciously offered to drive Zosia and me to the airport in the middle of the night so that we could catch our flight home on the morning of 14 January 2018.

Thanks go out to Ola and Adam for their generous hospitality.

Special thanks go out to Teresa Kosmala as well for accommodating and feeding Zosia and me while we were in Łódź and for embracing me as part of her family despite our language barrier.

A very special thank you goes out to Zosia for inviting me to accompany her to Poland and making me step outside of my comfort zone a bit to experience Polish culture and eat lots of herrings!
Goodbye and thank you, Teresa! Teresa and Zosia share a tender moment together at home prior to Zosia's departure.
With so many birds, "Bathroom Ponds" might be an apt name... Numerous waterfowl gather on Stawy Łazienkowskie (Bathroom Ponds) in Warsaw's Łazienki Park.
Isle? Where's the water??

Adam, Ola and Zosia stand in front of Pałac na Wyspie (Palace on the Isle).
And ducks galore! Behind Zosia and across Bathroom Ponds are Palace on the Isle (left) and an amphitheatre at right.
Imagine if Chopin played "Chopsticks"! Zosia and Sonny stand in front of a monument dedicated to the great pianist and composer, Frédéric Chopin.

Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
It was largely useless for defense almost from the time it was originally built in 1540! Adam, Zosia and Ola stand near the Warsaw Barbican, a semicircular outpost that was once part of the city's fortifications.  Mostly demolished after World War 2, the barbican was rebuilt in the early 1950s.
Na zdrowie! Wrapping up their 3-week vacation in Poland, Sonny and Zosia enjoy some delicious refreshments at the E. Wedel Chocolate Bar.