exploring & escapades

Last stop on my self-proclaimed personal heritage tour. Poland was the only place I’m “from” (Italy, Ireland, England, and Poland) that I had yet to visit. Part of my Nana’s family came to the U.S. from the Warsaw area, so this was a very special, deliberate short trip.

We stayed just outside of the Old Town, and I absolutely loved our little Mariensztat square home for the weekend. It was near everything we wanted to see, but without being too in the thick of it. In the morning, we ran south to the beautiful Łazienki Park – a ghost land in the frosty morning, an old palace empty but dominant across the lake. I wish I had my camera with me then. I didn’t even bring my phone on the run. Some things must live on only in my head. 

Later, it was the Old Town. We had tried to walk around the night before, but the fog was so thick we couldn’t see anything. This time, though, it was incredible. Vibrant and colorful. Detailed. Of course, the sad part is that all of it was destroyed during WWII; this new place is exactly that – new. Rebuilt after the war to preserve a sense of the past. 

Like a real Polish girl, I ate more pierogis than I counted. Add that to another uncountable number of pastires I consumed. The almond caramel croissant thing was sooooo good (I have no idea what it was called). 

It was such a nice little trip. I knew it was a part of me.