Closing Out January

POLISH  FOLK  DANCING

While on a tram with Melissa when she was here in early January, I had seen an advertisement for the  a Polish folk dancing program.  It seemed like something I would like to see, so I investigated and found that the highest priced tickets were less than $20!

So the last Saturday in January we attended the program in the Sala Kongresowa (Congress Hall).  This is one of the event halls in the Palace of Culture and Science (aka Cultural Palace) that was built during communist era. The room, seats, lighting and chandeliers are all quite elegant. 

Because of the inclined floor our view of the stage was quite good.  My only complaint was that there was little legroom in the seats…perhaps people were shorter in the 1950's….or maybe this was the prototype for today's economy seating on airlines!

Apparently, every effort was made to install as many seats as possible….behind Mark can be seen folding seats attached to the wall, that fold down to allow people to sit in the aisle!

At the beginning of the performance the emcee recognized the President of Poland in the audience, who appeared to be accompanied by his grandchildren.  (No picture of them, unfortunately.)

For an hour and a half we were treated to festive Polish singing and dancing.  There was a variety of joyful, serious and fun music.

 We wished we understood more Polish words and phrases.  I could pick out a few…but wished I had known the meaning of the songs they sang.

There were beautiful costumes and fun dancing.

The dancers were not only talented, but strong.

The audience clapped in time to the music….

….and smiled as the performances continued.

The costume changes were numerous….

 ….but the numbers flowed from one to another.

The program lasted an hour-and-a-half, with no intermission….

….and to the very end we were entertained.

So glad we came to see and hear the Polish culture through dancing and singing.

CHRISTMAS  LIGHTS  ON  JANUARY 31

Can you believe beautiful Christmas lights on the very last day of January?  We had not walked the streets of Warsaw much during the Christmas season….but on the last day of January we walked down one of Warsaw's most famous and beautiful street….Nowy Świat….

….and were delighted to see the Christmas lights still up.  
The lights came down the following week….after all, it was February!

Above is the Bristol Hotel, one of Warsaw's most prestigious hotels.  The lights on the trees were so beautiful against the backdrop of the lights of the hotel!

Warsaw puts special effort into making this street quite charming.  The beginning of the street is called Nowy Świat and further down toward the rynek it becomes Krakowskie Przedmieście.  This street was known as the "King's Highway", as it leads from the Royal Palace in the center of town….to the roads leading to Kraków in southern Poland.

Every block or so there were large, lighted "packages" with bows on top. We had seen a few of these in the rynek with Melissa….but did not know they were scattered along Nowy Świat as well.

So many of the Warsaw streets are simply piękny (beautiful)!  At the top of the list are Nowy Świat and Krakowskie Przedmieście….a street name I thought I would never be able to pronounce….but today I can!

Here is the beautiful Presidential Palace.

We ate at a great Polish Restaurant on this street…Delicja Polska…it was fabulous! 

Mark and I have eaten here a few times before…on our own, with some of Mark's co-workers, and with Melissa, Jamie and Caroline when they were here last May. 

Mark was recently at this restaurant with visiting co-workers and remembered how much we liked eating here….especially the Polish apple pie.  He thinks it may be the best apple pie he's ever eaten….so light and tasty. 

It was Mark's idea to come back on January 31 to enjoy both the restaurant and the Christmas lights….good "date" idea, Mark!

We are so glad we came to this area of town…the temperature was in the high 20's-low 30's but we walked the street just like the Polish people who LOVE walking outside…no matter the weather or temperature!

Mark planned a great Thursday night date….

….just in time to start celebrating our 2nd anniversary in Poland!