Summertime Bike Riding in Warsaw

August 15th is a dual public holiday in Poland.

It is dual because it is both Polish Armed Forces day and a religious holiday commemorating the "Assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary".

So for either or both reasons Mark was off work on August 15, 2013, and we decided to ride our bikes from our home to Warsaw's Stary Miasto (Old Town).  It was a 9-10 kilometer (5-6 mile) ride in one direction.

Mark took numerous pictures of me on my bike…maybe because he doesn't see me riding one very often. 

It is true that I don't ride my bike often….but once I am riding….I do enjoy it.

I do appreciate and enjoy the bike lanes that are designated for bike riders in Warsaw. It becomes challenging though when pedestrians leave the sidewalks and walk in the bike lanes.

We had planned our route, and were thinking the roads and paths would be quite empty because of the holiday.  All went well until….

….we approached the residence of the president of Poland.  

The police had closed certain streets and the bike paths and sidewalks were crowded.

Polish Armed Forces Day commemorates the pivotal victory of the Polish army in the 1920 Battle of Warsaw, also known as "Miracle on the Vistula".

In this battle, from August 12-25, the Polish army was defending the country against invading communist forces.  

In 1920, it had only been 2 years since the armistice that ended WWI re-constituted Poland as an sovereign nation.  About 120 years earlier, Russia, Prussia and Austria had divided up Poland between themselves, and Poland had not existed as a country until November 1918.

So the Battle of Warsaw was critical for the survival of the new, young nation.  Poland's victory in the battle was a turning point for both Poland and Europe…. not only did the victory ensure Poland's independence….

….but it also stopped the spread of communism across the European continent!

Since August 15 also celebrates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, people attend mass and many of the services pay tribute to Polish armed forces. 

Polish national holidays often bring out vendors selling Polish flags….we have purchased small Polish flags from vendors like the one in the picture below. 

We enjoyed seeing people display the Polish flag in a number of locations….on balconies….

….buildings and businesses….

…. and on lamp posts and street signs….displaying their Polish pride!

The yellow and red flag above is the flag of Warsaw, while the white and red are the colors of Poland.

We rode past the United States embassy, and just across the street is.... 

….a bronze statue of President Ronald Reagan, unveiled in November 2011.

Ronald Reagan was a strong supporter of the Polish anti-communist labor union Solidarity.

In Poland, Ronald Reagan is considered one of the 20th century's most important leaders thanks to his opposition to communism. 

Lech Wałęsa spoke at the unveiling of this monument. He said that if it wasn't for President Reagan's support, Poland would not be a free country today. 

Nearing the intersection of the Palm Tree, I felt I had accomplished a good ride….but we were not finished.  I knew this intersection quite well as I have often gotten off of a bus or tram near here for my Polish lessons.

I wanted to show Mark a beautiful courtyard very close to where I have my Polish lessons…I love the abundance of bright beautiful flowers on the balconies!

We enjoy riding the popular and beautiful street Nowy Świat which turns into Krakowskie Przedmieście.

It is a street reserved for buses, taxis and bicyclists.

We passed one of the churches where Chopin played the organ when he was a young teenager living in Warsaw with his family.

People in Warsaw love to be outside…walking, eating and relaxing. 

I love the abundant displays of flowers up and down the streets….and the extra accent provided by the Polish flags.

Yay.…we made it to Old Town!  I did not think I could ride this far, but I did….and was quite happy for having accomplished it! 

The public holiday created a festive atmosphere….people out and about, vendors selling souvenirs….all over this beautiful area.

I never tire of coming to the center of Old Town….near the Zygmunt Column.  Also known as Sigismund's Column, it was raised in 1644 by King Władzsław IV in honor of his father who moved the capital city from Krakow to Warsaw in 1596. 

Why did he move the capital from Krakow to Warsaw?  Because he was a Swedish king who ruled Poland at the time, and he got tired of traveling all the way to the south of Poland to get to the capital.  So he moved the capital north to Warsaw, closer to Sweden.

The sword the king is holding in his right hand symbolizes "bravery", while the cross he holds shows his "readiness to fight evil".  

This column is one of Warsaw's most famous landmarks, located in the Castle Square near the Royal Castle.

This column is a re-creation of the original, which was toppled by the Germans in WWII.

Mark was very encouraging of me as I rode my bike…he said we could ride to Old Town and be just fine.  I'm so glad we made this trip together.

Before leaving the Castle area we checked in on my niece Becca's geocache that she had left in the area when she visited from the US in June and July.  It was still hidden….

….close to the Little Insurgent Monument.

                                     

While sitting outdoors at a restaurant for lunch, there was a constant helicopter fly-by….another of the activities for Polish Armed Forces Day.

Eating outside is usually a favorite activity during the summertime in Warsaw.

Relaxing, waiting, and resting….something Europeans do very well.

Returning home from our holiday bike ride….we took nearly the same route home as the one we took coming up to town.

We saw a different bit of excitement as we witnessed firemen either fighting a fire or performing a rescue of some kind.  Due to our limited Polish we didn't stop to ask anyone what was going on.

By the time we rode home, the area near the president's home that had been closed off earlier was now open.  The statue in the photo below is of Field Marshal Józef Piłsudski, the man who led Poland to victory in the 1920 Battle of Warsaw. 

In the center front of the statue is a man dressed in military clothing similar to what may have been worn in the 1920s. He was speaking in Polish, giving what we assumed as a patriotic homage to the heroes of the Miracle on the Vistula.

Coming closer to our home, we rode through our green and lush neighborhood Park Arkadia….it is truly a beautiful park each and every season!

Besides people, we also saw the growing swan family once again.

We enjoyed being out on this public holiday….appreciating a day to relax and explore Warsaw in different way together!  Another day of memories for Mark and me.