Saturday, 27 April 2013

Warsaw: Palace and Night out

Lazienki Palace and Park
That name doesn’t sound anything like it looks, which seems to be common with Polish words. It is pronounced “wa-zhenk-i.” Partly my keyboard doesn’t include all the Polish letters and that "L" should have a slash through it, which I’ve learned is really the W sound. W’s make the V sound.  It’s a lot of keep track of!  But I had an excellent guide - I visited the Palace with my co-worker and we had an English-speaking tour guide. 
The Palace was the residence of the last reigning Polish king, Stanislaw August in the 18th century.  There is the main Palace, as well as a largepark and several other palaces and buildings. This was the central Palace.


Another part of the complex that was used for family members of the king.  After the monarchy ended, it was a residence for military officials and most recently was a meeting place in the 1960s between diplomats from the US and China. 

The park is very large and includes a beautiful outdoor amphitheater that sits in the middle of a lake.  Plays and concerts take place throughout the summer.

Finally, the park includes the Chopin Memorial.  This is not the original – it was destroyed during WW2, but a replica was rebuilt and stands here today.  Apparently they also play free concerts on Sundays during the summer months at the Memorial. 

My last night in Warsaw, I had dinner with my co-workers at the restaurant “Oberza Pod Czerwonym Wieprzem” which translates to “The Inn Under the Red Pig.”  They serve traditional Polish food and although my entrée was fish (not too exotic), forappetizers I had some meats that I didn’t even ask to be identified.  And also mushrooms pickled in vinegar. 
The restaurant is mostly famous for being a hangout spot for Communist and Socialist leaders within Warsaw and famous visitors from other countries (Lenin, Stalin, Mao Tse Tung, Fidel Castro). Now they poke some fun with pictures of these infamous patrons on the walls and menu items named after them.  My friends also pointed out to me other things that would have been associated with the Communist era - red carnations decorated the tables, menu items that were very common during that time and even a sugar decoration on dessert plates shaped like a red star.


This is me with the host – sorry the pic is a little dark!
My work colleagues:

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