Katie's Kite

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Where to go in Warsaw? The best places in the Polish Capital - Kam v Varšavi? Najboljši kotički v poljski prestolnici

The capital of Poland was for a long time hidden below the weight of its tragic past, portraying the image of a boring and grey city. This rather poor image does not reflect reality anymore. Warsaw is undergoing a big change, and this process, this metamorphose, is very promising. Design, architecture and contemporary art have found its place in this capital, which is worth a visit.

Yet, before an eye of a visitor notices that renaissance of the city, it surely stops on the traces of communist era. Despite the development of the city, the heavy past of this city is not disappearing, and it somehow seems right not to.

Poljska prestolnica je bila pred očmi sveta dolgo časa skrita pod težo težke preteklosti in se je zdela bolj dolgočasno in sivo mesto kot kaj drugega, bolj pozitivnega. Ta zelo poenostavljena in uboga slika prestolnice ne odraža več resnične podobe mesta. Varšava se zelo hitro drastično spreminja in razvija, ta preobrazba pa se zdi zelo obetajoča. Dizajn, arhitektura in sodobna umetnost so našli svoj prostor v tej prestolnici, ki je vsekakor vredna obiska.

Pa vendar – preden lahko oči obiskovalca opazijo to preobrazbo mesta, se zagotovo najprej ustavijo na ostankih iz obdobja komunizma. Kljub razvoju mesta sledi preteklosti ostajajo, in nekako se tako zdi edino prav.

Even more – this stamp is what makes the city special. As I have mentioned the other day, Warsaw is a city of many faces, which makes it interesting for visitors. There is something for everyone. I have found some great places you should visit when in Polish capital in order to experience some more local and less touristic Polish spots.

The old city centre is very lovely and the time seems to stop there for a while. Colored buildings, narrow streets, cobbled stones, the city wall and more create altogether a great atmosphere. Buy yourself a waffle with a topping of your choice (I can never have enough of cream. In combination with fruits is just delicious) and enjoy it while strolling around the old part of the city. After you pass the city wall and head towards Marie Curie’s house, stop in the nicest Polish coffee place To Lubię. Besides great atmosphere in this small and super lovely place in a belfry of the Dominican church, they offer the best fruit tea I have had in Warsaw together with all home-baked pastries. I could spend hours there, I swear.

Ta pečat je pravzaprav tisti, ki naredi Varšavo zanimivo in posebno. Kot sem na hitro omenila zadnjič, je Varšava mesto mnogih obrazov, kar je zelo zanimivo za obiskovalce. Zagotovo se najde nekaj za vsakogar. Sama sem našla par res simpatičnih točk, ki bi morale biti na seznamu vsakega obiskovalca, ki želi Varšavo odkriti kot domačin in ne le kot turist.

Staro mestno jedro je res simpatično in zdi se, da se čas tam ustavi za trenutek. Barvite stavbe, ozke ulice, tlakovane poti, mestni zid in še več skupaj ustvarijo res odlično vzdušje. Kupi si vafelj z nadevom po izbiri (sama nimam nikoli dovolj smetane. Skupaj s sadjem na vaflju je res top) in ga pojej med počasnim sprehodom po starem delu mesta. Po tem, ko greš mimo mestnega zidu proti hiši Marie Curie, se ustavi v najbolj simpatični poljski kavarnici To Lubię. Poleg res finega vzdušja v tej majhni in simpatični kavarni v zvoniku dominikanske cerkve ponudijo res najboljši sadni čaj, kar sem jih pila v Varšavi, in to skupaj z vsemi domačimi slaščicami. Prisesžem, da bi lahko tam ostala ure in ure.

There are quite some really nice parks in Warsaw, which are all simply beautiful during the autumn time. The most talked about is Park Łazienki, the largest park in Poland with the Palace on the Water, but you shouldn’t miss the botanical garden on the roof of the university library. The latter is apparently very popular among newlyweds who want to remember their wedding with a collection of photos in a beautiful setting.

Varšava ima kar nekaj res simpatičnih in v jesenskem času naravnost čudovitih parkov. Najodmevnejši je Park Łazienki, ki je največji poljski park s Palačo na vodi, nikakor pa ne smete spregledati botaničnega vrta na strehi univerzitetne knjižnice. Očitno je slednji zelo priljubljen med mladoporočenci, ki želijo svojo poroko ovekovečiti z zbirko lepih fotografij.

Last but not least, there are some very modern places in Warsaw, accompanied by a great design and architecture. Not to be missed is Mysia 3, a concept store building just a few steps from Ulica Nowy Świat, the famous palm tree and Charles de Gaulle monument. I had the chance to attend the opening of a really interesting photo exposition of a Danish young artist Jacob Aue Sobol, “Arrivals and Departures”, in Leica Gallery on the top floor of Mysia 3.

If you want to do some shopping, go to Plac Unii instead in the humongous shopping centre behind the central station (which is worth visiting because of its extraordinary architecture). It is a newly opened and super beautiful shopping centre a bit out of the city centre, but worth visiting. It also makes you discover the city even better. Go there after you had been to Park Łazienki and stop in Ministerstwo Kawy on the way back to the centre. Ministerstwo Kawy is a really nice coffee place where mainly locals go.

Ne gre pozabiti na kar nekaj zelo modernih delov Varšave z odličnim dizajnom in arhitekturo. Zelo zanimiv je manjši trgovski center s konceptom Mysia 3, samo par korakov stran od Ulice Nowy Świat, slavne palme in spomenika Charlesa de Gaulla. Imela sem srečno priložnost, da sem se udeležila odprtja foto razstave mladega danskega umetnika Jacoba Aue Sobola, “Arrivals and Departures”, v Leica Gallery v najvišjem nadstropju Mysia 3.

Za res fin shopping priporočam Plac Unii namesto ogromnega nakupovalnega centra za glavno postajo (ki ga je vseeno vredno obiskati zaradi res zanimive arhitekture). Plac Unii je na novo odprt in res lep nakupovalni center malo ven iz strogega centra mesta, ampak res vreden ogleda. Hkrati je to fina priložnost za odkritje drugih delov mesta. Pojdi tja na poti od Parka Łazienki in se kasneje na poti nazaj v center ustavi v Ministerstwo Kawy, res fini kavarni, kamor večinoma zahajajo le prebivalci Varšave.

Some of my favourite places for drinks and food (some of them have already been mentioned):

To Lubię for delicious cakes, tortillas and tea
Ministerstwo Kawy for great pastries, bagels and lemonades
Pies czy Suka for cocktails and an amazing design/concept store experience
Croque madame for a nice French breakfast (I know, not that Polish at the end)
Zurawina for delicious lunch in a fancy atmosphere (less untypical Polish though)
Nekaj mojih najljubših kotičkov za pijačo in hrano (nekateri so bili že omenjeni):

To Lubię za slastne sladice, tortilje in čaj
Ministerstwo Kawy za res fine tort ice, bagelse in limonade
Pies czy Suka za koktajle in za res odličen dizajn/trgovino s konceptom
Croque madame za simpatičen francoski zajtrk (vem, da to ni tako zelo poljsko, pa vendor)
Zurawina za res odlično kosilo v bolj fensi vzdušju.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Mermaid in Warsaw - Morska deklica v Varšavi

Did you know that Copenhagen wasn't the only city to have a statue of a mermaid? Warsaw is another one. The story about it is quite different, but so are the two countries. Tonight is my last night in this city. It has been a few great days, the temperatures have dropped in those few days and today it was for the first time that I put the winter coat on. Exciting! :)

° ° ° ° °

Kdo bi si mislil, da Kopenhagen ni edino mesto z morsko deklico? Varšava ima čisto svojo morsko deklico. Njena zgodba je povsem drugačna od danske, kar se pravzaprav precej dobro sklada z različnostjo dveh držav. Danes je moj zadnji večer v tem mestu. Par res finih dni sem imela, temperature so se spustile v teh parih dneh in danes sem prvič oblekla zimski plašč. Exciting! :)

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Impressions from Warsaw - Utrinki iz Varšave

Here are some of my first captured moments in Warsaw. It is a city of many faces, with a long history and the ability to create a wonderful atmosphere. The colors of autumn and not-winter-at-all temperatures play a big role in this. Can't wait to discover it more!

° ° ° ° °

Tu je nekaj prvih utrinkov iz Varšave. Mesto ima veliko obrazov in dolgo zgodovino ter zna pričarati čudovito vzdušje. Barve jeseni in prav-nič-zimske temperature imajo pri vsem tem veliko vlogo. Veselim se naslednjih dni in odkrivanja mesta!

Friday, October 25, 2013

Autumn Holidays! - Jesenske počitnice!

Kinder went Christmas. Schoko-Bons have Christmas decoration. I haven’t even noticed it right away, but when I did, it gave me a weird feeling. Christmas. It is actually not that far anymore.

Anyhow, Schoko-Bons are great to celebrate a week of holidays, and if Christmas motives represent the holiday spirit, then be it. I have a week off, after the mid-term exams and lots of hours spent at the university.

I am on my way to Warsaw, Poland. It will be my first time in a country I have heard so much about from my friends, and I am really looking forward to it!

° ° ° ° ° °

Kinder se je obarval božično. Schoko-Bons vrečka je okrašena z božičnimi motivi. Na začetku dekoracije sploh nisem opazila, ko pa sem jo, sem se zdrznila. Božič. V bistvu ni več tako daleč.

Kakor koli, Schoko-Bons so odlični za praznovanje tedna počitnic, in če božični motivi predstavljajo počitniško vzdušje, potem pa tudi prav. Imam en teden počitnic, po kolokvijih in urah preživetega časa na faksu.

Sem na poti v Varšavo, na Poljsko. Prvič bom šla v državo, o kateri sem od svojih prijateljev slišala veliko simpatičnih stvari. Res se veselim!

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Winter in Paris - Zima v Parizu

I guess it is the time for me to take winter clothes from the last non-unpacked box. And prepare a cup of cinnamon&apple tea. And put some warm socks on. I smelled it tonight, the winter. The temperatures went down, the winter is coming into town. Slowly. I like it.

Cold and windy Copenhagen prepared me well for Paris weather. It is nothing compared to last year’s Danish weather, but sometimes it doesn’t seem that far from it, to be honest. So I keep cycling instead of using the metro, even if I go a bit farther, and I keep enjoying it.

Today, on a Saturday, I went to the groceries. Riding the bike back home with a full basket and passing the Louvre and then one of the bridges over Seine, I was thinking that even the most ordinary thing, such as shopping for food on a Saturday morning, seems special in Paris. Or maybe it is just me seeing it as special.

Anyhow, I enjoy Paris a lot. I am getting better in remembering the one-way streets (oh, they are just so many here!!), avoiding the tourists and rather take some smaller but nicer streets and boulevards. I am not waiting at the red light but pass when I see it is safe to do so.

A friend of mine, a non-French, told me the other day: “You are so French!” When I asked him why, he went on: “The way you say this and that, the body language you have – you just seem so French.” I took that rather as a compliment. Some people have said so far that I have a French accent in English. This is rather not a compliment :D And it is not true, just to be clear on that :D

But I wouldn’t want to argue about my immersion into another culture. I think it is a great thing one can do when living in a foreign country for some time. A lady I talked to for a very short while in Paris, two or three years ago, told me: “When you are in another country, you must eat what people there eat.” She wanted to emphasize the importance of immersion into another culture, and that it makes no sense comparing all the time with your home country, criticizing instead of accepting, avoiding instead of trying. I think she had a very good point there.

And not-good point of the day: in the shops they already sell chocolate advent calendars. And what is even worse – I saw some people buying them! :D Crazy world.

° ° ° ° ° °

Mislim, da je čas, da odpakiram še zadnjo ne-odpakirano škatlo, škatlo z zimskimi oblekami. In čas, da si pripravim skodelico cimetovega in jabolčnega čaja. In oblečem tople nogavice. Začutila sem vonj po zimi, danes zvečer. Temperature so se spustile, zima se bliža. Počasi. Všeč mi je!

Mrzel in vertoven Kopenhagen me je dobro pripravil na pariško vreme. Ne more se primerjati z lanskim danskim vremenom, ampak moram vseeno priznati, da se včasih ne zdi tako daleč. Še naprej torej kolesarim namesto vožnje z metrojem, tudi če grem malo dlje, in še naprej uživam v tem.

Danes, v soboto, sem šla v trgovino po hrano. Ko sem se peljala domov s polno košarico na kolesu in sem šla mimo Louvra pa potem čez enega od mostov čez Seine, sem razmišljala o tem, da se tudi najbolj enostavna stvar, kot je nakupovanje hrane v soboto zjutraj, zdi posebna v Parizu. Ali pa se samo meni zdi posebna.

Kakor koli, Pariz mi je res všeč. Vse boljša postajam v tem, da si zapomnim enosmerne ulice (ki jih je tu res veliko!!), da se izognem turistom in raje kolesarim po manjših in simpatičnih ulicah in avenijah. Ne čakam več pri rdeči luči na semaforju, ampak prečkam cesto, ko vidim, da jo je varno prečkati.

Prijatelj, ne-Francoz, mi je pred kratkim rekel: “Ti si tako francoska.” Ko sem ga vprašala, kaj me naredi francosko, je nadaljeval: “Način, kako rečeš to in tisto, kako to poveš s celim telesom – enostavno francoska se zdiš.” To sem vzela kot kompliment. Zgodilo se je že, da mi je kdo rekel, da imam francoski naglas, ko govorim angleško. To, na primer, ni kompliment :D In samo da je jasno – ni res :D

Kar pa se tiče moje “potopitve” v tujo kulturo, mislim, da je imel moj prijatelj prav. Zdi se mi, da je ena izmed najboljših stvari, ki jih lahko naredimo, ko živimo v tuji državi, ta, da se “potopimo” v kulturo te države. Gospa, s katero sem se pred leti za kratek čas pogovarjala v Parizu, mi je rekla: “Ko si v tuji državi, moraš jesti to, kar jedo prebivalci te države.” Kar je želela poudariti, je ravno ta pomembnost “potopitve” v tujo kulturo in to, da nima smisla stalno primerjati stvari s svojo domovino, kritizirati namesto sprejemati, izogibati se namesto preizkušati. Mislim, da je gospa z menoj delila zelo pomembno modrost.

In ne-dober utrinek dneva: v trgovinah že prodajajo čokoladne adventne koledarje. In kar je še hujše – videla sem ljudi, ki so jih dejansko kupovali! :D Narobe svet.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Relaxed Sunday with some tea - Sproščena nedelja s čajem

It was raining last night and even though it is not particularly cold (yet), the atmosphere just calls for some tea, warm socks and some good readings. A relaxed but working Sunday. I have bought myself a new collection of teas and, after trying it out for the first time with almost trembling hands, it is so far the best French substitution for my favourite tea I cannot buy in Paris. Having it nicely stored in the best tea box in the world (it was a special present I ever since take with me when I move) just adds the charm and serves as a nice decoration in the apartment. It will be a nice Sunday.

Sinoči je deževalo in čeprav (še) ni posebno mrzlo, današnje vzdušje kliče po skodelici čaja, toplih nogavicah in dobrem branju. Sproščena, a delavna nedelja. Zadnjič sem si kupila novo zbirko čajev, ki je, po tem, ko sem jo prvič preizkusila s skoraj tresočimi se rokami in v velikem pričakovanju, najboljši približek mojega najljubšega čaja do sedaj. Pisane vrečke sem spravila v najboljšo čajno škatlo na svetu (bila je posebno darilo in jo vedno vzamem s seboj, ko se preselim), kar še posebej doda čar in je hkrati simpatična dekoracija stanovanja. Luštna nedelja bo.

A perfect weekend getaway at Oranda Village

Hotel Adèle and Jules, love at first sight

Best coffee in Bordeaux