Warsaw, Day 5

Today was our last day in Poland. But, our flight didn't leave until 5, so we still had a lot of day in which to visit places.

First, we went to the Scout Museum. It was right across the street from our hotel. It's listed in the tourist guides that you actually get in Warsaw, but apparently, nobody goes there. It's actually in the Scout HQ, so we had to get badges. Then, there was a bit of a hullabaloo to find somebody who spoke English to show us around. The lady that came down wasn't the normal museum guide, but she spoke English, and she used to be a Scout.

It turns out that most of the Scout memorabilia is in the basement, which is off-limits to visitors, but they have one room with a rotating display. We were there for the Scout Post display, which was perfect, because the Scout Post is what had piqued our interest in the first place. Well, mostly. I had told Em about what the Scouts had done in the Uprising, and then we saw all of the Scout badassery in the Warsaw Uprising Museum. Most of that was about the Post, though. So, it was neat to see all of the stuff they had. We also learned that the Post wasn't just during the Uprising. They had used it before, but it became more popular during the Uprising, when normal means of communication were cut off. They had some original postcards and stamps.

We packed up and checked out, so Em had to come with us to the Gestapo HQ. But, she sat outside. I had read that the Gestapo HQ was sadder than Pawiak. On the way, we stopped at an intersection and tried to figure out where we were. An American voice asked us if we needed help finding something. We told him we were going to the Gestapo HQ. He said he was going partway in that direction, and we could come with him. He said he was fro the Embassy. That was kind of neato. The museum is located in the actual Gestapo HQ from the war. There was a short movie that we watched that explained how people had been tortured and killed in that building.

Torture instruments

A cane and stool

We saw the rooms called "trams" where people were held for days at a time, not allowed to eat, drink, speak, or sleep.

We saw graffiti on the walls of cells.

We saw the peepholes in the doors that the Gestapo used to shoot at the prisoners in the cells.

You can see the bullet holes on the wall

It was very sad.

The last thing I wanted to do in Poland was to visit a milk bar. These are cafeterias that were set up by the Communists, and some still remain today. I thought it would be fun to eat in a communist cafeteria. I had seen a recommendation for one on Nowy Swiat, the street of 100 cafes, but it was closed for good. I found another one not too far from the Gestapo HQ, so we decided to go there for lunch. We got there, and it's gone, too. I was disappointed.

So, it was back to the hotel for lunch. It was actually really good, though! I was brave and tried a Polish soup, and I really liked it. Zurek soup. Yummy.  

I like that pasta is makarony

Thank you for non smoking

Zurek soup served in a bread bowl

Then, it was prefect timing to catch a cab and get to the airport. I had a great time!

Emma says - The Scout Museum was really interesting. I liked seeing how the Scouts are in another country. Sitting outside the museum would have been productive if I had remembered to save the progress on my DS game. :( I had fun in Poland, I'm glad we went.