Bardejov

In the North of Slovakia, close to the Polish border, lies Bardejov. Although not much bigger than Goniądz, this small city is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites List, so among around a thousand most beautiful places in the world.

The city walls are still impressive.

The moat was changed in a pavewalk, but its stones look medieval.

Just next you will meet one of the fortified towers.

Behind the walls first you will enter the Jewish district.

Its heart is obviously a syngogue.

But the center of the city is this spacious Market Square. To fully aprecciate its size you should remember that the perspective is lying. The distance between the Town Hall, the building in the square's center, to the church behind is only a bit smaller then between me and the Town Hall.

The market square is surrounded by the burghers’ houses, dating from the first half of the 15th century. What is unique for Bardejov, is that the house construction is gothic, with the high steep roofs, but its ornaments are Renaissance, with ancient style portals. 

The same is with the Town Hall, the first Renaissance building in Slovakia, ...

... with its ornamented bay staircase.

Behind the Town Hall stands the tallest building of the city, Basilica Minor of St. Egidius.

Its interior is full of light and the gothic flank altairs.

Although not as big as in Kraków, they are very impressive since you can come very close and admire the details.

The main altair directs your view to the sky.

Notice the beautiful gothic arcs and the rosetta behind the pipe organ.

The gothic staircase window's ornaments are astonishing.

If you are brave as me I advise you to take the risk and climb the stairs.

You will not only see the church's roof, ...

but whole world heritage city, with the Town Hall, the market square ...

and houses that surround it, ...

and even the tower we have seen at the beginning.

So if you are not afraid of height go and visit Bardejov!

Illusion Farm

If you are in Warsaw on a sunny summer day it becomes sometime difficult to breathe. In such a case I would recommend you to take a trip to a place that is just 1.5 hour drive from the city - the Illusion Farm.

This is a place specially designed to put the magic at your fingertips. Like this water tap - the water is flowing out of it, even though there is no pipe bringing the water, the tap is literally floating in the air.

So do these plastic balls.

Obviously, when you come closer you will feel the air blown from the cones. The magic of physics. Like in this Newton's cradle.

Look, there is a flying house, like in the movie "Up!". Inside the house, all is organised under a steep angle, it is truely amazing. I had really difficulties to walk inside, not even mentioning taking pictures.

This is not the only weird house on the farm. This one is attached to a pivot and is actually rotating. With people (and horses!) inside.

A large part of the attractions is related to illusion created by mirrors.

Unfortunately inside the mirror labyrinth it is pretty dark and the pictures are rather poor.

But there is another labyrinth that stands in full light.

Easy one, you say? Well, just go and try.

Those of you who have found their way out can move on with me to see the remaining part of the park.

Watch out for the giant octopus! It has already sunk more than one boat.

The Illusion Farm is animal-friendly. They even have a camping for rabbits and other small animals.

Look! My cousing George.

Sorry friends, I need to chat with George about his new girlfriend. I propose that you explore the remaining attractions on your own. Just be careful not to fall into rabbit wholes or it may turn out that you will suddenly become smaller and smaller. If you find a table bigger than you it means that something is not entirely right.

Warsaw Uprising

Some of you told me over the last week that they are really surprised that, even though I am a citizen of Warsaw, I have spent 1st August in Nidzica. This is not entirely correct. I was in Nidzica a week ago but I have managed to be in Warsaw on time.

For all those of you who are not acquainted with the Polish history, a little introduction. The Second World War has started on 1st September 1939, when German nazis have invaded Poland. For the consecutive five years, the people of Poland were tirelessly fighting to regain their freedom. Finally, in the summer of 1944, the Polish resistance Home Army has decided to start an uprising, aimed to liberate Warsaw from the German occupation. The Warsaw Uprising has started on 1st August 1944, at 5 PM. It lasted sixty three days and unfortunately was not successful.

Both the historians and the people in the streets are divided in their judgments about the Warsaw Uprising. Some say it was a suicidal act that has cost lives to many young men who could have been the future of the nation and resulted in a total destruction of the city. Others say, that it is better to die standing proudly than to live humiliated, bent on the knees.

No matter what opinion about the Warsaw Uprising they might have, the inhabitants of Warsaw pay every year tribute to those who offered their lives for their city. The phrase "We remember" can be found in different parts of the city.

The sign that incorporates "P" and "W" is called Kotwica ("anchor"). This is an acronym of "Poland Fighting" and a symbol of the Polish Underground State. On 1st August it is omnipresent in Warsaw. But a place where you are most likely to find it is the Powązki cementary. On 1st August you can meet there virtually everybody, starting with the youngest patriots.

Those a bit older often come with their scout teams.

Obviously, all types of military forces also send their representatives.

The crosses in the back are the tombs of those who perished during the Uprising.

The alleys and the monuments are filled with white and red, the colours of the Polish flag.

Just a few steps from here, you will meet a huge crowd gathered around the tombs of the soldiers of the Zośka battalion.

Just in the middle are again scouts - many of the young soldiers were members of the Gray Ranks, actively taking part in the Warsaw Uprising.

Battalion Zośka was decorated with Virtuti Militari, the highest military order in Poland.

The inhabitants of Warsaw have a special place in their hearts for these young people. You can judge it by the number of lights that are always standing there.

There is one more special thing about 1st August in Warsaw. At 5 PM, the "W" hour, whet the Uprising has began, the city literally stops. Whenever you would be on that moment, you will not miss this hour.

So "Glory to the Heroes" as they say here.

Nidzica

Nidzica is a small town in the North-East of Poland. When I arrived there I was not really impressed. A very typical square with a very typical Town Hall ...

... surrounded by very typical residential buildings.

But when I started to walk on the left side of the square, I have noticed a building that looked more interesting. It turned out to be the seat of the National Archives.

Then came another one, an old brewery and distillery that is still operational.

Finally, up on a hill, I have spotted through the leaves the main reason for my visit.

This monument indicates clearly that the place has some military history that dates back to the Middle Ages.

Long, high walls used to be in the past a strong defence line.

From the top of the tower, the defenders could see potential attackers from far away.

I am sure that you guessed it right. The biggest tourist attraction of Nidzica is its castle, built in the second half of the fourteenth century by Teutonic Knights who ruled this part of Poland at that time. The main entrance looks similar to the city gate from Olsztyn that we saw last year.

If you look up, you will notice that the Teutonic Knights were pretty modern when it comes to their ways of spending free time.

The inner courtyard is rather narrow.

The unusual decorations around the courtyard are due to the fact Nidzica houses a gathering of fans of speculative fiction.

The Nidzica castle is a convenient place for this type of events because it offers a pretty good restaurant with regional dishes ...

... and a small hotel.

I propose that we go up to the first floor.

You will find there a library. Unfortunately it was closed when I came there.

All around the gallery on the first floor there is an exhibition showing what Nidzica looked like in the past. Just as an example, in 1914 the market square was full of horses.

At that time Neidenburg, as it was called, belonged to the German Empire. But during First World War it was heavily damaged by Russian soldiers, like these Cossacks.

All in all this is it, not much more to see here. Let's then take a final look at the castle itself.

I must admit that I was slightly disappointed by the Nidzica castle, after seeing Bytów I was expecting a bit more. Still, if you are in the neighbourhood you can drop by to taste some delicious duck dumplings.