Day 25 - Warsaw

Day 25 Wednesday September 7

We are all flowing in a rhythm. The drive starts at around 8 am, every 2-3 hours there is a chai break followed by lunch. Usually a break for fueling the cars, sightseeing on the way and then settling for the night. We go on a walking tour of the city in the first half of the next day and later explore the city on our own. So it is a day of driving followed by a city break. Ours is a very responsible group. Everyone is on time and follows the instructions meticulously.

Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. During WW II, 85% of the city was destroyed. It has been rebuilt and has two distinct parts, the old town and the new modern one that has wide roads and skyscrapers. Our hotel, The Westin, is in the modern part but within walking distance of some interesting places in the city.

In Warsaw we visited the Old town marketplace, the outside of the Royal castle, Castle square, Saxon garden and Palace of Culture and science (outside), Lazienki park, Tomb of the Unknown soldier and Poland's most famous composer, Chopin's house among other places.

Frederic Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic period, who wrote primarily for solo piano.

Musical benches in the park play a short Chopin composition on the press of a button 

Today we were honoured to be invited by the Ambassador of India to Poland and Lithuania, Madam Nagma Mohamed Mallick, to the Indian embassy for lunch. A very elegant and gracious lady, she personally welcomed us, took pictures with us, and interacted while having lunch with us. It felt great to be on Indian soil in a foreign country. A racist thought did cross my mind. Hamare gate pe ek gora Polish banda guard ki duty kar raha hai. 😇😇

Her Excellency, Madam Nagma Mallick, Indian Ambassador to Poland

In conversation with the group

At the Indian Embassy in Poland

In the evening, we went to Chaiwala restaurant which is owned and managed by a Gujarati from Rajkot. We had sev puri, dahi puri and vada pav in Warsaw!!!! We Indians are everywhere. 😎😋