Warsaw

The next day I got very lost trying to use the public transport-I ended up walking along a motorway at one point (not doing what I'm sure a few of your minds would relate women & motorways with!) I have to say panic set in for a few moments as I looked around to see only road.  Eventually, after walking for about 20 minutes, I found a bus which would take me back towards the centre of Warsaw & hopped of when I saw Lazienki Park (one of the places I had wanted to visit. The lakes within had all frozen but it was a stunning park with beautiful buildings & sceney.  

Once I got back into the Old Town, I went into the Royal Castle (I prefered the one in Krakow) & then took a horse & carriage ride.

  The elderly man who owned it was very nice - even though he spoke absolutely no English - & we headed off around the old town.  About 10 minutes into my ride he stopped the carriage and gestured for me to sit up front with him which I did, he then proceeded to hand me the reigns giving them a filck for the horse to start moving again & just left me to ride it.  With the exception of the language barrier, although I did learn 'left' & 'right',  I have to say I did very well!!  As we were going round all the local stall owners were cheering me on which made me feel great.  I have to say that was one of the highlights of my trip. 

I also walked around where the old Jewish ghetto had been. You would never have guessed the ghetto had been there as it was an area just like any other.  The only give away were the constant monuments placed on the pavements which led you around the area.  On the main monument in the Jewish Quarter someone had written '6 MILLION LIES' in white spray paint, I hope that person just couldn't spell & had mean't 'LIFES'.

If they didn't, it just proves that there is still anti-sematism in society today which was very disheartening & brought me straight down to earth. 

On a lighter note, I was introduced on my last night to some Polish mead by a group of Polish students, which was made by monks!! And learned a ot from them about what it was like to live in a country where some of their most dramatic historical events had taken place in the last 15 years. I had a great time with them just like I was in apub back home with my own friends, 2 of them were even as kind as to insist in getting me back to my hotel. 

I found that it was actually really hard to leave a country which I had known hardly anything about until 5 days previously & a country which so many people in this country has so many predujices about.