A Walk in Łazienki

Yesterday, I took a stroll to the Royal Baths. It's a full circle for me, since I first came to them in 2006 in the dead of winter (also in the evening.) I find them more enjoyable in the winter, covered in snow, since the people that usually come are smartly dressed and there are far fewer of them than in summer. The downside is that the botanical gardens are closed.

Some lovely couple asked me how to get to Belweder, which I was obliged to give. As a man, I naturally derive pleasure from two sources: A. Getting to a destination without asking directions (doubly if the route is inadequately marked.) B. Providing directions to others (especially when you're a bit of a stranger there yourself.) I was patting my back about it all the way around the pond.

There is no lack of fowl in the Baths this time of year. Aside from the common pigeon, the ever-present peacocks, and the ducks, many other birds are making noise in the canopy of the trees. I must admit, since I'm in Europe I do miss the call of the chickadee. Maybe some other bird in the Tit family (yes, there is a family of birds call tits) can fill that small, fluffy void. The birds that are citizens of the park show little fear to humans and meander right up to them in search of a meal. They make the swans and geese in the Boston Public Gardens look shy and bashful. A pair of ducks and some pigeons saddled right up to me, looking for a handout (I disappointed them, I'm afraid.)

One of the couples strolling along the paths.

From the Palace on the Lake.

Feeding the some of the many peacocks. The woman and child were as brightly colored as the birds.

Small Walks About

Occasionally, I sling up my camera bag and go for a stroll about this fair city. I've seen the Old Town and New Town a million-plus times, so now I usually aim for the less prominent parts.

Recently, I went for a walk in Powisle and along the Wisla.

125 Burza (I think it's a graffiti ad for a nudie bar or something.)

Is that a set of boobs or an 8? Anyway, the yellow dots lead the "125 Burza."

The Wisla is pretty enough, and I rather like the bridges that pass over. Powisle seems to be a forgotten part of the city. It's on the bank of the Wisla, but all major traffic goes over it; over the bridges that soar over most of the buildings there; over to the Pragas. Under one of them there's a small shopping complex of sorts. It's actually very quiet, and I usually don't see a lot of people strolling about.

I prefer to walk around there on overcast/rainy days or in the evening. It fits the mood better. The concrete walk along the river is often littered with trash, and it's often not crowded. It's a nicer walk towards the Old City, and there are determined anglers at several intervals. (One note: for those of you who know Boston, would you eat a fish caught in the Charles? Probably not.) There's not a whole lot of development right up on the banks of the river like there is other cities.

Walking across the platform at Warszawa Powisle, I quickly turned on my digital camera and snapped a quick picture of the departing train. I was aiming to get a picture of the bright yellow doors, but I got the picture below.

It's cooler to stand in the open doorway (easier to escape the conductor too) than it is to sit in the empty seats.

On a rainy walk back home, I passed by an open door leading into a courtyard garden. It looked rather peaceful and pretty, so I entered to see the garden, but a lady in sitting just inside the courtyard shooed me out, telling me it wasn't free for me.