Exploring Warsaw

The grandparents came to visit from the States and we took a side trip to Warsaw, Poland. While Warsaw may not be at the top of everyone's list as a vacation spot, we found it to be a delightful and interesting place!

The grandparents and our kids in the Old City Square. 

Scaling the Barbican . . . 

and anything else in our path!

One of our favorite ways to get to know a culture is through its food! We love to explore grocery stores, outdoor markets, and restaurants.

Poziomka! A type of wild strawberry. My kids downed these and 500g of the sweetest raspberries we ever got ahold of in about 15 minutes.  Stomachaches afterwards, but it was worth it!

A local bakery with lots of yummies

And baked Pierogis! Who knew that they could be baked and not boiled?!!

Warsaw also has some great museums. The Copernicus Science Center is literally for people of all ages. It is three floors of playful science experiements that will keep the family entertained for hours.  It is fun and entertaining, but at the same time intelligent and not over-the-top. 

My daughter is building a dome with foam bricks.  When she is finished,
the yellow ballon deflates to test her work and see if the dome stands.

This was in the preschool section.  It is a wall something akin to "Light Brights"
where the kids press in pegs that reveal a pattern on the other side.  A tactile paradise. 

We also love to wander through old churches and talk about the imagery with our children.  And in Warsaw, there is a beautiful Catholic church on every corner.  

My kids particularly liked this depiction of St. John the Baptist. I was pleased when they recognized who he was after I asked them a few questions about what they were viewing. Although we don't always think of sculptures and paintings in older churches as being "kid-friendly", children find them fascinating when they are allowed to play guessing games about the content. 

In the Church of St. John the Baptist, there was an unusual and moving Stations of the Cross
carved as three dimensional sculptures protruding from a two-dimensional surface.
We walked through all the Stations with our kids who were glued to them
and loved figuring out what happened at each station.
This led to a spontaneous prayer time from the kids thanking Jesus
for his sacrifice for us and the world. 

My daughter turned into a Polish princess midway through the trip
with this crown of flowers that is apparently traditional in Krakow.

A happy Mommy and Daddy!