This is me at the US Ambassador’s residence, with the Ambassador himself. Also there is a drawing made by Dr Seuss.
Kewin, Polska Fulbrighta
This is me on a stage where some Fulbright ceremonies were held.
Palace Ruins and Unknown Soldier
This is a small portion of the main Polish Palace that someone remains intact in the ruins. It is now used as the tomb of the unknown Polish soldier. It is plain to see that no skyscrapers have been allowed nearby, as there are hopes to someday rebuild the palace (the Nazis DESTROYED EVERYTHING).
Polish White House
This is the Polish White House. Nearby is a monument to the late President Kaczynski, killed in an airplane accident (apparently, truly an accident, but much in the way of assassination conspiracy talk in Poland).
Chopin’s Heart
This is from inside a famous and beautiful church in Warsawa. In that column is the pianist Chopin’s heart. Chopin himself spent most of his life as an exile in Paris, and his body remains there, and placed in the column (and taken out for safe-keeping during the wall, this beautiful church has been rebuilt from nothing – the Nazis DESTROYED EVERYTHING. The second picture is a little scene taken just ot the left of the column; I did not even try to take pictures of the main church alter area, as no picture of mine would do justice.
Downtown Warsawa scenes
These are some downtown Warsawa scenes. The first is more-or-less the typical downtown storefront in the old city (stare miasto). You must understand that the Nazis DESTROYED EVERYTHING. All this is rebuilt from scratch. The second picture, taken from the grounds of the old castle, shows in the foreground an old column taken from the ruins – note the bullet holes.
Recycling at McDonalds
The next 15 days worth of pictures at from a visit to Warsawa (locally pronounced Va-shava). I tried to have a mix of general and specific interest. This is the first I saw after getting off the train in Warsawa – starving – and stopping at a MacDonalds for some lunch. At the trash bin you separate the paper from plastics. Why can’t we do this in the US?
Shakespeare Illustration
This is a picture for Ray Rice – a Shakespeare illustration at a train stop in downtown Szczecin. I am not sure what is being advertised, but perhaps there is a Shakespeare play in the city (if this is still going on after I return from a trip to Warsaw, I will take this in).
Dinner
I am having dinner and drinking beer (pevo) with three Chinese graduate students. From left to right, not counting mysef, are Shing Lee, Jin Peng and “Kevin” (jes, one of the Chinese students has taken mine as a nickname).
City Building and Castle
A couple of pictures of the City Building and old castle; I am sure that I will have close-in pictures of this at a later time.