Welcome to Warsaw *

* Zapraszamy do Warszawy (Polish)

First: Please see it LARGE!!

As we say goodbye to the Czech Republic, it's now time to welcome you all on the next stop on my tour around Europe. We're heading north towards Poland. This is the Old town of Warsaw (Warszawa).

Laurie and I spent only one day in this the capitol and largest city in Poland, but from what we saw we both loved it, it was enchanting to say the least. The city was so clean and colourful. There was history and incredible architecture around each corner, exactly what I enjoy! =)

This is a photograph of a lovely scene from the Castle Square in the Historic Centre of Warsaw which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. This is one of two stunning squares I will take you to on this tour of Warsaw and Poland.

During the Warsaw uprising during WWII over 85% of the old town was destroyed, but a tireless 5 years of reconstruction has made this city what it once was so we can now all appreciate it's splendor. I hope you enjoy the views.

Would you like to ride carriage on this tour?

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Please Walk This Way As You Hear The Organ Play

This is the organ inside St. Anne’s church in the Historic Old Town of Warsaw just outside the Castle Square. This ranks as one of the oldest buildings in the city. It was built in the 15th century, but severely destroyed in 1655 by a Swedish invasion. The church made quite an impression on us with all the intricate frescoes that decorated the walls. You can see here that the two columns on either side of the organ are painted to make them look like they were made of marble. In 1939 the church was bombed and its roof burnt down together with one of the chapels. Another bomb damaged it again during the Warsaw Uprising. When reconstruction started in 1945. So as you can see this church has had a turbulent history much like the country it resides in.

I love the beauty of an organ and both Laurie and I were very impressed by the beauty of this one. It has been said that along with the clock, an organ is considered one of the most complex human-made creations before the Industrial Revolution. Mozart himself called the organ the "King of instruments".

Please enjoy the tunes...


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Let Me Take You Higher...

To the next stop on the tour...

Which is an epic view over the historic city of Warsaw in Poland photographed from the 70 meter high Bell Tower of St. Anne's Church that overlooks the vibrant Castle Square.

You can see the Warsaw Castle off to the right here and rising high above the old town, the green roof of St. John's Cathedral just to the left of it.

While I was up in the tower shooting it started to rain really hard, thank heavens there was a roof over my head, so I decided to stay put and keep on shooting these stunning views till the rain stopped. Unfortunately for me it didn't look like the rain was going to let up, it was raining for like 20 minutes with no end in sight (and from my great vantage point no end in sight was for a long time) So I headed down and started to make my way back to the hostel. Of course I was disappointed, this was such a unique and colourful city and I was hoping to get some shots at sunset and during the blue hour.

Upset, I walked down the steps of the bell tower and listened to the rain ruin my one night in Warsaw, then I turned and headed towards the cable cars. =(

All of a sudden like a gift from the heavens the sky opened up and the sun started to pour over and set on the city. What luck!! Could you believe it?! So of course I continued to shoot for the remainder of the night with a huge smile on my face!! =)

So in my next few photographs you will follow me on a night to remember and say goodbye to Warsaw with me.


Till next time, enjoy the view from here in LARGE. No HDR or Blending used here, just added some contrast/saturation and brightened it in Camera RAW


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Walk This Way...

Towards the Old Town Market Place in Warsaw, Poland.

We'll now get down from the tower and start to walk through the wet streets of this historic fairy tale city as night falls on my one night in Warsaw.

This is a photograph I captured during the blue hour of some wet cobble stones and looking towards the row of buildings in the Castle Square. This is the same buildings as in my first photo which you can see in daylight here.

Next I'm going to take you straight ahead down the street...

Let's all follow the cobble stone road....

+++ I hope all y'all are having a hella good week. Been a busy one for myself, just got a new job here. Check it out. =) +++

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The Bright Lights of Warsaw

MUST SEE THIS LARGE PLEASE!!

As night fell quickly on my one night in Warsaw, Poland the night lights came out. Follow me and lets all step inside one of the prettiest squares in Eastern Europe.

This is the Old Town Market Place. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. It sits in the centre of the historic Old Town. It is lined with unique traditional Polish restaurants, cafes and shops and is the oldest part of the city and one of the busiest tourist spots. So, with that being said, you can only imagine how hard it was to get a shot like this... in the dead of summer.

Although this is one of the oldest parts of town these buildings are only from 1948-1953. Immediately after the Warsaw uprising during WW II this square was destroyed and it was rebuilt to it's former glory for all of us to see after the war.

As the blue hour faded I was having a great time photographing the square and how could you not look at this scene. Oh and have you noticed the puddles... sign of things to come maybe? ;-]

This photograph is straight out of the camera, no HDR or Blending, just some minor adjustments in Camera RAW.

+++ I hope it's a happy Monday Blues for everyone, have a terrific week and take care of yourselves. +++

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Night of Reflection in Warsaw

IT'S A MUST SEE LARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lets all take some time to stand here in the Old Town Market Place and reflect on the history of this city.

Wandering through the streets in Warsaw, Poland it was always in the back of my mind all the history and despair that these cities and the people have gone through. It's heartbreaking just thinking that these aren't even the same buildings that once stood in this place. This sqaure was planned in the late 13th century and these buildings are only from 1948-1953.

In 1945, after the bombing, the revolts, the fighting, and the demolition of WW II had ended, most of Warsaw lay in ruins.

So on this Canadian Thanksgiving weekend lets all take the time to reflect and give thanks for everything you have in life. Because life is to short to let pass you by.

Again this is straight out of the camera, no HDR or Digital blending whatsoever. Just some minor tweaks in Camera RAW.

+++ Happy Thanksgiving my fellow Canadians, I hope everyone
gets fat and has a good time! +++

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