Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw

The Palace is in the center of Warsaw located just across the street from the train station and Warsaw's newest GIANT mall, Golden Terace. Standing in front of the Palace you simply turn around and see another monument, this one to the west, Warsaw Hard Rock Cafe! The view from the top is amazing.. The shopping is extrordinary in this area. There is a small shop that sells all kinds of Polish crafts and one that sells beautiful Polish Christmas ornaments. Short ride to Old Town and all the old bridges over the river. Hotels in this area can be costly but one simply has to drive a few short kilometers out of town to find really nice old hotels that offer wonderful hospitality and GREAT food for very low prices. Avoid people asking for money or to guard your car as they will grab your wallet and run. Although this is extremely rare. I lived here for almost two years and I never felt threatened or scared no matter where I went in the city and indeed the entire country. polish people are very friendly and helpful. I met people who actually gave me their phone numbers so I could call if I needed help with translations. Most places in the citys will have more than enough english speakers but when you get out to the country side, there are little food pavilions that offer wonderful Polish foods where you could get stuck if you do not know the language. I recomend you try Panga, a beautiful white fish that is awesome with horse radish! I highly recomend Warsaw, Krackow and Gadansk for starters and if you have time visit Lodz in the west and Ruda Slanska in the south. Winter is fun in the south for skiing but the days are really short starting around 9am and getting pitch black by 3pm. Summers can be hot in the day but night time temps drop down pretty low and the day lasts forever! Starts around 4am and doesn't get real dark until almost 10pm up North near the Baltic Sea.

The Poles refer to it as P-Kin, or Peking as the running joke goes. This is a true monument to the old communist days. Many young Poles would like to see it torn down, but the elders feel it is a required eyesore: to remind the Poles of how times once were,under Soviet oppression, and not to forget. It has been said that it was built as a giant "disguised" radio tower. I believe it. What better way for the boys in Red to communicate with Moscow. Definitely worth visiting, and have a glipmse back in time.

I like the price of everthing in this place except the beer. The beer is too expensive. It teaches you a lot of things about Poland and it's way of living