Warsaw Poland

 Not disappointed on the pierogi front at all. Although I am obsessed with the cabbage and mushroom variety and do not stray from there, thus not being a well rounded expert, I can safely say that these were boss. So crazy tender and tasting like the forest. And the clear beet broth that is prevalent, like savoury tea that’s bound to cure whatever ails you. Aah Poland, well done. What else…on the food and drink front there was the all night corner bar that serves mostly herring and vodka, which is a glorious concept and a lot of fun, even if I don’t particularly get down with the pungent smoked fishes. I did like that they were covered in raw onions and olive oil- goes lovely well with cold vodka. I will say though that my other favourite Polish treat, the paczki (donut), did not measure up to the ones our hometown Polish bakery does. These were more like….donuts. Too big and too cakey on the inside, fried tasting on the outside. Lack-luster jam on the inside. Our Polish peeps in Montreal do a stellar version with not too sweet plum jam inside a modest dome of perfect dough. Good thing that’s far from home, get those things out of my face. Actually, get a lot of things out of my face. Like mini chocolate bars and other random candies, piles of these things backstage at festivals. As if anyone needs to feel worse on the road. Ok ok, maybe other people genuinely find joy in the festival snacks. But they sneak up you with their bad vibes, just watch. 

So apparently the whole “Old Town” in Warsaw is completely reconstructed. Which makes sense, both from history and from the fact that it feels perfectly fairy tale. Clean and ornate, not what I was expecting. There are old paintings on display in one of the town squares that were actually used for the re-construction. 

Another thing I noticed was that people don’t drink much water. Or at least, the demand is low enough that street-side vendors and kebab shops don’t sell it. And they don’t bring it to you at restaurants. This made me endlessly thirsty. 

We were staying in a pretty faceless business hotel, and while lacking in personality and coziness, places like this have been excelling in the amenities department. This one for instance had the fitness room on the top floor. Total penthouse style. And these days the hotel gyms like to come off as real fitness facilities and usually have some kind of studio where classes are held. Only there are never any classes held. Just me, copping quality time with my mat. I only mention this because on this particular occasion I found myself in one of these bare rooms while the sun was setting. On the 40th floor facing a wall of windows, looking out over Warsaw while the pink glowed, a dusky savasana. It doesn’t matter how many millions of hours it takes to get to your destination when there’s this long moment of beauty on the other end. Not to mention things stuffed with mushrooms and cabbage.

And then the show of course, our first show in Poland. Our friend Basia Boulot opened the night, surprising the crowd with her perfect Polish. She’s so lovely. And Polish. And makes really pretty songs. The room was super polite for her set, in a way that made me predict a quiet-ish reaction for us, only they weren’t. They were audibly pumped and jumping and it made me so happy. 

Was sad to leave this place. And what’s more, a 17 hour journey to Luxembourg, the place I have no mental image for. Good-bye the East.