Come and check out my first day in Warsaw

I know that many of you have been anxious to see some photos from my trip to Warsaw.  It just took a little while before I was able to upload and send the files.  What a beautiful time of year to visit this place.  As you can see, the weather was cooperative and we had a very pleasant visit.  As usual, our days are filled with sightseeing and good eats.

The first day in Warsaw, we went for a walk in a beautiful park where the Belvedere Restaurant is located.  Obviously, the park has very, very strict rules of conduct, as seen in this chart - no bicycles, no dogs, no radios, no running, no roller skating or roller blading.  It was funny that I was almost immediately run over by a policeman on a bike.

Here is a very clear and detailed map of the park for walkers.

One of the many canals in the park, which has lovely stands of trees.  The grassy areas are uncut.

The Belvedere Restaurant is an orangerie - a type of building with several added on pavilions.

Lots of tropical palms and cycads are grown in giant containers throughout the park.

Here's Kevin in front of one of the great expanses of lawn.

The bedding plants are primarily begonias - these fluffy pink ones are gorgeous.

The restaurant linens and glassware are simple, but elegant.  My Polish magazine publisher, Edipresse, invited us there for lunch.  The small bowls contain fragrant olive oil and rich balsamic vinegar.

Of course, there was delicious home-style bread for dipping.

Here's Kevin and Ewa Redel, vice-president of Edipresse Polska - a very intelligent and funny young woman.

Here I am with Anne Alexander, editorial consultant for Edipresse Polska.

This is Zbigniew Napierala, the President and CEO of Edipresse Polska and Alicja Modzelewska, the managing editor.

Look how pretty the first course was - a very refreshing, cold borscht - a creamy beet soup

Another course of sushi quality tuna, white asparagus, and micro greens.

This is a beautifully cooked perch fillet with vegetable purees.

Another entree of sea bass with asparagus.

This is river trout and a tomato 'pizza.'

I was feeling nostalgic and my lunch was pierogi filled with sauerkraut and wild mushrooms - it was good, but not as good as my mothers.

Kevin had fillet of beef - it was tender and perfectly cooked.

A very colorful carpaccio of beef.

Trou Madame is an old fashioned cafe/ice cream parlor located in the park.

We just loved visiting with the many peacocks in the park - they perch in the oddest places!

This is a small, but historically significant 'summer palace' located in the park - it's very, very beautiful.

There were gracious and tasteful interiors - as you can see, restrained decor and wonderful colors.

We all loved the carved stones.

The exterior of the palace was very refined.  There were lakes, water ways, urns, and of course, lots of peacocks!

A male peacock - resting - before strutting again for a female.

Here he goes, strutting his feathers and stuff.

Have you ever seen under and behind a peacock?  This is what it looks like - a bird's eye view, if you will.

An even better view - these birds are so tame and protected - a very good reason why no dogs are allowed in the park.

Here's a close up of the magnificent tail.

and a close up of the back

And the cause of all the commotion? - A rather plain looking female, lurking in the garden.

On closer look, she is really very pretty.

The park is a favorite spot for weddings and photography.

What would Warsaw be without a protest?  The workers of a retail store were fighting for better wages and no weekend hours.

Our publisher took us to his offices.  This is the official sign inside the building.

The reception desk - they publish 59 magazines including Martha Stewart Living!

Zbigniew Napierala, the President and CEO of Edipresse Polska - outside the classical facade of his very modern offices.

This is the doorway to our hotel, Le Regina - a very nice and well-run establishment.

The lovely outdoor arcade where we had breakfast.

Comments

[ShopLittleGifts]

Wow, the peacock was so beautiful! Looks fun!! How long did you have to wait before the peacock showed off it's feathers? The creamy beet soup looks delish. Where else are you travelling to?

[Marie]

Really wonderful! Thank you for always bringing us such glorious pics, Martha. I really appreciate your perspective of the peacock's tail. All the photos are lush and unique. Who can get enough of these gorgeous creatures, really?

[Angie D from Ohio]

I love the photo of the peacock resting on top of that statute. It looks like you had an amazing time. Thanks for sharing!

[KellySchwark.com]

I just love the photograph of the underside of the peacock! It looks like a beautifully composed piece of abstract art!

Kelly from CT

[Amy]

Hey, Martha:

How about a shot of the Polish edition of MSL? I'd love to see that. Will it be available in the US? I'm not Polish, just nosy.

Thanks for the latest dispatch--fantastic.

Amy in Houston

[Laura Nelson]

The architecture there looks amazing. I have never been but would definitely love to go someday to photograph the buildings.

[Mrs. Ben Lanier]

BEAUTIFUL! Thank you for your detailed post and pictures! We are farmers here in Colorado and will likely never travel abroad so I really appreciate this!

[Matthew]

Thank you, as always, for your generosity in sharing the marvelous details of your travels!

[Isle Dance]

The food is so beautifully dressed. But nothing can warm the tummy and heart like Mom's best food. Love the peacock photos! Your business social photos always remind me of a world I once knew, so very far away. :o)

[Barbara]

I live in Warsaw, and it's very interesting to see it through foreigners eyes (for example the restriction in the park seem normal to us, but I can see how they can be funny for Americans)

[Andrew Ritchie]

The food looks so delicious! Seeing the borscht reminded me to try your recipe in the Entertaining book. It's a great cold summer soup.

Tell us more about the Polish magazine and any other non-English MSLO publications. I know you had a Japanese magazine called "Martha." Does it still publish?

-Andrew

[Melissa]

Poland is on my Must Do list. It would be a dream to visit the two remaining State Studs there which breed the finest Arabian horses in the world!

Love the Peacock photos.

[Jon]

Witam Martha!
Warsaw is so beautiful. Your photos are fantastic as usual and the Baroque architecture is stunning.
While you were in Poland did you visit your ancestral town of Rybnik? I hear it is equally as beautiful.
Thank you for a very enjoyable posting.
Do widzenia!

[Edyta]

Greetings from Warsaw! I'll be the first one to buy the Polish edition of your magazine :)

[Sharon Ackroyd]

Absolutely beautiful photos from Warsaw. A delight to see the gardens and parks from places I likely will never travel to. Thank you for bringing them to us. Loved the colors in the photo of the outdoor arcade where you had breakfast. Thanks Martha.

[Ladymissgailo]

I loved the pics, the peacocks pics were wonderful. (yummm pierogi)

[Polka]

Dear Martha,
Warszawa is a beautiful city, I know I grew up in Poland. I recently got married and I am planning a trip to go with my new husband and show him off my "roots". Thanks to you I am going to include places to visit to my itinerary. I love the foods you pictured (I have that luxury to eat them in U.S. since I cook a lot of polish dishes myself - my husbands favorite - PIEROGIES!). Well, can't wait for more travel blogs. Enjoy and thank you.

[Ladymissgailo]

Oh for the Honey Party you are having back at the ranch...some ideas...
Here in Minnesota at the State Fair we have a honey area where they have:
1. A living bee hive so interesting to see the Queen Bee (that could be you)
2. Then they have all kinds of honey, and you can see all the different shades of honey from dark to light depending on the flowers in the area.
3. And of course you can buy the honey with the comb.
4. And the shape of the honey comb, the octagon shape.
5. What draws the bees all the colorful flowers.

Just some ideas.

[Susie]

I have only been in Warsaw in the winter so these lovely photos are great to see. I can't wait for more!

[Trish]

Thanks for the beautiful and interesting photos, Martha. The summer palace is quite grand and so is the arcade where you had breakfast. The Belvedere Restaurant is also very nice; did you get the recipe for the borscht?

Only you would get a picture of the underside of a peacock! (I'm smiling.) They sure are colorful and noisy too. We have some not too far from my house.

I'm sitting here wondering how many millions of pictures you must have from all of your travels. I can only imagine. Thanks again! Trish

[michele]

Dear Martha,

Thank your for your ability to make anything so interesting. I feel like I went to the park, feasted on the gourmet food, admired the interiors and followed a peacock around in the garden :)

I love reading your blog. Oh and I think England will change their mind on that visa. I just have a feeling it will get fixed

Oh yes. I had long stragly hair for the longest time so the other day I went to a cheap haircut place and asked the girls if they would please cut my hair like "Martha Stewart".

She did a pretty good job and I love my new hairdo :)

regards,
michele
the crafty cameleon

[Hairy Kari]

Dear Martha,
Thank you so much for sharing with all of us your love of life and many special things that some of us may never be able to experience but through your eyes only. Love you and will continue to stay tuned.

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, Thank you so much for taking us along on another fabulous journey. Your photos are absolutely gorgeous. I just love seeing places I've never seen before. The architecture and landscape in Warsaw are really beautiful. The food looks delicious. My favorite photos are of the peacocks. What beautiful birds. Thanks so much for sharing.

[Kim Wylie]

My grandmother was from Warsaw before she came here to America. I barely remember her, and I've never been. Your photos are certainly encouraging! What a beautiful place. The peacocks were lovely, too!

...what, no potato pancakes? ;)

[Cissy]

I am confused.... I keep seeing Kevin's name. Who is Kevin?? Is this Alexis' husband? Who?

The photos of the food are good - but the food at Marthastewart.com and the photos there cannot be beat!

Can't wait to see where else you are going.

Love