I have been experimenting with the different ways of getting WIFI in the city. One of the best places to go and get free WIFI is in McDonald's.The reason is that you get unlimited free WIFI in each restaurant. So, while you are sitting there chomping away on your Big Mac, get out your tablet or laptop and hook up to their network. No password necessary!
Something new has just sprung up in the centre as well. It started with a teaser campaign showing that there was WIFI in the centre by the central underground station. It turns out that it's an ORANGE company campaign and lo and behold there are dishing out free WIFI on an open network right outside the central underground station. The network gives a strong signal too, let's hope it lasts a while. Happy surfing!
Table football in Warsaw
Bored of playing the real thing? Why not try the classic mini version of football - table football. I love my local table in Park Odynca nearby. The funny thing is that you you have to bring your own ball (a squash ball is good enough) or play with a stone if you want. The table is very good quality (sturdy and weatherproof) and the players have got real character as you can see from the picture. Unfortunately, as you can also see, it wasn't really the weather for playing it.
If you travel around the city enough you will inevitably end up spotting what look like giant inflatable aircraft hangars. These are, in fact, tennis courts. To overcome the harsh winters they have invented these covered areas for all year-round play. You can fit four courts under one roof and the surface is usually clay. We play next to the venue for the Warsaw Open at the Warszawianka Sports Centre and at Gwardia Stadium.
Here's a picture of the official Euro 2012 football - available to buy in GO Sports - at a price!
Euro 2012 official football
If you ever visit Warsaw, have a look inside the Palace of Culture. There are 3000 rooms, a swimming pool, a cinema, museums, theatre and a bar or two.
One of the coolest places is Cafe Kulturana which is on the east entrance side of the building. Wannabe intellectual-types sit around discussing art,drinking Paulaner beer or sipping mojitos. Or expats go there and try and blend in. It's a good place to start off an evening because it is right in the centre of town (in Warsaw bars are dotted around all over the place).
So, while you down your first pint in these historic surroundings, you can talk about where to go for the pub crawl.
Here are some photos taken inside the Palace. Many fixtures and fitting are original.
As you are probably aware by now, Warsaw has not one dominant architectural style. This is due to to the wars, destruction and therefore rebuilding that has had to happen (especially after WWII where 80% of the city was destroyed) and where different town planners and architects meet.
In summary, Prague or Barcelona it ain't but seek and you shall find interesting things. Open your eyes, go off the beaten track and you'll be amazed at what you can find.
Here is a selection of photos showing the different kinds of styles on offer (old and new).
In the summer I went to the Warsaw horserace track for the first time. I'd heard a lot about it and what a fantastic day out it turned out to be. It's a place where history, passion and excitement all seamlessly meet together.
As you approach the racecourse there are the abandoned buildings from its heyday. Then you reach the main pavillion and it lives up to its reputation as being one of Warsaw's outstanding examples of original 1930s modernism (similar to the De La War Pavillion in Bexhill if you can imagine). Sweeping white lines and wraparound glass windows all set in acres of greenery.
The course is well looked after - you can see. The turf is in good condition and one of the great things is that you can stand outside with a drink right where the horses come out at the start of the race.
There was a real mix of people there too - famillies, groups of lads and couples. Just for a day anyone can go and forget their worries and stick a few zlots on the gee-gees.
Tip:Brush up on your betting lingo before you go and which horses are running in the races on that day.
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