Come Meet Wars & Sawa

One might be forgiven for thinking of Vienna or Paris, but the answer lies in the further east, home of the mythological characters: Wars & Sawa. The twins are the eponym of Warsaw, Poland’s capital. Just like with every legend, there are many versions of their story, but they all agree on the reason why Warsaw was named after the children: a guest wanted to express his gratitude for the politeness and generosity that he received from his Polish hosts, Wars & Sawa’s parents.

In spite of these ancient origins, Warsaw is still young. The city was virtually razed to the ground during the Second World War, and a lot has been done since to mend those terrible wounds. Nowadays, the people of Warsaw are proud of the two faces of their hometown. Modern architecture joins historic buildings around the Vistula, a celebration of the desire to rebuild.

Like many cities in Eastern Europe, Warsaw is underestimated as a tourist destination. However, the city has so much to offer. When visiting, the bases must be covered. The heart of the city beats in Stare Miasto, the city’s Old Town. It dates back to the 13th Century and was carefully reconstructed after the war.
In stark contrast, the high-rise building of the Cold War era’s Palace of Culture and Science offers everything from theatres and cinemas to museums and sports clubs.
There is more to this city than these landmarks, however. Warsaw has two faces. The guest chooses one.

Visiting Warsaw for its culture and history

Warsaw belongs to the trophy collection of every music and history lover. A comprehensive tour of the Polish National Museum will give you a veritable crash course in all things Polish and acquaint you with the likes of Marie Curie and Jan Matejko. Next comes the Fryderyk Chopin Museum in which the composer’s handwritten notes and articulating piano make for a compelling musical exhibit. The scenic Nowy Świat Street makes a great place to take an evening stroll. Restaurants offering Polish and international cuisines line up the street. Dawne Smaki, one of the restaurants, is an example of the perfect Instagram post, and the food is stellar to boot. Smacznego!

Visiting Warsaw to get seriously hungover

Museums and restaurants are great, but what about fun and games? To Interrail fanatics, Erasmus students, or Flixbus travellers, Warsaw is a well-known destination to increase your blood-alcohol level in the quickest and cheapest way. Na zdrowie! Streets such as Marszałkowska, Świętokrzyska, and Mazowiecka offer different styles of music and fun. The supermarkets are open until 12 AM to get hammered during the night. Warsaw’s restaurants are open twenty-four hours, so you can have a hearty meal even at three in the morning. Finally, there are night buses that make the end of your night a car-free and an environmentally friendly pleasure.

In the painful morning, you enjoy two breakfasts which are customary in Poland, even though by this time you have probably forgotten in which country you are. For those looking for an easy day, the Vistula offers the best opportunity to turn the formula of Netflix & Chill into Outflix & Grill. The view of the skyline is great from here, but be on the lookout for bird droppings!

Which face suits you most? There’s only one way to find out. And when you go, make sure to tell the world. There are various versions of the stories about the twins and Warsaw, but yours is still missing.

Guest Article by Julia Kaiser

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