I had a big day today. Plus rain was in the forecast and I didn’t pack an umbrella. I had packed the night before so that I wouldn’t have to race to repack this morning as I was going to be leaving for Krakow on a train at 5:50 p.m. 

The breakfast buffet was a bit less crowded today. I could tell a lot of people were going home today. It was probably those weekend Travelers that were there for Saturday.

I got my usual scrambled eggs and Cocoa Puffs cereal. And now a word about the glass size of the juice machine. The glass size is one step up from a shot glass. I can get probably about three swallows out of it before having to get a refill. But it seems all normal to Europeans. They don’t question having to get up several times in order for them to quench their thirst. I’ve said it before. Europeans are camels. They seem perfectly fine with no free refills and small glasses for breakfast juices. This goes hand-in-hand with the pay toliets. Having no free refills means one’s bladder is not full therefore they do not have to pay for the for the body function of relieving oneself while out on the town.

There was light rain when I left the hotel room but not overpowering so much that I would have waited until it stopped. I’ve seen Gully washers before in Tennessee, and I’m sure they’ve had heavy rain before in Europe. But this goes to show you if rain is in the forecast don’t feel as though your trip is going to be ruined. It only means that part of the day there may be rain, unless of course the forecast shows Heavy Rain which in that case you might need to stay in your hotel room.

I found my way to the metro station and bought a 24-hour ticket. I figured I’d be using the buses trams and Subways a lot therefore it would make more sense to get the 26 zloty take it rather than having to pay 4.30 zloty for each and every ride.

The Warsaw Uprising museum is free on Sundays. I got to the museum at around 9:10. The museum didn’t open until 10 a.m. and I was quickly reminded by staff members already on the premises. Has more and more people arrived I decided would be best to stand in front of the ticket office. I stood there for a good 15 to 20 minutes until a Polish lady came by and ask to worker if tickets were to be bought here. There was a separate office for tickets and an entrance Door far away from the ticket office. The worker confirm that since today was free ticket day that they would be giving tickets out at the entrance. There is already a line forming and I decided I better get in line.

There was a big mass of people trying to get in as it was raining lightly. There was no Rhyme or Reason.  There were quite a few people who just cut in line. When the door is open they were only letting a few in at a time so as not to overwhelm the exhibit. I did get in and found the museum was difficult to absorb with so many people around. I really wish that I had gotten the audio guide which seemed to be unavailable on free day.

There was an exhibit on children who helped during the Warsaw Uprising. Children as young as 12 years old served as couriers during the battles. Some of these children lost their lives during the uprising.

I did get to see a 3D movie which showed an aerial view of what Warsaw must have looked like during the war. The Nazis pretty much flattened the city. Very few buildings remained of the downtown area of Warsaw. The Nazis wanted to wipe it off the face of the map.

I watched a movie showing old newsreel footage of the uprising. It was important to dig wells in case the Germans cut off water to the city. Mini of the Polish resistance used the sewers as a way of navigating around the city. The exhibit had an area where you could feel what the sewers for like 2 walkthrough but without the waste.

The museum had items donated by those involved in the uprising including mini personal mementos,  arm band flags, a bicycle, and many other various items.

I enjoyed the museum but felt that I probably could have done better had I not gone on free day. There’s something to be said about paying so that you don’t have to deal with the crowd issue. I’m sure had I gotten an audio Guide I would have been joined the exhibit better. 

Next to is trying to navigate my way to the Museum of neon using public transport. The thing about Google Maps is that it requires a WiFi connection. If you lose that WiFi connection you could be lost randomly roaming the city for a non-existent bus stop. I did manage to find a WiFi signal at the Museum which I used to navigate my way to the bus stop. 

On my way to the bus stop I passed by an anomaly. That is a Domino’s pizza restaurant. I had been eating Pizza Hut for quite a while and was interested in trying a new brand of pizza. The worker tried to get me to buy a large pizza at the same price as a small pizza but what he didn’t realize was that I couldn’t possibly eat a large pizza so why buy it? I got a small pepperoni pizza. He was pretty hot when it came out of the oven and I think I’m probably didn’t let it cool down enough before I started eating it. I was just there stood in trying to get my food as quickly as possible so that I can try to squeeze in the three remaining museums. After I ate I asked if there was a toilet available for me to use. The first worker did not speak English and asked that another worker come and help me. I was told there was no toilet. This would have been unheard of in an American restaurant. If you have in-house eating then you must provide a toilet for customers to use. Again this goes along my theory about Europeans being Camels as far as bodily functions and no free refills.

I rode the 30-minute tram ride to the neon Museum stop. It seemed to be in a nondescript area of town but using Google Maps I was able to get to it. The museum itself is quite small but a joy for a photographer. There was maybe about 20 neon signs lit up and several off to the side without any electricity.

Next was the Czar PRL musuem. It was within easy walking distance of the Neon Museum. But it is kind of hidden away and I probably would have missed it had I not known about it using Google. 

The museum is a Showcase of household items from the Communist era. There were plenty of Brands I did not recognize but had someone grown up in Poland in the 70s or 80s they probably would have felt a sense of nostalgia in the Museum.

I took several pictures before heading back to the tram stop. I knew I needed to take tramp 26 back to the old town to view the royal castle. However I got turned around and ended up taking the tram in the wrong. I soon corrected myself but was getting kind of anxious to try to make it to the castle in time. 

To my pleasant surprise there was no line to get free tickets to the royal castle. This was free ticket day and I had read reviews about how on Sundays the castle museum is overwhelmed with those seeking to get in free

I got an audio guide and checked my bag. Bag checking seems to be a regular thing at tourist attractions in Europe. I guess they’re doing it so as not to have the possibility of theft. Also it makes it less likely for damage to Priceless items when someone turns around with their backpack on their shoulder. 

A good portion of the audio guide at the beginning is dedicated to telling the story of how the castle was damaged during World War II. Basically it was flattened by the Nazis. The Polish people were thoughtful enough to move all of the Priceless items to the countryside. Unfortunately many of these items were discovered by the Nazis in the countryside and pillaged. The museum audio guide talked about then finding a metal Eagle used in the throne curtain design. This metal Eagle was found in the United States and wish use as a guide in making reproductions for the throne room.

I have an OCD symptom where I feel as though I need to listen to each and every part of the audio guide regardless of how interesting it is. So I found myself listening to critiques of paintings and have already forgotten what they mentioned. Plus I was anxious to end the tour to be able to get back to my hotel room grab my luggage and get to the train station.

At around 4 p.m. a Museum lady started shooing me out. I guess it was time to close. I managed to buy a couple of souvenirs. Before heading back to the bus stop to ride to my hotel. 

On my way to the train station about a Subway sandwich to eat either on the train or waiting for my train. I did the latter.

The train ride was the direct Rod to Krakow. This is different than the Gdansk to Warsaw train ride as there were a few stops. 

I’m in my hotel room in Krakow now. I had asked for a double room which was the same price as a single room and I’m glad I did. The room has actually two rooms plus a bathroom. There is a bedroom and another room for sitting and watching TV. It would be the perfect place for a couple who had different sleep patterns. One could stay up at light at night watching TV while the other partner napped. 

Tomorrow I plan on dropping off my laundry and going to see the Jewish area including the Schindler Museum.