After a delicious breakfast at the radisson Blu hotel, we headed out from the hotel. Our first stop was the oldest surviving synagogue in Warsaw out of 400 that had existed. Beautifully restored to it's original state, it was only saved because it was used as a storage hall during the war by the nazis. We met a women, Miriam Gonczarska, a polish rabbinic student in the only orthodox yeshiva in NYC. She gave us a great insight into the current jewish community life of only 700.
As today was Memorial Day, the city was swarming with families off from work to the center of town for speeches, military memorials, music and a general day off to wander the city. The Central Park hosted huge screens with dignitaries giving speeches. Plenty of media and police protection everywhere. Museums were closed unfortunately but we walked they the old city which was beautifully restored. In the central square we stopped for lunch at a cute bistro. There was a huge commemorative sign for lech walenska and his solidarity movement. We had hoped to visit the top of the tallest building, put there by Stalin as a gift to the city but it was closed. Walking over, we just came across markings on the sidewalk of where the Warsaw ghetto once stood. A pure coincidence. Tomorrow we will learn more on tour. At dinner tonight we learned that a riot ensued with an estimated 50,000 protesters against the government and in fear of the possibility of Putin making his way to Poland! We saw the police , ambulances and heard booms but thought it was part of the festivities!
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