June/July 2012: I just returned back home to Thailand from a several week work excision to Poland where I delivered equipment to the Polish Army Special Forces Units. Actually, this was my 4th trip to Poland in the last 4 years doing similar work and because since I enjoy my off time, this trip as with the previous trips all provided additional insight to the country and what it had to offer. This trip also coincided with the EURO 2012 Football Championships hosted by Poland and the Ukraine so there was an added emotion in the area.
Here are a few of the photos from my off duty time:
There was an unmistakable energy in the air with the EURO 2012 being hosted in Poland. Here is one of the ad posters at the central station in Warsaw.
And there were plenty of EURO 2012 souvenir shops with attractive young sales people to offer assistance.
I enjoyed eating “Pierogi” several evenings
Washed down of course with some local Tyskie beer
All served up by a pleasant and accommodating waitress in the traditional Polish dress.
With the weather very nice and feeling the need for some exercise after the nice Polish cuisine, a bicycle ride to do some sightseeing seemed in order. But the seat needed adjusted first.
I rode by and visited the Polish National Museum which also houses the Polish Military Museum. Here is some of the military equipment on display at the Polish Military Museum.
Further on during the bicycle ride there was a park. A nice place to stop and take in the sights.
And then a rather unusual sight in the middle of downtown Warsaw was a village of about 25 or so Scandinavian style houses such as this.
These Scandinavian style houses were apparently built by the Nazi allied Finnish occupants of Poland prior to 1944 and then were awarded to the Polish government as part of the Finnish war reparations to the Polish government. These homes remain occupied and are currently in good condition. The fact that they are just behind the French Embassy and in the center of town which is expanding and upgraded, the longevity of these houses is questionable.