Current issue:
EVENTS - 11.2009
Warsaw, a bit different
The coffee shop „Amatorska” is shown on it as equal to the Royal Castle, milk bars to Łazienki Park, the Warsaw Rising Museum and the Technical Museum. It is a map created for young travelers (18-35 years old), who are not very well off, and who do not stick to the beaten tourist routes. Tourists with slim wallets make up a growing group and are generating more and more tourist income. Last year’s edition of the map was a total hit. „I am sure that it will be the same this year. We already have lots of orders from businesses, tourist information offices, and embassies from around the world for the next copies – says Barbara Tekieli, the director of the Tourism Office. This unusual guide has been prepared in the English language. It is mainly intended for guests from abroad. What is the Warsaw city hall using to entice them to pay a visit on the Vistula? The things they will never see anywhere else. There are places in it that show our communist past in a humorous light, like the Technical Museum, and, on the other hand, there is the promotion of the Stereoscope on Jerozolimskie Avenue, and the chance to view the remains of the Ghetto walls. There is also practical advice. This year, there is also information associated with Chopin. – we would like to emphasize that 2010 will be the Year of Chopin – says Katarzyna Ratajczyk from the Office of Promotion of the City of Warsaw. The map has been printed in an edition of 100,000 copies, financed by the capital’s Tourism Office. The majority of the guides will promote Warsaw abroad.
More space for exhibitions
A super-modern exhibition hall has been opened on Prądzyńskiego Street, in the Wola district of Warsaw. Its interior resembles a cinema more than an exhibition hall. The facility has 3,600 square meters of usable space, is 10 meters high, and windowless; it is suitable for exhibitions as well as concerts. It has a capacity of up to 3,600 people. The investment cost 11 million euro. It is the fourth exhibition facility at the entire complex on Prądzyńskiego Street. And that is not the end of the expansion. Over the next four or five years, another modern site will be built.
Warsaw awarded for its lighting
The capital of Poland has been awarded with the prestigious Jean-Paul L’Allier award for the illumination of the old town fortification walls. Warsaw received its award during the 10th World Congress of the Organization of World Heritage Cities, which took place in September, in Quito. The Jean-Paul L’Allier award recognizes the best design, with regard to revitalization or conservation of a site that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage list. A plaque with information about the award will be put in the Old Town. The Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) was established in 1993, and consists of 242 cities whose treasures are part of the UNESCO World Heritage list. Warsaw has been an active member from the very start and was one of the founders. The OWHC World Congress is organized every two years. Jean Paul L’Allier is a Canadian politician, formerly president of the Founding Council of OWHC and the former mayor of Quebec City.
The Avenue of Stars in the city centre
Twelve stars of the film world have illuminated the passage behind Galeria Centrum in Warsaw. Dozens of Varsovians came for the inauguration of the avenue. „Nic nie jest dla mnie zbyt szokujące” (Nothing is too shocking for me) – this quote by the famous Polish director Roman Polański can be seen on his star. Brass stars with sentences, set into paving stones, belong to Marilyn Monroe („Nieważne, co ludzie o mnie myślą. Ważne, że mnie kochają” – It’s not important what people think of me. It’s important that they love me.), Woody’ego Allena („W życiu żałuję tylko tego, że nie jestem kimś innym” – My only regret in life is that I’m not somebody else), Penelope Cruz („Moją ambicją jest być szczęśliwą” My goal is to be happy), among others. Varsovians like the avenue. This type of street will certainly be an attraction for Warsaw residents as well as tourists. The Avenue of Stars will grow. Which Polish names will have the chance to shine here? Internet users will be able to send their suggestions to a page that is about to be launched.
The Polish face of Armani
Kasia Smutniak, who is already being called the Polish Monica Bellucci, is yet another Polish model (and also an actress with a film career in Italy) who had been acknowledged by even the biggest designers in the international fashion world. Kasia Smutniak has just signed a contract with Giorgio Armani. She will advertise Idole d’Armani perfume. The designer chose her personally out of hundreds of other candidates. Maybe we will get to see a photo session of Kasia and David Beckham?
Warsaw will have a second airport
The Mazowiecki voivodeship has issued permission to build an airport in Modlin. However, opening it will require quite a bit of effort on the part of the local government. Within two years, they will not only have to build a terminal, a runway and facilities, but also ensure that passengers will have the proper transport services between the Okęcie airport and the capital. „The sites at Modlin and Okęcie are supposed to be complementary, so connections between them have to be perfectly coordinated” – says the Mazovian provincial governor, Jacek Kozłowski. A rail connection between Okęcie and Modlin seems to be the most realistic idea. The railways claim that in two years Okęcie will be connected to the railway network. And in Modlin only 5 kilometers of track have to be built to the Warsaw – Gdańsk line. Work on the rails to Modlin will be completed in October of 2010. Sixteen modern, air conditioned trains are supposed to run on the new route, every half hour. The new airport is expected to cost around 400 million zloty: 50 million will be contributed by Mazovian voivodeship authorities, and more than half will be given by the European Union.
The 1st of November
The first day of November is a holiday that is carefully observed in Poland. The Catholic church celebrates this day as All Saints’ Day. Poles pay their respects to the dead. Every cemetery in Poland is decorated with flowers and „vigil lights” (colorful candles). The same goes for all the cemeteries around the world where Polish people’s family graves are located. A nation without a past loses its memory – a feeling that is close to the hearts of Poles. Warsaw’s cemeteries are unique by European standards. Fortunately, they weren’t destroyed during the Second World War. Even the Jewish cemetery survived, in spite of the fact that heavy fighting took place there. The oldest cemetery in Warsaw was established at the end of the 18th century. The most accomplished personalities of our city have been buried there, and their graves and mausoleums are works of art designed by skilled artists.
Walking through Warsaw’s cemeteries, like Powàzki (the oldest, dating from 1790), the Komunalny, the Bródnowski, the Jewish cemetery, the Reformed Evangelic cemetery, the Augsburg cemetery, the Tatar cemetery, the Orthodox cemetery, or the Warsaw Uprising cemetery, isn’t just a reflection about the changes that history has brought to our city, but also an artistic experience. These cemeteries are like galleries of world-class sculpture. For many years a special council has taken care of „forgotten” historic graves, which is why money is collected at Warsaw’s cemeteries each year on All Saints’ Day.
The coffee shop „Amatorska” is shown on it as equal to the Royal Castle, milk bars to Łazienki Park, the Warsaw Rising Museum and the Technical Museum. It is a map created for young travelers (18-35 years old), who are not very well off, and who do not stick to the beaten tourist routes. Tourists with slim wallets make up a growing group and are generating more and more tourist income. Last year’s edition of the map was a total hit. „I am sure that it will be the same this year. We already have lots of orders from businesses, tourist information offices, and embassies from around the world for the next copies – says Barbara Tekieli, the director of the Tourism Office. This unusual guide has been prepared in the English language. It is mainly intended for guests from abroad. What is the Warsaw city hall using to entice them to pay a visit on the Vistula? The things they will never see anywhere else. There are places in it that show our communist past in a humorous light, like the Technical Museum, and, on the other hand, there is the promotion of the Stereoscope on Jerozolimskie Avenue, and the chance to view the remains of the Ghetto walls. There is also practical advice. This year, there is also information associated with Chopin. – we would like to emphasize that 2010 will be the Year of Chopin – says Katarzyna Ratajczyk from the Office of Promotion of the City of Warsaw. The map has been printed in an edition of 100,000 copies, financed by the capital’s Tourism Office. The majority of the guides will promote Warsaw abroad.
More space for exhibitions
A super-modern exhibition hall has been opened on Prądzyńskiego Street, in the Wola district of Warsaw. Its interior resembles a cinema more than an exhibition hall. The facility has 3,600 square meters of usable space, is 10 meters high, and windowless; it is suitable for exhibitions as well as concerts. It has a capacity of up to 3,600 people. The investment cost 11 million euro. It is the fourth exhibition facility at the entire complex on Prądzyńskiego Street. And that is not the end of the expansion. Over the next four or five years, another modern site will be built.
Warsaw awarded for its lighting
The capital of Poland has been awarded with the prestigious Jean-Paul L’Allier award for the illumination of the old town fortification walls. Warsaw received its award during the 10th World Congress of the Organization of World Heritage Cities, which took place in September, in Quito. The Jean-Paul L’Allier award recognizes the best design, with regard to revitalization or conservation of a site that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage list. A plaque with information about the award will be put in the Old Town. The Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) was established in 1993, and consists of 242 cities whose treasures are part of the UNESCO World Heritage list. Warsaw has been an active member from the very start and was one of the founders. The OWHC World Congress is organized every two years. Jean Paul L’Allier is a Canadian politician, formerly president of the Founding Council of OWHC and the former mayor of Quebec City.
The Avenue of Stars in the city centre
Twelve stars of the film world have illuminated the passage behind Galeria Centrum in Warsaw. Dozens of Varsovians came for the inauguration of the avenue. „Nic nie jest dla mnie zbyt szokujące” (Nothing is too shocking for me) – this quote by the famous Polish director Roman Polański can be seen on his star. Brass stars with sentences, set into paving stones, belong to Marilyn Monroe („Nieważne, co ludzie o mnie myślą. Ważne, że mnie kochają” – It’s not important what people think of me. It’s important that they love me.), Woody’ego Allena („W życiu żałuję tylko tego, że nie jestem kimś innym” – My only regret in life is that I’m not somebody else), Penelope Cruz („Moją ambicją jest być szczęśliwą” My goal is to be happy), among others. Varsovians like the avenue. This type of street will certainly be an attraction for Warsaw residents as well as tourists. The Avenue of Stars will grow. Which Polish names will have the chance to shine here? Internet users will be able to send their suggestions to a page that is about to be launched.
The Polish face of Armani
Kasia Smutniak, who is already being called the Polish Monica Bellucci, is yet another Polish model (and also an actress with a film career in Italy) who had been acknowledged by even the biggest designers in the international fashion world. Kasia Smutniak has just signed a contract with Giorgio Armani. She will advertise Idole d’Armani perfume. The designer chose her personally out of hundreds of other candidates. Maybe we will get to see a photo session of Kasia and David Beckham?
Warsaw will have a second airport
The Mazowiecki voivodeship has issued permission to build an airport in Modlin. However, opening it will require quite a bit of effort on the part of the local government. Within two years, they will not only have to build a terminal, a runway and facilities, but also ensure that passengers will have the proper transport services between the Okęcie airport and the capital. „The sites at Modlin and Okęcie are supposed to be complementary, so connections between them have to be perfectly coordinated” – says the Mazovian provincial governor, Jacek Kozłowski. A rail connection between Okęcie and Modlin seems to be the most realistic idea. The railways claim that in two years Okęcie will be connected to the railway network. And in Modlin only 5 kilometers of track have to be built to the Warsaw – Gdańsk line. Work on the rails to Modlin will be completed in October of 2010. Sixteen modern, air conditioned trains are supposed to run on the new route, every half hour. The new airport is expected to cost around 400 million zloty: 50 million will be contributed by Mazovian voivodeship authorities, and more than half will be given by the European Union.
The 1st of November
The first day of November is a holiday that is carefully observed in Poland. The Catholic church celebrates this day as All Saints’ Day. Poles pay their respects to the dead. Every cemetery in Poland is decorated with flowers and „vigil lights” (colorful candles). The same goes for all the cemeteries around the world where Polish people’s family graves are located. A nation without a past loses its memory – a feeling that is close to the hearts of Poles. Warsaw’s cemeteries are unique by European standards. Fortunately, they weren’t destroyed during the Second World War. Even the Jewish cemetery survived, in spite of the fact that heavy fighting took place there. The oldest cemetery in Warsaw was established at the end of the 18th century. The most accomplished personalities of our city have been buried there, and their graves and mausoleums are works of art designed by skilled artists.
Walking through Warsaw’s cemeteries, like Powàzki (the oldest, dating from 1790), the Komunalny, the Bródnowski, the Jewish cemetery, the Reformed Evangelic cemetery, the Augsburg cemetery, the Tatar cemetery, the Orthodox cemetery, or the Warsaw Uprising cemetery, isn’t just a reflection about the changes that history has brought to our city, but also an artistic experience. These cemeteries are like galleries of world-class sculpture. For many years a special council has taken care of „forgotten” historic graves, which is why money is collected at Warsaw’s cemeteries each year on All Saints’ Day.
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Information published at 1 November 2009