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![\"Eye-Opening](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/poland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/articles-2026-07-22-17-31-52-876.jpg\")
\n Crooked House in Sopot. <\/p>\n
\n
\n Crooked House in Sopot.
<\/p>\n
Part 4
More Random Observations About My Trip to Poland
I\u2019ll conclude my series with a few more general comments about my most recent trip to Poland.
Still standing
The Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw is a distinctive 778-ft. structure and the second tallest building in Poland, but many Poles don\u2019t like it. Built in the early 1950s, it was inspired by Polish historical architecture and American art deco.\u00a0It houses various public and cultural institutions, including theatres, museums, and universities, as well as an observation deck with a great view of Warsaw. It has a concert hall that has hosted many notable performances, including when the Rolling Stones became the first major western rock group to hold a concert behind the Iron Curtain in 1967.
The problem is that the building was a gift from the Soviet Union to Poland, \u00a0and was originally known as the Joseph Stalin Palace of Culture and Science. Today it\u2019s still widely viewed as a symbol of Soviet domination over the Polish People’s Republic, and Poles have some unflattering, often vulgar, nicknames for it. Many Poles would like to see it demolished. I can understand that sentiment but I think that it\u2019s an impressive building, and hope that it\u2019ll remain a part of Warsaw\u2019s skyline.
Rebuilt this city
Moving across Warsaw, seeing the massive skyscrapers like the Varso Tower, or the charming medieval Old Town, I often thought of the words of one of our guides, who reminded us of an incredible fact: almost of all the structures we were looking at were less than 80 years old.
The story of Old Town is amazing. During the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944, more than 85 percent of Warsaw, including the historic Old Town, was destroyed on Hitler\u2019s orders. After the war, a five-year reconstruction campaign was undertaken by its citizens that resulted in its meticulous restoration. That was incredible, but there\u2019s a lot about the rest of Warsaw that\u2019s impressive as well. Today, the once-devastated central city has so many large, modern buildings that it resembles Manhattan. Clearly, Warsaw has come a long way in not a long time.
Don\u2019t call it Eastern Europe
Poles won\u2019t like it if you refer to their country as being in Eastern Europe. In the first place, Poland certainly is located in the central part of Europe. Secondly, the term “Eastern Europe” became synonymous with countries under the Soviet Union’s sphere of influence. Poland is not under Russian control any more, and is closer to the West in terms of religion and culture.
The way we were
If you think that your trip to Poland will look like a visit to Amish country, you\u2019re in for a big surprise.
Most of Poland is probably nothing like the land your forefathers left behind. However, there are outdoor museums that offer an authentic look into the traditional lives of Poles more than a hundred years ago. We went to the \u0141owicz Museum, which presents the folk culture of the inhabitants of the region. We saw \u00a0numerous 19th-century buildings, including timber cottages with straw thatched roofs, historic windmills, and a wooden church. Our group also enjoyed regional dancers, an authentic meal, and folk crafts.
There was a crooked tree
We saw some great attractions on our trip, like the massive \u00a0Malbork Castle, but there was a small side trip that I found interesting. The Crooked Forest, or Krzywy Las, is a grove of strange-looking Scots pine trees located in the village of Nowe Czarnowo. We stopped there on the way from Szczecin to Poznan. The trees bend out at 90 degrees and form an odd J-shape just above the ground pointing to the north. They then curve back upright after going sideways for a couple of feet. The curved pines are surrounded by a forest of straight pine trees.
People love mysteries, and there has been conjecture that the curves were caused by snow storms or some mysterious force. However, it\u2019s generally agreed that the trees were purposely deformed to create naturally curved timber for use in furniture or boat building. Since the people who lived there in the 1930s left during the war, we can\u2019t know for sure.We also saw Poland\u2019s famed Crooked House, or Krzywy Domek, in the resort town of Sopot. However, we know that this unusually shaped building was constructed in 2004 to resemble a whimsical, fairy-tale house.
What Is Tricity?
I heard references to Poland’s Tricity, or Tr\u00f3jmiasto, but I didn\u2019t know what it was until I got there. Tr\u00f3jmiasto is actually the name of the metropolitan area on the Baltic coast that comprises three main cities: Gda\u0144sk, Sopot and Gdynia. Each city has its own mayor, and they have their own assets. Gda\u0144sk has a unique history and architecture, Gdynia is a modern seaport, and \u00a0Sopot is a beach resort with a vibrant nightlife. Combined, it\u2019s home to over one million people.
Leaning Tower of Toru\u0144
Yes, Poland has a leaning tower, or Krzywa Wie\u017ca, in Toru\u0144. The top of the tower is off almost five feet from where it would be if the tower were perfectly vertical. It\u2019s not as dramatic as the one in Pisa, but the lean is apparent.
The red brick tower was part of fortifications built by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century in order to defend the town.\u00a0 However, it started leaning because since it was near the Vistula River, the soil beneath it became soft and loamy. However, according to one legend the reason for its crookedness was to punish a Teutonic Knight for his sinful ways.
Pay toaleta
It\u2019s good to have some Polish change on hand in case you need to use a public restroom \u2013 they\u2019re referred to as \u00a0toaleta or WC (water closet). You\u2019ll just need a few z\u0142oty to use one. However, free toilets are widely available at restaurants, shopping malls and gas stations.
And in conclusion…..
I found Poland to be a great place to visit especially if, like me, it allows you to develop a deeper connection with your ancestors. It\u2019s not the Poland of my great-grandparents, but if you see how that country has emerged from some very difficult times it will instill within you an even greater sense of pride in your heritage.
But you don\u2019t have to be Polish American to enjoy the country. As so many people are discovering these days, Poland is one of the world\u2019s most underrated travel destinations. It has great attractions, history, architecture, and culture; its food is amazing; the prices are reasonable; the streets are clean; and, there\u2019s not a safer place to visit in Europe. I also found the people to be friendly and good-humored, and more fluent in English than many Americans.
My trip, organized by Andy Go\u0142\u0119biowski \u00a0and Wanda Grzesik of Chopin Tours, was an amazing experience and I can\u2019t wait to return. If you were thinking about going to Poland, don\u2019t think about it anymore \u2013 do it! If it\u2019s on your bucket list, do it before things like health, family obligations or anything else get in the way. It\u2019ll be an experience of a lifetime.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Crooked House in Sopot.
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