Warsaw

Monday, September 24
This morning, we drove about five miles south of the Old Town to the Wilanow Palace Museum.  While the palace is sometimes referred to as the Versailles of Poland (every country has one, I think!), we were there as part of Vicki’s “Roots” exploration.  One of the ancestors she has traced was born to a footman at the palace in the 19^th century, when it was inhabited by the Potocki family.  Once again, Vicki had arranged for Magdelena, a museum guide to accompany us through the palace.  In their communications before our visit, Vicki had explained her particular interest and connection to the palace, and Magdelena made a special effort to connect certain elements of the collection to that history.

Servants' Quarters, possible ancestor's residence

King Jan III Sobieski, an elected monarch built the palace as a summer residence and retreat from the city he did not enjoy. It dates from the early 17^th century and was used as a royal residence by no other ruler. After Jan’s death, the palace passed into private hands and was used as both a residence and a museum; it was, in fact, Poland’s first art museum.  

On this chilly day, we were happy to duck into a restaurant near the museum to warm up and have lunch while watching threatening skies and a brief rain.  Then, it was back to the city center, where we bid Vicki and John farewell, as we’ll be leaving for Estonia in the morning while they stay on in Warsaw until the end of the week.

We left the car at our apartment and walked the short distance to one of Warsaw’s newest museums. The Museum of the History of Polish Jews is a narrative museum documenting 1,000 years of the Jewish community in this country.  With a chronologically arranged route through the exhibits, our appreciation for the rich culture that had endured despite centuries of challenges grew, but it was hard not to mentally move ahead to the tragedies that we knew were to come.  There were multimedia exhibits, an excellent audioguide, and far too many interesting presentations, stories, and artifacts to take in during the two hours we had until the museum closed; we could have spent twice as long and still not do it justice.  
    
As our time in the museum ran out, so has our time in Poland.  We’re so grateful to have had the opportunity to be here with Vicki, John and Jamie, and to have connected with so many of their Polish cousins.  Vicki’s years of research and personal contacts with extended family and local guides really paid off for all of us; we’re seriously thinking of booking with her on our next trip!