She Came, She Warsaw, She Conquered...

I love travelling. And I love travelling to new places. But, sometimes, in the busy pace of work you simply check your blackberry, board the plane and land without any expectations, without time to research or plan. It's work, after all.

So, I didn't expect to find what I did on my first time trip to Poland. I don't know why, but I just imagined it to be like other countries in Eastern Europe - obvious traces of history, crumbles and cracks of tumultuous times, a palette of grey and a peppering of Ladas on roads that are gradually opening up to a new pop of high-rise and recognised hotel chains. Don't get me wrong, Budapest, Prague, Belgrade...all amazing cities, each with their own print impression but, to that point, I just expected Warsaw to follow suit.

I didn't expect the flash modernity of steel and glass at Chopin Airport. I didn't expect the American diners en route to the city, nor the fully fitted credit card paying taxis. I didn't expect the a neon, almost skyscraper, skyline that silently screamed Welcome to Modern Warsaw. Rightly or wrongly, I didn't expect this, and I was impressed.

And it got better. Driving towards my hotel for the evening, the Marriott twinkled like a a telescopic view into space, it's 40 storey black box sparkling with LED lights. Inside, an atrium lobby of chandeliers, escalators, suits and international accents that made it very clear this was a place to do business.

Upgraded to the 36th floor, the view. A view to wow at - overlooking Warsaw's stunning Palace of Culture, standing tall and proudly imposing beside the bubble-like curvature of modern architecture of the the Złote Tarasyall mall. So wonderful, I couldn't draw my drapes, and it serenaded me to sleep like a lullaby and awakened me the next morning with sunrise. 

My visit was brief. Long enough to have sky-high cocktails from the 49th floor Panorama bar, overlooking this amazing city, have breakfast and spend a day working with locals in the office. Too short to remember my 3 words of taxi-taught Polish, sample local cuisine and really get under the skin of the city. Or, for that matter, to try my luck in the Marriott integrated casino!

So I shall return, for certain, and explore more of Poland. If you manage to visit first, I highly recommend the Marriott (be sure to ask for height, the views are worth it).

'Til next time, Pandora


Marriott Hotel Warsaw - Al. Jerozolimskie 65/79 · Warsaw, 00-697 Poland
Photos: Pandora Skies and Marriott Hotels