Our journey and the first night

Sam T's view out the window on
the ten-hour flight to Amsterdam

We all managed to find each other at LAX, and even though our flight left an hour late, it seemed like we spent all afternoon in lines at security, walking down long halls, and grabbing food for our 10 hour flight to Amsterdam. It is not easy to sleep sitting upright!  When we landed in Amsterdam, we again walked through the airport to passport control and then to our next gate.  By then we were so tired that most of us slept during the 2 hour flight to Warsaw.  

Matadors in Warsaw Chopin Airport

Sam T. and Lesley’s baggage did not arrive!! Can you imagine how worried and irritated they were!  We filed a claim with the airline, remained optimistic, used the buddy system to supply clothes (Sam bought a t-shirt), and the suitcases were at the hotel in the morning.  

That night at the hotel we had a group dinner, and the entire twenty-five of us were together for the first time.

the Palace of Culture and Science,
a "gift" from Stalin to Warsaw

The night life here is very interesting!  The sun sets after 8:30 p.m., so despite our exhaustion, most of the group walked around after dinner. Our hotel is across the street from a mall, and lots of college-age students were walking around with each other – why aren’t they home studying?  In order to cross the busy streets (our hotel is at a major intersection), you have to go underground where there is a whole system of streets and shops. 

a blatant example of
Americanization, right across
the street from our hotel

Most were closed, but we got the sense that this was a vibrant commercial center of the city.  There’s nothing like it in L.A. – for those who are familiar with NYC, it’s like the underground in Grand Central Station.   

Let’s talk about sleeping – or the lack thereof.  We are 9 hours later than L.A., and add to that our lack of sleep on the plane.  You would think we would collapse into bed and sleep soundly.  Some managed that.  But many report awakening at 3 a.m., and some never managed to fall asleep until then!  The hotel has no airconditioning, so our windows were open and we could hear the city thrumming: the metro, the racing motorcycles, cars, and there was an alcohol-fueled, joyous man shouting and belting out songs at 2 a.m.  By 4 a.m. the sky was getting light, and the sun was out and shining brightly by 4:30 in the morning. 

No matter how well or how long we slept, we all are looking forward to our first day in Warsaw.

{contributors: Sam T. and Joseph}