Friday, May 25, 2018 - Warsaw City Tour, then travel to Mikolajki, Poland

After breakfast in the hotel, we visited the Royal Lazienki Museum first. It is a magnificent garden complex built by King Stanislaw August Poniatowski during the second half of the 18th century. It features the Lazienki Palace which is a neoclassical(新古典主義) palace along with gardens, canals and ponds. There is a Chopin (famous composer) monument which is a great site for photo moment. 

Garden of the Royal Lazienki Museum Complex

Chopin Monument 

Then we visited the Old Town of Warsaw (UNESCO World Heritage Site).  It was destroyed in WWII and rebuilt later, and now it is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Warsaw. The heart of the area is the Old Town Market Place, rich in restaurants, cafés and shops. Surrounding streets featured medieval architectures such as city walls, the Barbican (a semicircular fortified outpost) and St. John's Cathedral. 

City Wall Entrance

City Wall next to the Barbican

Later we visited the Marie-Curie’s birthplace.  She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person and the only woman to win it twice, and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different sciences (physics and chemistry). The Curie family legacy of six Nobel Prizes was started with her.

Marie-Curie's Museum

Inside of the Marie-Curie's Museum

With Marie-Curie's Statue

In front of the Marie-Curie's Museum

Then we visited Warsaw Mermaid, St John's Cathedral, and the Holly Cross Church.  Warsaw's Old Town is a charming place with a lot of photo opportunities.  We certainly took advantage of it.

In front of the Warsaw Mermaid

St John's Cathedral

Warsaw's Old Town Square

Warsaw's Old Town Square

Warsaw's Old Town Square

We had lunch at Stolica in the Old Town.  After lunch we had the bus ride to Mikolajki, a popular holiday and water sports destination. We stayed at Hotel Mikolajki which is a conference and spa hotel located on a natural island – Bird Island – in the middle of Lake Mikołajskie.  From each room, there is a wonderful view of the lake and it's beautiful surroundings.  We took the opportunity of taking many photos before and after our dinner at their restaurant.  

Lake Mikołajskie

Lake Mikołajskie

Lake Mikołajskie

View of Lake Mikołajskie from Hotel Balcony

Boat Dock of Lake Mikołajskie

By Lake Mikołajskie

Lake Mikołajskie Night Scene

There were a lot of talk about getting up early for sunrise photos the next morning.  Unfortunately, it rained during the night, and there was no sunrise at all. But we all had a very impressive stay.