Another day on the train today. We were split into two groups this morning and the first group drew the short straw – a 4.30am start. Our start was much more leisurely – we left the hotel at 8.45am for a 9.37am train to Warsaw. This one was a Polish train and was a bit of a contrast to previous newer trains, but once they sorted the whining noise over the intercom it was a pleasant enough journey. However, no food this time so we had to sort out our own lunch from the shops at Berlin station.
We arrived in Warsaw about 4.15pm and were met by our Warsaw guide. It was just a short bus trip to the hotel – the Hotel Bristol. The hotel was built between 1899-1901 and is neo-renaissance in style. When the Germans invaded in 1939, the hotel became the headquarters of the Warsaw district and miraculously survived the war unscathed. It stood on it own surrounded by rubble with the entire neighbourhood destroyed. It was renovated in 1945 and reopened when the war was over.
During the Communist era the Hotel was a part of the Orbis chain serving foreign visitors, but it became more and more run down until in the 1970s it was demoted to a second class ranking. In 1977 it was donated to the University of Warsaw to serve as their library. However, it deteriorated further during the latter part of Communist rule and eventually when the Communists lost power in 1989, the hotel was restored again from 1991-1993 with Margaret Thatcher attending the reopening in 1993.
We do feel in exalted company with past guests including the Dalai Lama, Elizabeth II, Paul McCartney, Bill Gates, Pablo Picasso and Angela Merkel. It also has a musical heritage with Richard Strauss, Edvard Grieg, Mick Jagger and Tina Turner also having stayed here. We have helped to bring the tone down a little.
We got here in time to have a walk around the old town and there is even an ice rink still in the Market Square. The hotel is only 5 minutes walk from the centre of the Old Town and so is ideally located.
