it may really happen

Lot Polish airlines announced on its website, "LOT resumes flights."  Then they listed the flights they are restarting (not all of them), with a particular focus on getting us US folks back home.  My flight is on its way now from Chicago, should return to pick up more people and will hopefully be back to pick me up by noon tomorrow.

Crying in the breakfast buffet is really uncool.

Involuntary Vacation Day 5, Wednesday

Having given up on my comic book quest as "too far" and "off the stupid map" and "Google says it is an HOUR walking distance!" I approached the hotel front desk for new suggestions.  His fourth suggestion was the Warsaw Rising Museum.  I jumped on it.

It is obvious even to the non-news-watching me that Warsaw has a rich history.  They feel strongly about events that happened during WWII. 

My prior knowledge is something like, "That's right, there was a war..."  I blame my US education. History, according to my education, stops at about 1912.  Nothing happened after that, right?

Someone mentioned to me early in my trip here that Warsaw was razed to the ground toward the end of WWII.  Hitler was evidently a bit on the pissed side at being made to leave.  That sounds like an interesting start to the story. Or end. 

It was a long walk to the museum. The hotel guy tried to talk me into some sort of train or tram or something. He even mentioned numbers.  But no prices.  No how to buy a ticket... My destination was on the map, I figured I could find it.

It took a while (a bit over 2 miles each way).  And it was a cold walk.  Today it is about 50F, with a stiff breeze. My leather coat was nicely wind proof, but the rest of me was still cold.

When I finally found it, the museum was... confusing.  The entrance was filled with hoards of children who seemed to be going nowhere.  An adult found me, switched to English, and asked for my ticket.  "I haven't found where to BUY a ticket!" He took me outside, and pointed to the gift shop.  "Really?  I buy the tickets way over there, and I enter here?"

"Not my choice," he said to my retreating back.  He was the only person I spoke to at the museum. I stayed for hours, until it closed.

The museum was four floors and you can imagine the guns and clothes and pictures and stories.  I am assuming here that you know way more about this event in history than I did as of this morning.  So I'm skipping over the timeline of events.

A few things stood out in my mind.

I have been to a museum (in India) built by the local people while still under occupation.  This was clearly Not That.  The Polish are madMADmad at the Germans and the Soviets.  There were no punches pulled.  Pictures of the hangings, the piles of bodies, the executions.... 

There were references to the Warsaw uprising by other powers.  At first the Soviets denied its existence because the timing was poor for them.  Then when they couldn't deny it existed, they downplayed it and put spin on it.  The Allied powers, at their best, said that it was ill-timed for their needs.  The Polish were mad because they were left out of the big-wig Allied decision making and told "Oh, make some deal with the Soviets."

Early in the museum was a film of an old guy (clearly a survivor) talking about the uprising.  He said it was inevitable.  To turn it back or delay it was like trying to tell water to run uphill.  After all those years of ugly occupation, it was GOING to happen.  

There was a section toward the end (which would also be toward the end of the war).  There were pictures that the English text said were taken secretly by the Soviet police types.  Thus, the trees and poles partially obscuring the people.  The text said that the circled people were "Of Interest" as possible trouble-some types.  The museum and history association of Poland would appreciate... if anyone could tell them who the devil these people are!  Wow.  Wiped so from this Earth that they found the pictures in the Soviet records, but have no idea who they are...