Here are some travel tips and meanings/pronunciation of names in brackets.

I have visited Warsaw many times because my in-laws are Polish and I’m learning the language.

Before visiting Poland, make sure that all your travel docs are in order, as police may ask for them during your journey.There are many people from the east moving through Poland to other EU countries, so they check on long train journeys.

Visiting Warsaw even for a short time is worthwhile. Most of the sights are in the city centre and you can easily go around on foot.If possible, organise a day’s tour with a guide, as he or she will be able to translate and explain the many wall plaques and monuments, which point to interesting parts of history.

Places to visit:

Stare Miasto (star-e miya-sto) – meaning old town.

Quaint cobbled lanes, old shops and completely re-built after WW2.

From the Central station, you will see Stalin’s ‘gift’ (paid for by Warsaw) – a huge building with a tall clocktower with amazing views from ontop.

For shopping – street Nowe Swiat (nove shvi-owt) meaning new world. Walk along the Royal Road to Lazienkie (wazi-yenki) Park

and walk among the old chestnut trees and admire the neo-classical architecture. The huge Chopin monument stands there, where in summer free concerts are played.

Take a taxi or bus to the palace Wilanowie – nice laid-out gardens in summer.

Buying train tickets might be tricky, as you can only get them from kiosks, which close early at night. If you cannot speak Polish and are alone, ask a young person to help you, as many of the older citizens can speak (or try not to speak) Russian and maybe some French, but little English.

Some visitors have complained that Poles are not friendly. Knowing some Polish helps a lot, but remember that Polish society is not the touchy, feely sort.Touching a stranger can be taken in the wrong way, so keep your hands to yourself, be polite and sensible.