Warsaw's Old Town is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site as an exceptional example of completely resurrecting an entire city core after its destruction. Important structures include the barbican and city walls, the Royal Castle and St. John's Cathedral.
 

The hub of Old Town is Central Market Square with its statue of the Warsaw Mermaid. Architecture reflects different eras dating to medieval times.

An attraction is the Kanonia wishing bell and Warsaw's narrowest house just seen in the corner of the square.

A favorite place for wedding photos is Ulica Dawna, a colorful alley passing from Old Town to the Vistula River viewpoint.
 

Castle Square lies in front of the Royal Castle, the former residence of the Polish monarchy. It features Sigismund's Column and marks the beginning of the bustling Royal Route.
 

Details on the building facades reflect the history of the old squares as places for family residences, trade and commerce, worship, and political rallies.

The Museum of Polish Jews which sits on the former site of the Warsaw ghetto outlines the history of Jewish people in Poland and Europe. The entrance represents the parting of the Red Sea.
 

A monument in front of the Supreme Court honors the fighters and martyrs of the Warsaw Uprising, an effort by the Polish Underground to liberate Warsaw from German occupation.

The Chopin museum celebrates Poland's beloved composer. Others are dedicated to Marie Curie and Nicolaus Copernicus.

Along the Royal Route are museums, churches and government and University buildings which are repurposed palaces of former archdukes and other nobles.
 

Warsaw shows pride in its heritage in many ways.
 

Warsaw has a contrast of architecture from modern skyscrapers to its infamous "palace of culture and science" a gift from Stalinist Russia which wasn't appreciated.
 

Warsaw's stadium seats tens of thousands. When we were there it had just hosted a concert by Metallica, and was preparing for one by  Taylor Swift.

On our train trip from Krakow to Warsaw we passed pretty villages and productive farmland.
 

Throughout the entire area, we viewed the massive nests of white storks (of baby delivery fame) on chimneys and poles.
 

An interesting side trip was to Białoweiża Nature Preserve where species such as European red deer, wild cats, wolves and moose are protected. The European Bison, the zubr, was rescued from near extinction.
 

Our stop-over in Bialystok allowed us to see the dynamism of Poland's smaller cities which are creating their own identities in the post-Soviet era.