It is still Thursday, December 29.
This morning the Warsaw airport was so frustrating, getting through customs so troublesome. I don't even want to talk about it right now.
But it only took 25 minutes by bus to go from the airport to the hotel. The bus stopped right in front.
The outside of the Polonia Palace Hotel is very European and gorgeous!! It came out of the war unscathed. It is said the hotel was not bombed because German army brass were staying there. We chose this four star hotel mostly because Eisenhower had stayed here in 1945. Hundreds of cheering Poles greeted him, wanting to get a glimpse of this great gentleman.
Before we left home we found a few pictures online which show how it looked at different times. This is how it looks today.
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1924
1927
Here it is with buildings around it demolished. 1945
We entered the lobby which was lovely in its own way. Many palm trees in pots, just as there were in 1927.
We went to the desk (in rear of picture) to check in. Ania asked in Polish if anyone had called or come by asking for her. The clerk answered in English that no one had inquired about her. We were given a Christmas card of the hotel, which is still decorated for the holidays.
We had reserved a large suite; so there would be room for Ania as long as she needed to stay with us. The rooms are neat and clean but not elegant like the outside.
We all three slept for about an hour then went back downstairs to eat a bite. We had planned to eat in the gorgeous Strauss restaurant, but their special offering of goose didn't appeal to us. So we went into Bojangles. Hamburgers, nachos, dip, club sandwiches, onion rings which did appeal to Ben and Ania...and I confess to me, too!!
American blues and jazz played.
From the outset Ben and I had decided to eat all our meals at the hotel while in Warsaw; our monopoly charge card is easier to use if we buy everything in the same building.
When evening came we would eat in the luxurious Strauss Restaurant and try out the goose dishes.
Then we left the hotel and walked right across the street and entered the tallest building in Poland. One of the tallest in the world. 300 rooms. Palace of Culture and Science. Maybe highest clock in the world.
Stalin built it during the cold war in 1950, and to this day the Poles just hate it.
I thought it was impressive. We took the elevator to the top and saw a beautiful view of Warsaw. Poles say it is the best view because this building isn't in it!! Ania enjoyed us being together. We sort of felt like she was family.
Next we went to the university where Ania would be going to school when the new semester starts. Ben said, "What's wrong Ania? You don't seem as excited as we thought you would be."
School is named for Chopin.Ania said that she already was homesick for America. Even though she had been living with a friend's family since her parents died, Memphis would always be home. She wiped away a few tears.
I said, "Ania, you feel this way because you haven't seen your great aunt yet. When you see her, you will feel better."
"No, Miss Annie. I won't feel better. I have only seen my aunt once in my life; Daddy and I came to Warsaw when I was a little girl. But....at least I will be safe here from...." Then she stopped herself.
Ben and I looked at each other hearing the word..."safe."
Larry had instructed us to act like regular tourists. After going back to the hotel to put on our Nikes, we walked the mile to
Old Town, the oldest part of Warsaw. First we walked all over the Market Place.
Here are some old pictures we had seen online at home. We brought them with us to show Ania.
19th century
Christmas decorations were still up and there was a festive mood at the booths.
Ben, Ania and I were having fun and continued walking in Old Town.
Ania is so beautiful, I notice many turning to look at her.
Unesco World Heritage site. Wall below
Tenement 1466. 
Royal Castle destroyed by Germans. How it looks today below; you can see market square to the left.
And St. John's Cathedral just behind Market Square.
I was having trouble concentrating as I thought of our main reason for being in Poland: leaving that handkerchief in the salt mine tomorrow. Since most everything we saw was not the original but a careful copying of the original, it seemed a little like Disney World. Still we enjoyed our walk so much. We were laughing and talking about our sore feet, when we looked around and did not see Ania. Where was she?
We searched for awhile and finally headed back to the hotel. Because Ania was always with us, we had not had a chance to talk sooner about the conversation she and Ben had on the plane. She told Ben then that she did not want to live in Poland or go to school there, scholarship or not. She was an American. Period. But she did not feel safe in Memphis and needed to get away from... Then she closed her eyes to nap and said, "Never mind."
We had only been in Warsaw less than a day and so much has happened already!!
We waited for word as we sat nervously in our suite. She, after all, is sixteen!!! Not a baby. But we feel so responsible.
At 7 we went down to the fancy dining room for fancy goose. We just nibbled at our food.
Ben was being paged. Someone brought a phone to him. He said, "Hello." When Ben put the phone down, his face was ashen.
"That was someone from the American Embassy. Ania was arrested by local police for running down the street looking suspicious. They turned her over to the American Embassy. They want us to come and verify who she is and that she is traveling with us."
We left right away for the American Embassy.
It is night in Warsaw. As the cab pulled away, we noticed the Christmas tree in front of the Palace of Culture and Science. A comforting thing to see..
As we drove through Warsaw on this cold, dark night, we were thankful Ania is okay.
When we know more, we'll tell YOU MORE!!
Love, Ben and Annie of Memphis
If you are enjoying this story, look for
CIGAR SMELL IN WARSAW to continue.
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