Mermaids and Cafe Blikle
Exact Change Only
I bought two pairs of hand-knit slippers from an elderly woman on the street for $13.00. I wanted to give her $20.00 because I didn’t have any change, but she wouldn’t take it. Finally, I found a store with currency exchange and woke the old guy up. At least he didn’t take 5 hours to examine my American currency with a special machine as they did in Belarus. I went back and gave the lady $13.00 and not a penny more. I love the slippers.
There was a young woman who had stopped to help. She was still there when I came back with the change. I asked her why the older woman wouldn’t take $20.00. She said that the woman was afraid of breaking the law or thought I was setting her up for something. But, the bottom line was she didn’t trust me. So, no tipping.
Palm Trees in Warsaw
We were riding the tram in downtown Warsaw. We went wherever it took us. At one point we stopped at a palm tree. A palm tree?
We found another Palm painted in blue on the outside wall of the Jewish cemetery. This is the connection. The Palms represent Israel. The artist chose to put the fake Palm tree right here because this used to be a big Jewish neighborhood. But, a large and merry Christmas tree once stood on this spot. I would prefer the Christmas tree. The Palm tree is phony and cheap looking.
On the advice of a fellow tram passenger, we crossed over the Vistula to Praga and then right back again. He said there wasn’t much to see over there. I took a few pics of the subway walls while there.
Why a Mermaid?
How did a mermaid become Warsaw’s symbol? Warsaw is on a river, not the ocean. Helsinki and Copenhagen also have lovely mermaid mascots. But those cities are on the seashore so it makes more sense. Copenhagen is even on an island. Copenhagen’s mermaid has taken a beating over the years. What is wrong with people? It’s only a mermaid. Calm down.
The figure started with a man’s head, a dragon’s tail, and chicken feet. The beast gradually morphed into a female and took on two fishtails, one for each “leg”.
The story is that the mermaid was saved from a mean man by a bunch of fishermen in what is now ‘Old Town’ Warsaw. To show her gratitude she has defended Warsaw ever since.
Cafe Blikle in Warsaw
Back at Charles De Gaulle Rondo, we walked up Nowy Swiat and found the world-famous Blikle cafe. It has been famous for its cakes and coffee since 1869. I had a Napoleon. M had a lemonade/watermelon drink and fruit with custard thing.
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