But first, I went to Minsk and the only pictures I took are of cats and the library.
I took a solo trip to the National Library of Belarus, thinking that I would get a good view from the city on the top level of that monstrosity. After purchasing a day pass library card and wondering around the few rows of book shelves that they have, I began to wonder how exactly one gets on top of the rhombicuboctahedron, spoiler - not from the library. I found this out by questioning the librarians who, angrily directed me towards the exit. The exit, which was heavily secured by a guard who yanked my library card from me. So, it turns out that the library only exists on the first few floors and the rest of the building (including the observation deck and restaurant) is separate. Well played, Minsk.
Hannah humored me by going with me to the Minsk Cat Museum, despite the smell of litter boxes six floors down from the entrance. We were worried the "museum" was going to be an old women charging an entrance fee to see her collection of 20 cats. Well, it's not a museum by any definition of the word, but its also not someone's house. The people who run it seem to take good care of the cats and its better than a shelter; however, it smelled acidic and the decoration was appalling. You have your choice between playing with cats in either a fully committed cat lady like room (complete with dusty unmatched furniture), or for some reason a harry potter themed room. Who am I to judge, maybe this is where the great harry potter fan fiction writers of the world gather for inspurration.
I armed this little guy in honor of Ignatius Reilly.
The internets always favorite - catinabox. Not sure where they dug up the reading material or cat jenga game.
This was the view from inside the museum and pussible exhibit.
Sup cat? I like your paws.
Oh right, this is the last picture I took in Minsk - he likes the cok.
On to Poland!1
I asked our first cab driver about the building below, he responded - "a gift from Stalin, do I need to say more?"
Kościół Świętego Krzyża or Holy Cross Church.
Sursum Corda - lift up your hearts.
The interior is less ornate then I've seen in most European churches. Throughout history this church has been bombed to shit and seen a handful of uprisings. I attempted to get a picture of the alter but a no picture rule is enforced.
Check out the sweet side car action. If I had a side car, I would keep a goose inside of it and then have a smaller side car for his bread storage.
I always imagined Europe would look like a fairy tale, but I never thought I would be living in one. Cringe over.
The long awaited for ice cream. Ice cream...which I would later come to regret.2
I was exploring by myself one day and ended up at the Warsaw Insurgents Cemetery. The park is beautiful to walk through, but I may be a little bias after finding my family name on one of the pillars. See, I told you I'm Polish. My last name isint at all common in the states, and outside of my immediate family of seven people, I never met another Cichocki.3
The monument is named the Fallen Unconquerable, and buried underneath are ashes from the victims of the Warsaw Uprising.
View from the back.
The next three pictures are from the Hala Mirowska market. I trust people who understand how to please my ocd with appropriately stacked eggs.
A teapot fit for a bear!
So, this is Warsaw's "fast train". I boarded it thinking that it was similar to a bullet train in Japan - see I'm even holding on. It's not though. The train is quicker than a buss and slower then the metro.
boo
Serious cat doing serious cat business.
La Playa music bar in Warsaw. The only reason I'm leaving this shitty picture in the post, is so that I can remember the time that Master ordered me to grab this waitress and bring her over. So, I dragged her by her arm to our table, while explaining that we've been waiting and needed service. Master started listing drinks and then she abruptly blurted out, "I don't work here" (suspicious though, she was wearing the clubs tshirt and I saw her carrying a tray)...
Me touching the king. Check out the dumb instagram bitch angle I got going.
The E.Wedel Chocolate Lounge.
I didn't think she could get any cuter, then she got a tiny hat!
Pictures of people taking pictures.
Recently, I've been asked "what happened to the bad ass Nicole I knew" - well here I am! Sitting on a cigar smoking bear. Where the hell are you?
I love Poland.
- The pictures in this post are not in chronological order, so if that bothers you then suck it because this is bimbo.club. [↩]
- Master, gave us the option between cake in a cafe or ice cream. We choose ice cream of poorer quality than we're used to. The quality was unbeknownst to us at the time of choosing and our choice was not quickly forgotten. Tough decisions out here. [↩]
- My brothers and I have a long standing joke that when someone in our family does something stupid its because they have a case of the Cichockidous. I hope that the Cichockis on the pillar would be able to appreciate the joke. [↩]