Tuesday, June 30

This morning we took a guided tour of Warsaw - a beautiful city. We could not help but feel the historical angst as we visited the Jewish ghetto, Old Town, New Town, the palace and even the huge, beautiful park which had been destroyed and rebuilt in the middle of the city. According to our tour guide, 75% of Warsaw and 99% of the Old Town and New Town were destroyed by the bombing during WWII. Only 8 buildings were left standing in Old Town/New Town after the war.


Warsaw, however, is known as the "Phoenix City" because it rose from the ashes after the war. Its citizens rebuilt the city brick by brick to look exactly as it had before the war.

After the tour we explored Old Town with it's many cafes, shops and historical sites. Many tried different Polish foods with a couple of brave souls sampling the blood sausage. They said they found it quite tasty. And some worked during lunch!



It's getting hot! As we headed back to our meeting place, the thunderstorms and torrential rains returned but only lasted a short while. The choir members changed into their performance clothes and rehearsed for the evening church service and concert at St Anne's in Warsaw.








The church service was sung from the organ loft. It was beautiful. They descended from the loft to the front of the church for a concert, which the crowd loved.


They got a standing ovation as they left the church and performed Loch Lomen for the crowd that had assembled outside the church, in the square.





We enjoyed a delicious dinner at a small restaurant on the square. Lightening storms again filled the night sky as we walked home from an eventful and educational day.