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Ah, Poland, where do I begin?I often ask myself this question while sipping a cup of coffee on Krakow’s main market-square,hiking the valleys and peaks of Poland’s Tatra mountains,Dolina RoztokiView onto the Valley of Five Polish Lakes from one of the surrounding peaksMorskie OkoKayaking the waters of the Masurian lakes,17th century Wigry Monasteryor reclining on the beaches of the Baltic seashore,Mierzeja WiślanaOrłowoWolinHel PeninsulaBut then I remember the tumultuous history that has afflicted Poland throughout the recent years, and I understand why rising to “tourist stardom” has taken this country longer than its Western counterparts.As you can probably see, Poland is a gem of a country. With its beautiful and diverse architecture, landscapes, traditions, and compelling history, it easily deserves to be recognized as one of Europe’s prime vacation destinations. But why hasn’t its magnificence been uncovered yet? There are two reasons: history and Poland’s (or more specifically, the Polish people’s) lack of promotion.Let’s start with history …1.) Little do others know that Poland used to be a mighty and sprawling Empire that stretched from the Baltic to the Black sea. In fact, at its climax, the territory of this great kingdom matched, and at times even exceeded, that of the German-dominated Holy Roman Empire.With its powerful winged Hussar warriors, Poland served as Europe’s “Gates of Christianity”, continuously defending the continent from debilitating Tartar and Muslim invaders who threatened the prosperity of Europe with their incessant assaults (If you want a better idea of the strength of the Polish Hussar army, consider that during the Battle of Hodów, 300 Polish Hussars defeated an army of about 40,000 Tatar Muslims, with less than 100 casualties on the Polish side). In fact, it was Polish king Jan III Sobieski (defender of Christendom) who crushed the invasion of the Muslim Ottoman Turks in one of Europe’s most important battles: The Battle of Vienna in 1683.The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (officially formed around 1569, but already exhibiting power since 1386) was the name of this vast kingdom, and it thrived for a period of nearly two centuries under the auspices of the prosperous Jagiellonian dynasty. Besides abounding in many different lands and nationalities, which included Ruthenians (Ukrainians and Byelorussians), Germans, Jews, Armenians, Moldavians, Latvians, Turks, Tartars, Czechs, Slovaks, Hungarians, and many others, the Commonwealth was one of Europe’s most important promoters of arts, education, and politics . Moreover, the Commonwealth was an especially unique place in Europe during the 14th -18th centuries because of its immense religious tolerance. While countries in the “enlightened” West mercilessly persecuted each other over religious differences, the Commonwealth was blossoming in peace and prosperity, shielding many religions, most notably Jews and Protestants, from persecution.During this time, the Commonwealth experienced a magnificent period of growth: towns sprang up as grain and timber exports increased, beautiful renaissance architecture enhanced cityscapes, the Jagiellonian University (Krakow Academy) became a prestigious center for academic pursuits, Nicolaus Copernicus unveiled his heliocentric theory, and poet Jan Kochanowski created the first works of Polish literature. In short, the Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania was, in a certain sense, a utopia. It distinguished itself in numerous ways, and was actually years ahead of many other European powers in terms of political advancement, for the Commonwealth was the first to elect its kings, prohibit the monarch from issuing laws without the consent of parliament, and create Europe’s first modern constitution (May 3, 1791), which guaranteed rights to all classes. In fact, a significant amount of historians believe that the Commonwealth’s political advancements served as the first and foremost model for the democratic government of the United States of America.But are any of these successes ever mentioned in standard Anglo-Saxon textbooks?No, the reputation of Poland has been unjustly tarnished by the many wars and conflicts (waged by Russians, Prussians, Germans and Austrians) that have beleaguered the nation throughout most of the 19th and 20th centuries. While in the late 18th to early 19th century the Partitions of Poland ended the nation’s long period of prosperity for about 123 years, the country was able to bounce back and briefly recover its wealth and bustling economy towards the early 1900s. However, this success was short-lived, for then came the Germans and Russians, who tried to annihilate Poland from the earth’s surface by spreading false propaganda and murdering off thousands of her citizens, most notably because of Poland’s refusal to submit to the disgusting ideologies fashioned by these notorious powers.Unlike countries such as France or the Czech Republic (formerly Czechoslovakia), which immediately accepted the ultimatums forced upon them by the German Nazis or Soviet Russians, Poland never surrender to either of these persecutors, primarily because Poland’s strong Catholic faith taught her people that uncontrolled violence, genocide, mass extermination, rape, plundering, and lying are wrong and go against the dignity of man. It was faith in God that guided the Poles and united them into a single, indomitable force.In reality, Poland was one of the only (maybe even the only) European countries fighting the Nazis during WWII, and one of the only countries that was courageous enough to stand-up for the safety and well-being of the persecuted Jews, while all others surrendered out of fear of Hitler and the German Nazis. For instance, do you know that it was Polish mathematicians who broke the Nazi “Enigma code “and shortened WWII by two years? And that in the “Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations” at Yad Vashem, the greatest number of individuals honored for saving the Jews are Polish? Unfortunately, these important accomplishments are not given the respect they deserve, since the spotlight is often unjustly taken by powers such as England, who not only failed to support Poland in her fight against Hitler, but also sold Poland to the Russians at Yalta.Nevertheless, even as the next phase of Poland’s oppression began (this time with the Russian Soviets) the country still refused to surrender to its persecutors. In fact, do you know that it was mainly Poland who caused the fall of the Communist regime, first with St. Pope John Paul II, who was not afraid to organize open pilgrimages or speak out publicly against Communist authorities, and then with Lech Wałęsa, who formed the Solidarity trade union in 1980, which not only encouraged free elections and religious expression, but stimulated Eastern Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and even China to wage their own uprisings against Communism?Thus, here is where the problem of “less tourism” lies. Unfortunately, Poland’s remarkable valiance has not been given the recognition it deserves. Instead, jealous dictators and liberals have caused this strong and beautiful country to be falsely labeled as a grey, communist backwater devoid of any culture, history, or decent social standards, simply because Poland has always had the audacity to speak-up for righteousness. In truth, even today, antipathetic European elites strive to ostracize Poland from the EU sphere since it is one of the only European countries to criticize ultra-liberal politics that have caused an influx of dangerous refugees and horrendous acts of terrorism on the European continent.Thankfully though, the jumble of lies that has unjustly plagued Poland for the past several years has finally begun to be dispelled as tourists who come to visit the country fall in love with Poland’s tranquil nature, architectural beauty, astounding diversity, breathtaking history, and compassionate and hospitable people. Honestly. it’s hard not to appreciate Poland considering the many historical contributions this wonderful country has made, and continues to make, for Europe.So in short, changing opinions wrought by dark movements and psychotic dictators takes time to untangle, but the hard-working, intelligent, and resilient Poles are unstoppable and will always come out victorious. In fact, thanks to the Polish people’s brilliant work-ethic, they have managed to fast-forward the process of recovery at an astounding rate, allowing Poland to become one of the most successful economic and political powers in Europe (and it only took the country about 20 years to achieve such status):“Since 1989, the country’s GDP per capita more than doubled, coming ahead of all European peers. Exports increased more than 25 times and came close to $250 billion in 2013. Since 1995, Poland has also grown faster than all large economies at a similar level of development, as reflected in average GDP per capita growth. After 23 years of uninterrupted growth—including during the 2008-09 global financial crisis, when Poland was the only EU economy not to sink into a recession—it is close to beating the world’s historic growth records.”2.) The second reason why I think that tourism is not as poplar in Poland as it is in other countries has to do with that notorious trait that most Polish people possess: complaining. Don’t get me wrong, Poles (most of them) are some of the kindest, smartest, and most hospitable individuals you’ll ever meet, but even Polish people will tell you that complaining is a major national problem (I have relations with a Polish family so I would know). Although the Poles have experienced more than their fair share of hardships , now as economy, lifestyle, and politics improve for the better, most Poles continue to roll their eyes and criticize their country instead of being proud and enthusiastic of the monumental changes that are taking place.Moreover, this complaining is also negatively reflected onto the tourism industry, since oddly enough, Poles fail to promote the beauty of their country and instead enjoy criticizing or nitpicking at its faults. It’s funny, complaining has become so notorious amongst Poles that there’s a famous Polish saying that pokes fun of this bad habit: “Cudze chwalicie, Swego nie znacie” – literally translated as “you praise the positive qualities of others (countries), but don’t even know or value those of your own”.So unfortunately, there are two camps of Poles: One group that can never except a darn compliment about their nation and only criticize it incessantly (these are the types of individuals who possibly discourage more tourists from coming). And a second group who love their country and strive to promote it as much as possible (Poland definitely needs more people like these!).In my honest opinion, Warsaw is a great example of a tourist destination that has fallen victim to “Polish complaining”. Actually, I think it’s one of Europe’s most underrated capitals thanks to Polish complaining! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been faced with negative comments from Polish people who unjustly criticize their capital as being ugly, cold and grey, while foreign tourists laud Warsaw for its vibrancy, beauty, historical significance, and excitement. In fact, I often hear puzzled tourists saying that it was Polish locals (unsurprisingly) who discouraged them from visiting Warsaw for some odd reason. Shocker, some tourists have even dared to say that the Palace of Culture is a beautiful building (FYI: Most Poles hate this building since it was built during the Soviet times).I mean, just look at what tourists are saying about Warsaw … (these are just a few examples)https://grabbinglifebytheballs.com/warsaw-underrated/http://www.thesweetestway.com/warsaw-poland-travel-tips/https://viewfinder.expedia.com/features/lebrun-instagram-diaries-wandering-warsaw/A Sunday In WarsawPretty patisseries and Old Town: 48 hours in Warsaw, Poland - Kara WillowWhy I Was Wrong About Warsaw (Warsaw City Guide) - Flirting with the GlobeWhy I Liked Warsaw, and Why You Should Like It TooThe 7 most underrated places to visit in EuropeA weekend in WarsawSo why do the Poles criticize their capital? It’s a difficult question, especially since there’s really not much to complain about (I hate when Polish people do that) .One reason might be the fact that parts of Warsaw were destroyed during WWII and had to be rebuilt afterward. But honestly, why should this even be an issue? It doesn’t detract from the city’s charm, it just adds to Warsaw’s history and vibrancy! In fact, many European metropolises suffered destruction during WWII. For instance, look at Berlin, about 85% or more of the city was largely destroyed during WWII, but you don’t ever hear locals complaining about this. Actually, did you know that most major German cities were rebuilt after WWII?“During World War II, carpet-bombing by Allied forces leveled up to 80 percent of the historic buildings in Germany’s main cities in an unprecedented wave of destruction prompted by the no less unprecedented barbarity of the Nazis.Berlin, like most cities in Germany, lay in ruins when World War II came to an end. In a seemingly endless catalogue of annihilation, Berlin, Cologne, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Hamburg, Kiel, Lübeck, Münster, Munich, Frankfurt, Würzburg, Mainz, Nuremberg, Xanten, Worms, Brunswick, Hanover, Freiburg and Dresden were all devastated.”But again, you rarely hear Germans complaining about the damage their cities underwent. Instead, the people embrace their metropolises and promote them as major tourist destinations. Why can’t Poles do the same? Warsaw has just as much to offer as Berlin — its just a matter of promoting and bringing these interests to a positive light! The Poles should be proud of the meticulous restoration projects that have revived the beauty of Warsaw – the city even gained UNESCO recognition because of the breathtaking restoration jobs that have revived the city to its former beauty.So, simply put, Warsaw is uniquely Warsaw and there’s no place like it in Europe. Poles should embrace this glorious city — which has risen like a resplendent phoenix from the ashes of destruction — and promote far and wide the many wonderful qualities it has to offer, qualities which are unique amongst other European cities. Example? Warsaw’s seamless balance of medieval and modern architecture. What’s not to love? Warsaw is likely Europe’s greatest success story!Some pictures of Warsaw to prove my point. I actually compiled a mini travel-guide about Warsaw so that tourists can discover the city’s true beauty and spirit. If Poles can’t promote their country, I will.A brief background of Warsaw:The first traces of human settlement in the area date back to the turn of the 11th century, and so-called Old Warsaw was founded in the 13th century in the area of what is now the Old Town. As people continued to flock to the city, the so-called New Town was established in the following century. Over the centuries, the city by the Vistula river underwent incredible transformations. In 1596, Warsaw was made capital of Poland, and became not only the site of international politics, but also the home of many great artists, scientists, and social activists. Known formerly as “Paris of the East”, It was in Warsaw that the careers of world-renowned figures such as Frederick Chopin and Maria Skłodowska-Curie first took off.Although, independence insurgencies, wars, and the Warsaw Uprising have forever cast a shadow on the city’s history, Warsaw has miraculously risen from the ashes, for which it has been recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site, and dubbed Europe’s “Phoenix city”.source: http://www.msz.gov.pl/en/foreign_policy/nato_2016/warsaw/______________________________________________________________________________So, let’s start our journey with the gorgeous Old town. It really is as colorful as these pictures show. Even though parts of the old sector were rebuilt (as previously mentioned), it was actually reconstructed using historical pictures/paintings/town plans as guides, and bricks from former houses churches, and palaces that originally adorned the streets before the war.With its vivid pastel hues, lively squares, charming townhouses, winding cobble-stone streets, enigmatic alleyways, cozy cafés, and sweeping church facades, the atmosphere (and of course history) of the Warsaw old town is truly spectacular and most definitely worth a visit!Europe’s narrowest townhouseSt. John’s Cathedral (just one of many churches contained within the old town)Barbican Fortressmain market squareNew Town: Warsaw’s New Town is a neighborhood dating to the 15th century, while the Old town sector shown above dates back to the 13th century. The New Town lies just north of the Old Town and is connected to it by ulica Freta (English: Freta Street), which begins at the Barbican.PanoramasViews of the Royal Castle and Royal Castle GardensCopper-roof PalacePanorama of the Castle and Old Town from the Vistula riverbankMariensztatFrom the Old Town sector, follow the Royal Route to Krakowskie Przedmieście, a grand boulevard lined with fabulous palaces, churches, and townhouses.St. Anne’s ChurchContinue along the Royal Route to Nowy Świat, a street which continues to display the grandeur of Krakowskie Przedmieście and the Old town sector. Nowy Świat is lined with fabulous cafés, restaurants, and shops.Grand Theater: One of the largest Opera houses in Europe and in the world. Home to the Polish National Ballet and host of many world-class performances.Grand Theater MuseumParks: Warsaw is known for being one of the greenest capitals in Europe — more than a quarter of Warsaw’s territory is pure green space! Warsaw houses a plethora of beautiful, expansive, lush, and verdant parks and gardens, with most having a history that reaches as far back as the 16th century. Here are just a few of the parks you can find in the capital …Ogród Saski (Saxon Garden): It is the oldest public park in the city. Founded in the late 16th century, it was opened to the public in 1727 as one of the first publicly accessible parks in the world. The Saxon gardens used to house several opulent palaces that were unfortunately destroyed during the war. The government of Poland has decided to reconstruct these grand residences, so hopefully they will be standing and adorning the park grounds very soon.Tomb of the Unknown soldier: technically Part of the Saxon Gardens. The pillars that house the tomb are actually remains of the former Saxon Palace, one of the prime residences of the Saxon Gardens which is scheduled to be rebuilt shortly.Changing of the Guard (takes place every hour, 365 days per year)Łazieńki Park (Royal Baths Park): One of the largest and most beautiful parks in Europe. Designed in the 17th century as a baths park (hence the name) for nobleman Stanisław Lubomirksi, in the 18th century, Łazieńki was transformed by Poland's King Stanisław August Poniatowski into a setting for palaces, villas, classicist follies, and monuments, which still stand today, beautiful as ever.Frederic Chopin MonumentAlthough Frederick Chopin is renown worldwide for being a brilliant composer, not many people know that this world-famous musician was Polish – and a Varsovian! Born in 1810 in Żelazowa Wola, Chopin’s parents moved to the capital city when the young Frederick was just a few months old. It was here, in Warsaw, that the legendary composer spent half of his life and enjoyed his first spectacular successes. Frederick played everywhere from the royal court, to rich manor houses, to public theaters.Today, Warsaw is full of places related to Chopin. Multimedia benches scattered throughout the city serve as signposts, giving a tour of the traces of this great composer. Festivals, cultural events, and free summer concerts of Chopin’s music held at Łazienki Royal Park are among the most popular ways to pay tribute to this musical genius.source: http://www.msz.gov.pl/en/foreign_policy/nato_2016/warsaw/From May to September, every Sunday at noon, and again at 4 pm, one can relax with Chopin’s magnificent classical music in a real picnic atmosphere at Łazieńki Park.Palace on the IsleOld Orangery: contains a statue gallery and one of the world’s few extant examples of an authentic 18th-century court theatre.New OrangeryLittle White HouseMyślewicki PalaceClassical amphitheater and Stage on the isleChinese GardenSome random shots of monuments, bridges, and lawns contained within the park …Henryk Sieńkiewicz MonumentEgyptian ShrineMonument of Jan III SobieskiBelvedere Palace (seen in the distance)University of Warsaw Botanical gardens (contained within Łazieńki)Belvedere Palace (contained within Łazieńki)Sybil’s Shrine (contained within Łazieńki)A lot of different animals live in the park, including bigger ones like fox and deer (all pictures taken in Łazieńki).Królikarnia (The Rabbit House) Palace and Park Complex: The palace houses a museum dedicated to Polish sculptor Xavery Dunikowski.Natolin Palace and Park ComplexMonument-Sarcophagus of Natalia Potocka (1776–1867), a noblewoman who used to live in the palace.Pole Mokotowskie ParkKępa Potocka ParkUjazdów Castle and Park ComplexKrasiński Palace and Gardens ComplexBeautiful, historical library housed inside of the PalaceWilanów Palace and Park ComplexMausoleum of the Potocki Family (contained within Wilanów)Church of St. Anne’s in WilanówWarsaw University Rooftop Gardens: one of the most beautiful rooftop gardens in Europe (although this technically isn’t a park, it still goes to show just how extremely green Warsaw is!)Żolibórz Park and Citadel (the Citadel is a 19th century fort constructed by Iwan Dehna)and this isn’t even half of the parks contained in Warsaw!Praga District (Warsaw’s Hipster District)Through the centuries, Warsaw's right-bank – the area called Praga – was an independent town, and it became formally attached to Warsaw only in the late 18th century. For years it was a secondary part of the city that survived the devastation of war, with three different religions (Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Judaism) peacefully co-existing. Today it is a fascinating district, overflowing with artistic studios, galleries, alternative theaters and underground clubs. Thanks to this infusion of cool culture, many of the surviving post-industrial buildings have been turned into cultural centres, cinemas, galleries, and pubs. But it is also in Praga that we can find many streets which were undamaged during World War II, and so there are some beautiful pre-war lamp-posts, sidewalks and apartment blocks.sources: http://warsawtour.pl/en/warsaw-for-everyone/praga-district-2993.html?page=0,0St. Florian’s Cathedral19th Orthodox church of St. Mary MagdaleneNeon museumSome random streets, monuments and plazas that can be found on a walk through Warsaw, notice how drastically the architecture changes from elegant classicist, to monumental Soviet-realism, to edgy modern. Its like a kaleidoscope!Miodowa StreetUjazdowska StreetBank SquareThree Crosses Square and surrounding streetsSome random townhousesChmielna streetSome more random streets and alleys …Stanisław Markiewicz BridgeTheater SquarePiłsudzki SquareSupreme Court of Poland and Krasiński SquareWarsaw Uprising Monument on Krasińki SquareKrasiński Palace that faces the squareLubomirski PalaceSome more palaces (Warsaw has a lot of them)Savior’s SquareMarszałkowska Square and Street — a grandiose masterpiece of Soviet-realism.Some more random streets …De’Gaulle SquareGrzybowski SquareBusiness District: Warsaw is one of Europe’s most dynamically developing metropolitan cities, attractive not only to tourists and residents, but also to entrepreneurs, as proven by various international ranking lists. In the 2016/2017 European Cities and Regions of the Future ranking, Warsaw came 4th in the “Business-friendly” category and 8th in the “Human capital and life style” category. Thanks to the modern architecture, excellent office infrastructure, and numerous incentive programmes targeted at small and medium-size enterprises, more and more companies are deciding to establish their HQs here and develop innovative ideas – as is the case with the Google Warsaw Campus, one of only five in the world. This all makes Warsaw also unique in the region in terms of the highly skilled human resources and a high level of satisfaction among residents. A survey conducted by the European Commission in 2015 has shown that over 90% of Varsovians are happy with their life in this city.source: http://www.msz.gov.pl/en/foreign_policy/nato_2016/warsaw/Warsaw houses one of Europe’s best skylines …Złote Tarasy Shopping CenterWarsaw “Google” OfficeSome more views of the business district …SkylineNational Football StadiumVistula riverbanks: Warsaw’s Vistula shorelines contain some of the loveliest and liveliest parts of the city. The verdant green and golden banks are lined with boulevards, restaurants and clubs, natural sandy beaches, and some of the wildest urban riverbanks in Europe (by wild, I mean quiet, natural, undeveloped beaches that are great for fishing , biking, animal watching, and simply relaxing).Some breathtaking views of the old town from the banks of the Vistula River …Kayaking on the Vistula, an increasingly popular pastime …Warsaw ZooThere’s a chimpanzee sitting in the rafters …Villa Żabińskich at the Warsaw Zoo. Setting for the beautiful movie called “Zookeepers Wife” which describes the life and times of a Polish couple (former owners of the zoo) who rescued Jews from the German Nazis during WWII.Warsaw PhilharmonicPalace of Science and Culture: The most controversial building in Poland — Some love it (mostly tourists) and some hate it (mostly Poles).Constructed in 1955, the Palace of Culture and Science (Pałac Kultury i Nauki; abbreviated PKiN) is a notable high-rise building in Warsaw. It is the center for various companies, public institutions and cultural activities such as concerts, cinemas, theaters, libraries, museums, sports clubs, universities, scientific institutions and authorities of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Motivated by Polish historicism and American art deco high-rise buildings, the PKiN was designed by Soviet architect Lev Rudyev. It was intended to be a gift from Joseph Stalin.The Palace of Culture and Science is the tallest building in Poland, the eighth tallest building in the European Union, and one of the tallest on the European Continent.Cafés and clubs contained within the PKiNMuseum of Dolls at PKiNView from the 30th floor …Museums: Warsaw has many …already shown aboveGrand Theater MuseumPalace on the Isle MuseumLittle White House MuseumMyślewiecki Palace MuseumMuseum of Xavery Dunikowski SculpturesPraga Neon MuseumPalace of Culture and Science Doll MuseumRoyal Castle of Warsaw MuseumOne of the Rembrandt paintings housed in the castleWilanów Palace MuseumNational Museum of Warsaw — very large and beautiful museum filled with fascinating pieces of art from all time periods and all parts of the world. For instance, The Faras Gallery in the Warsaw National Museum is the only place in the world where you can see Nubian art and artifacts collected from the Faras Cathedral before it sunk in Lake Nassar. This collection of Nubian frescoes is in a gallery that follows the plan of the cathedral.Faras Gallery: Polish archaeologists literally peeled frescoes off of the walls of the Nassar Cathedral in order to save them before the church sunk in Lake Nassar.Museum of the Polish ArmyOutfits of and paintings of the great winged Hussar Warriors …Warsaw Uprising Museum (one of the best museums in Europe)POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews (Winner of Europe’s Museum of the Year award in 2016)Frederic Chopin MuseumZachęta National Gallery of Contemporary ArtMuseum of John Paul II Collection (Porczyński Gallery)Copernicus Science CenterNational Museum of EthnographyMarie Curie Skłodowska MuseumUjazdowski Center for the Contemporary ArtsGeological Museum of the State Geological InstitutePowązki Cemetery (a type of “open-air” museum):It is the most famous cemetery in Warsaw, and one of the oldest, having been established in 1790. The necropolis features graves of many illustrious individuals from Polish history, including those interred along the "Avenue of Notables" (Aleja Zasłużonych) created in 1925. It estimated that over 1 million people have been buried at Powązki.there are many more museums in Warsaw, but I won’t list them all since I’ve already posted more than enough pictures …And then of course Warsaw is also home to several world-class UniversitiesUniversity of Warsaw (UW) (founded 1816)UW Faculty of TechnologyUW Faculty of PhysicsUW Faculty of LawUW Faculty of JournalismUW Faculty of MusicUW LibraryAlthough there are several other universities in Warsaw, I will just leave you with pictures of the main one, which is the University of Warsaw.and of course Warsaw also offers heaps of fabulous entertainment, including theaters, clubs, bars, restaurants, and cafes — everything ranging from Hipster to Classy — your always guaranteed to find something you love here!BarkaPomost 511La PlayaBoogaloo Beach BarWarszawa PowiśleWarszawa WschodniaProchownia ŻolibórzBar WieczornyQchnia ArtystycznaPatio Kredytowa 9Concept 13Some stunning views from the restaurantCuda na KijuSavior’s SquareCafés on and around the Main Market SquareFreta StreetBelvedere Restaurant at Łazieńki ParkE.Wedel Caféand last but not least, public facilities — all fresh, spiffy, and modern.Metro StationsTrain StationChopin AirportYeah, so Warsaw is a really dull and boring place … ;)

COYOTE'S MORNING CRY Sharon Butalagood Meditations & Dreams from a Life in NatureWHY ZEBRAS DON'T GET ULCERSexcellent Robert M. Sapolskynote the criticism of Bernie Siegel(cancer)THE SOUL'S CODE In Search of Character and CallingJAMES HILLMANNote how he starts the book with "Epigraphs in lieu of a preface"In the final analysis, we count for something only because of the essential we embody, and if we do not embody that, life is wasted._ C. G. JUNGOf course, you can argue with the proposition that all we are is ..... genes and environment. You can insist that there's..something more. But if you try to visualize the form this something would take, or articulate it clearly, you'll find the task impossible, for any force that is not in the genes or the environment is outside of physical reality as we perceive it. It's beyond scientific discourse...... This doesn't mean it doesn't exist._ ROBERT WRIGHT, The Moral AnimalI don't develop ; I am._PABLO PICASSOpage 62..... The platonic myth of growing down with which we began this chapter says the soul descends in four modes-via the body, the parents,place, and circumstances. These four ways can be instructions for completing the image you brought with you on arrival. First, your body: Growing down means going with the sag of gravity that accompanies aging.Second, admitting yourself to be one among your people and a member of the family tree, including its twisted and rotten branches. Third, living in a place that suits your soul and that ties you down with duties and customs. Last, giving back what circumstances gave you by means of gestures that declare your full attachment to this world.Lorna Crozier The Collected Poems of Mrs. BentleyA Saving GraceFACING THE WORLD WITH SOUL__ The reimagination of modern lifeROBERT SARDELLOActive imaginal thought promotes the gradual transforming of the taken for granted notion that it is we who are doing the thinking to the stance that it is the world that thinks through us. p.28note the house, door, window analogy......Larger windows do something different. They make the house more self-conscious, more open and vulnerable, more unsure. Large picture windows change seeing through into looking at and being seen, instilling paranoia in the house. (interesting)note his fascinating discussion of the relation of economics, money and the soul of the world p.94He certainly leans in the direction of homeopathyExcellent book: topics like economics, things, architecture, and medicine he gives startling new meaning toONLY COMPANION_Japanese Poems of Love and Longingvery good--- Traditional five line poemsMODERN-DAY MIRACLES How Ordinary People Experience SupernaturalActs Of God Paul PratherA good book- doesn't New Age the material to death- researchedadequately and states his case and beliefThe PATH to LOVE---- Renewing the Power of Spirit In Your LIfeDEEPAK CHOPRA__another excellent book-refer to the printed notes for material I have used- I did try to refer to the page numbers for material I usedThe Dancing Mind: Toni Morrisonbrief, but powerful handling of the difficulties and necessities faced by those involved in the reading/writing life in today's societyFROM BEGINNING TO END-The Rituals of Our Lives- Robert Fulghuman audio book, read by the authorwell read, how habits and routines bring structure and meaning to daily lifeAN ANTHROPOLOGIST ON MARS OLIVER SACKSseven paradoxical talesa fascinating look at how our brains construct our individual worlds7 case historiesHow We Die-Reflections on Life's Final ChapterSherwin B. Nuland...death hath ten thousand several doorsFor men to take their exits.-John Webster, The Duchess of Malfi, 1612Man is an obligate aerobe. This statement is an experimentally proven, molecular-level certaintyShakespeare had Julius Caesar reflect:Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,It seems to me most strange that men should fear;Seeing that death, a necessary end,Will come when it will come.Rilke wrote:Oh Lord, give each of us his own death,The dying, that issues forth out of lifeIn which he had love, meaning and despair.Wislawa Szymborska...Poems New and Collected 1957-1997superb poetry Why do we treat the fleeting daywith so much needless fear and sorrow?It's in its nature not to stay:Today is always gone tomorrow.THE HEALING HEART-POEMS OF LOSS AND LIFEEleanor KoldofskyexcellentFINDING SERENITY in the AGE OF ANXIETY- Robert Gerzonfrom toxic anxiety to natural anxiety to sacred anxiety- how we can respond to each effectivelyfrom: WORDS TO COMFORT, WORDS TO HEAL compiled by Juliet MabeyThis life is only a prelude to eternity. For that which we call death is but a pause, in truth a progress into life.SENECAThat day, which you fear as being the end of all things, is the birthday of your eternity.SENECA, from MORAL AND POLITICAL ESSAYSRainer Maria RilkePROSE AND POETRYEdited by Egon Schwarz"I am afraid. One has to take some action against fear, once one has it."-from The Notebooks of Malte Laurids BriggePRAYER THE HIDDEN FIRE- Tom Harpurexcellent-includes a number of useful prayers and an address to write toLiving Prayer-Robert BensonWe are meant to be taken, blessed and broken. It is our brokenness, perhaps even our willingness to be broken, that holds the key to whatever it is we have to share. p.42PRAYER:LANGUAGE OF THE SOUL-more than 300 prayers from around the world-Philip DunnGOD- The Evidence-The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason in a Postsecular World Patrick Glynn-superb treatment-marshalls all the evidence for the action of GOD in the universeMAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING- Viktor E. Frankl-his suffering resulted in the development of an approach to psychotherapy called logotherapyLiving in Process-Anne Wilson Schaef-basic truths for living the path of the soulMoor Eeffoc, by the way, comes from Dickens, via Chesterton. It is Coffee Room, written on a glass door, and seen from inside the room. For me, it is the irrational, intuitive reality, seen from the inside. For passers-by, it seems to be a coffee room. Those of us who live on the inside know it is that magic place,Moor Eeffoc. pg. 128GOD IN ALL WORLDS- Lucinda Vardey-tremendous anthology of contemporary spiritual writing- I should obtain a copy for my libraryTHE ACTIVE SIDE OF INFINITY- Carlos Castaneda-follows the philosophy presented in his series-does strike me as an amalgamation of his writings after his death-took a disliking to some of the language in certain sections-I have never seen any foul language in any of Castaneda's previous worksStreams of Living Water-Richard J. FosterCelebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith-the attractive feature of the book is that each tradition is broken down into notable figures and significant movements, right from origin to present-goodHealing Emotions - Conversations with the DALAI LAMA on mindfullness, emotions, and healthedited by Daniel Goleman-some excellent exchangesScar Tissue-Michael Ignatieff-superbpg186 "WHatever decision you make-whether you chose as Mrs. Adkins did or not-it is important to understand that it is a choice. You can choose to die, or you can choose life beyond selfhood, the life beyond the gates of truth. How you choose, Moe taught me, depends on the value you place on self-consciousness. No one can decide that for you. You can choose life or you can choose consciousness, but as Mrs. Adkins knew, the illness does not allow you both. If you do not act, as Mrs.Adkins did, on the first signs of its presence within you, the illness will not even allow you the dignity of a choice.FLAWLESS Louis A. Tartaglia, M.D.- some excellent tips-I found my character flawThe Handbook of Heartbreak - Robert Pinskyan excellent selection of heartfelt poetry. I have saved several examples and placed them throughout my collectionBecoming Human-Jean Vanier- from the CBC Lecture series- excellent, I truly wish I could change, I am tryingFOR THE TIME BEING- ANNIE DILLARD(from the book cover) - personal narrative that surveys the panorama of our world, past and present. Here is a natural history of sand, a catalogue of clouds, a batch of newborns on an obstetrical ward, a family of Mongol horsemen. Here is the story of Jesuit paleontologist Teilhard de Chardin digging in the deserts of China.Here is the story of Hasidic thought rising in Eastern Europe. Here are defect and beauty together, miracle and tragedy, time and eternity.- a stunning bookLAST FLESH-LIFE IN THE TRANSHUMAN ERA-CHRISTOPHER DEWDNEY-from the cover-Never before has human life been able to change itself, to reach into its own genetic structure and rearrange its molecular basis-now it can. We are about to enter the transitional period between the human and posthuman eras-the transhuman age.Genetic engineering, artificial intelligence and neuroscience are about to give humans the keys to their own destiny.-some fascinating speculationsETERNAL ECHOES-JOHN O'DONOHUE....to assure us that from all eternity we have belonged, and to answer the question that echoes at the heart of all longing: While we are here, where is it that we are absent from?The Force of Character: James HIllmanpg.43- Oldness is an adventure. Stepping from the bathtub, hurrying to the phone, or just going down the stairs presents as much risk as traveling camelback in the Gobi. Once we were down the stairs and out the door way ahead of our feet. Now who knows when the trick knee willgive out or the foot miss the tread. Once we learned from the fox and the hawk; now the walrus, the tortoise, and the moose in a dark bog are our mentors. The adventure of slowness.High Tech Heretic- CLIFFORD STOLLWhy Computers Don't Belong in the Classroom and Other Reflections by a Computer Contrarian"disdains the inflated promises made on their behalf" barbed, opinionated, and essentialHow We Believe: The Search for God..........Faith, not reason, religion, not science, is the proper domain of God's esistence.....DOUBLE DOWN-FREDERICK & STEVEN BARTHELME-a testimony to the risky allure of casinos-a reflection on the pull and power of illusionsDEATH ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON- Richard John NeuhausThe Seven Last Words are these:"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.""Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.""Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother.""My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?""I thirst.""It is finished.""Father, into your hands I command my spirit."-exceptionalGOD IS NO LAUGHING MATTER- Julia Cameron- some excellent exercises- Observations and Objections on the Spiritual Path- Remember St. Augustine's advice: "It is solved by walking."Why We Hurt- The Natural History of Pain-Frank T. Vertosick- I'm jus' pain covered in skin. I know what it is...-the dying Mrs. Wilson in John Steinbeck's Grapes of WrathWhat Remains to be Discovered-John MaddoxMapping the Secrets of the Universe, the Origins of Life,and the Future of the Human Race-excllent summary to date of these three scientific areas-difficult reading at times_Slowing Down to the Speed of Life- Richard Carlson & Joseph Bailey- The most important moment of your life is this one-right now! Truly it's the only moment that you have. All other moments are either overand are now just a memory, or they are yet to be-a mere speculative thought about some future moment.pg. 194 This is the key philosophy in the book.The Prayer of Jabez- Bruce Wilkinson- a remarkable little book-see 1 Chronicles 4:9- Here's the verse: Oh, that You would bless me indeed,and enlarge my territory,that Your hand would be with me,and that You would keep me from evil.7/17/02 1st book I've read in a long time- WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DIE? Brian C. Stiller- a thoughtful treatment-bible based- .....not the good we think we have done, but trusting and believing in the good Jesus did. p.1391/13/03 I'm finally reading again. Just finished 100 cigarettes and a bottle of vodka-a memoir-- Arthur Schaller-as the cover says: It's a clear-eyed memoir of a boy coming of age in Poland. It took 30 years for him to be able to evenspeak about those events. A child of today would not survive!!!!!6/23/03 The Artist's Way (A Spritual Path to Higher Creativity) Stunning!!! This sourcebook is ten years old. Where have I been? Jung revisited. Morning pages. Wow! Dates with the artist. Yes. Julia Cameron17/10/03 The Power of Patience, M.J. Ryan lots of quotations and motivational stories, very good, I'm reminded of Henry Nouwen who placed the idea of waiting patiently in a religious context.Mary had to wait for the birth of Jesus. Remember Gabriel! Be not afraid.29/10/03 LIfe of Pi, Yann Martel This is the first fiction I've read in months. I'm stunned! The concept is the most original I've ever seen. The ending brings the book back to life.14/11/03 FASTER The Acceleration of Just About Everything, James Gleick the key similie in this book: "like a methamphetamenic rider on a horse" He must have been exercising writer's license because I couldn't find an entry in the dictionary for methamphetaminic. In any case the book is brilliant. As the cover says "Synchronize your watches. We have reached the epoch of the nonosecond. This is the heyday of speed.19/11/03 It's Not About the Bike- My Journey Back to Life, Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins-"Either the chemo works or it doesn't. If it does you go on to live a normal life. If it doesn't it usually comes back in three to four months. You'll be dead in several more. "You have to believe and you have to fight."26/03/04 The Power of Now- Eckhart Tolle- Never has a book hit me between the eyes like this one! (see Carlson above)Themes and keywords:Life is always now.The burden of "me"Your life is not your life situationEvery cell embodies intelligenceThe delight of beingStories cover up the simplicity of this momentSense perceptions as an exit from mindMeeting others in PresenceThe nature of form is to be unstableSpontaneous right actionSeparating emotion from the storyCollective pain-bodies of nationsBeing the awareness that feels the painAwareness replaces mind-identificationNo time is needed to be who you are...there is no problem now3/3/04 REASON FOR HOPE-A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY, Jane Goodall "poignant and insightful", I pray that there is in fact reason for hope. Sometimes I really doubt it.4/16/04 Running with Walker- A Memoir, Robert Hughes "With disarming honesty and humour the book tells how a family copes ans keeps hope alive despite the staggering difficulties autism presents.4/17 Night- Elie Wiesel- I cannot comprehend. "Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky. Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever. Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.The last 3 paragraphs: "One day I was able to get up, after gathering all my strength. I wanted to see myself in the mirror hanging on the opposite wall. I had not seen myself since the ghetto. From the depths of the mirror, a corpse gazed back at me. The look in his eyes, as they stared into mine, has never left me.7/1 Golden Gate-Vikram Seth The novel is one long poem. The plot does indeed make SENSE.IT was one of the books referred to by King.7/4 Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim-David Sedaris Scathingly funny, this book had me laughing outright in several spots. Brilliant!!!10/23 HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA Transforming the Mind-Teachings On Generating Compassion- Copied the eight verses on transforming the mind.Good!Theme-As long as space endures, as long as sentient beings remain, until then, may I too remain and dispel the miseries of the world.11/17 AN ACCIDENTAL CANADIAN Reflections on my home and (not) native land MARGARET WENTE A very intriguing mix of humour and pathos. She makes some valid points, for sure.12/4 *A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING BILL BRYSON 500 pages and two succinct statements,one by Author Bryson and one by Edward O. Wilson: "But here's an extremely salient point: we have been chosen, by fate or Providence or whatever you wish to call it. As far as we can tell, we are the best there is. We may be all there is. It's an unnerving thought that we may be the living universe's supreme achievement and its worst nightmare simultaneously.", "One planet, one experiment." Bryson page 477.12/22 FLU The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus That Caused It-Gina Kolata- SCARY 100,000 million dead2/12/05 Eats, Shoots & Leaves, The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation-Lynne Truss-Amazing book! A cat has claws at the end of its paws, A comma's a pause at the end of a clause.I actually have a letter from the Apostrophe Protection Society (completely tongue-in-cheek) that I can use for "offenders." (see Scribblings on hard drive)A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires several shots, completely wrecking the place. “Why?” asks the confused waiter as the panda heads for the exit. The animal produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it to the waiter. “I’m a panda,” he says at the door. “Look it up.”The waiter turns to the relevant entry and reads: “Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leave."/03 ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE; An Inquiry into Values Robert M. Pirsig-...about a unification of spiritual feeling and technological thought3/4/05 TESTAMENT NINO RICCI A NOVEL- In Testament, Canadian author Nino Ricci tells a fictionalized account of Jesus's life, focusing on him as a man. The novel is divided into four sections, each told by a different person in his life. The different narrators are Judas, Mary Magdalene, his mother Mary, and Simon, a young Syrian shepherd. The author couples his fanciful story of Jesus as a mere mortal becoming myth with a realistic depiction of political and ethnic intrigue of the era. It's an approach that some will find blasphemous and others will find thought-provoking. The Christian Science Monitor says, "Nino Ricci's Testament deserves a wide audience and should ignite vigorous debate."superb characterization3/24 /05 Electric Universe: The Shocking True Story of Electricity-David Bodanis- I've used many of the book's descriptions as fill in for elementary science lessons. Wonderful!!3/30/05 In praise of slow : how a worldwide movement is challenging the cult of speed / Carl Honoré. -- Excellent point of view!!!7/16/05 Dropping Ashes on the Buddha-The Teaching of Zen Master Seung Sahn-Compiled & Edited by Stephen Mitchellfrom page 36- "The visitor said, 'My friends think I'm crazy because I'm interested in Zen.'Soen-sa said,'Craziness is good. Crazy people are happy, free, they have no hindrance. But since you have many attachments'you are only a little crazy. This is not crazy enough. You must become completely crazy. Then you will understand.'8/2/05 Goldie: a lotus grows in the mud-"That is the idea behind this book. Not to tell my life story, but to speak openly and from the heart...She came across to me as honest.8/10 The Historian: A Novel-Elizabeth Kostova-An interesting blend of fact and fantasy-a confrontation with the definition of evil.8/15/ blink-by the author of THE TIPPING POINT, The Power of Thinking Without Thinking-Malcolm Gladwell-Choices made in an instant-superb8/24 BLUE GOLD-THE BATTLE AGAINST CORPORATE THEFT OF THE WORLD'S WATER-Maude Barlow, Tony Clarke- It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water without price from the fountain of the water of life.-REVELATION 21:68/29 THE COLLAPSE OF GLOBALISM AND THE REINVENTION OF THE WORLD-John Ralston Saul-In four words"applied economics as alchemy." Some superb developed concepts here that made one think. Irregular war, for example, and God as "not dead."7/17/06 OBASAN Joy Kogawa pg. 205 "It's the chicken coop "house" we live in that I mind. The uninsulated unbelievable thin-as-a-cotton-dress hovel never before inhabited in winter by human beings. In summer....."pg. 238-"It was a terrible business what we did to our Japanese". Indeed!!!!8/24/07 BREAK ON THROUGH-The LIfe and Death of Jim Morrison-James Riordan & Jerry Prochnicky-"You must confront your life which is sneaking up on you like a rapt coiled serpent." He viewed himself as a poet not a rock star. He's buried in a city of poets. Very Good!!!!!7/28/09 A NEW EARTH- Awakening to Your Life's Purpose- Eckhart Tolle- "A new species is arising on the planet. It is arising now and you are it!! Super!7/30 ENTER MOURNING- A Memoir on Death, Dementia, & Coming Home- Heather Menzies- Non-Fiction as good as "Scar Tissue". Some excellent recommended reading also!9/7 THE WORLD WITHOUT US- Powerful- "As the Voyagers and Pioneers erode away to stardust, in the end our radio waves, bearing sounds and images that record barely more than a single century of human existence, will be all the universe holds of us. IT's hardly an instant, even in human terms, but a remakably fruitful-if convulsive- one. Whoever awaits our news at the edge of time will get an earful. They may not understand Lucy, but they will hear us laugh.7/6/2010 CIGAR BOX BANJO-Paul Quarrington- Superb!!! see the PDF file: "Paul Quarrington on Cancer". Also in "Scribblings".7/21/ THE VANISHING FACE OF GAIA: A FINAL WARNING-James Lovelock-Superb! A close look at what the observational science is saying. He finds fault with climate modelling. He comes out strongly on the side of nuclear power as a stop gap measure, although the damage is irreversible.7/26 eaarth: MAKING A LIFE ON A TOUGH NEW PLANET- Bill MCKibben-"We've created, in very short order, a new planet, still recognizable, but fundamentally different. We may as well call it Eaarth." Indeed!!!!8/3 A Field Guide to the Invisible-Wayne Biddle Consider, therefore, this further evidence of bodies whose existence you must acknowlege though they cannot be seen-Titus Lucretius Carus-from allergens to zeitgeist (58 invisible "things".8/4 A Field Guide to Germs-Wayne Biddle-from adenovrus to Zika Fever-amazing how germs really have shaped the history of humankind-cholera, bubonic pague, polio, smallpox-on and on8/31 Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and The Triumph of Spectacle-Chris Hedges-Our culture can no longer distinguish between reality and illusion.4/15/2011 The TIGER: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival- John VaillantA Condensed Passage: “And this was when he heard it. ‘This sound,’ said Sokolov, ‘you cannot confuse it with anything else-God willing you should never hear it. My partner was a hundred yards away, and he said that when he heard that roar he was stunned; it was all he could do not to start running.’”“….When thunder rolls, lions will roar back. What other creature, besides the lion, the tiger, and the whale, can answer Creation in its own language?“I will use an analogy,” said Sokolov, trying his best to articulate what he heard and felt on that ridge. “Every melody is based on the same seven notes, but some melodies make you happy, some make you sad, and some can terrify you. Well, this was a roar which makes your blood go cold in your veins and your hair stand up on your head. You could call it a ‘premonition of death.’ When I heard it, I thought, ‘That tiger is going to kill somebody,’ but the wind was blowing and my back was turned, so at first I didn’t realize it was going to be me.”8/8 Forget You had a Daughter: Doing Time in the “Bangkok Hilton”- SANDRA GREGORY With Michael Tierney-horrific prison conditions in Lard Yao, even worse in Durham8/22/2011 HOW THE END BEGINS; THE ROAD TO A NUCLEAR WORLD WAR III – Ron Rosenbaum-from the last paragraph: “All I can say is- if this were my letter of last resort: If you’re in a position to launch, whoever you are, now or in the future, if you’re in a position to send the targeting codes, if it’s up to you, whoever you are, my plea is: Nothing justifies following orders for genocide. Don’t send those codes, don’t twist those keys.2/20/2012 The Story of EDGAR SAWTELLE-David Wroblewski-a first novelEdgar Sawtelle is a “boy without a voice, but his world, populated by the dogs his family breeds, is anything but silent.”** I have read many others in the meantime, but these are the best!! B.B.8/31/2016 How to See the World-Nicholas Mirzoeff- ‘It’s as if our phones have come alive, taken to the air, and are watching us’ (in a negative way!)See the entire train analogy p.132,9/12/ On Extinction-Melanie Challenger- By anonymous Reviewer-“‘On Extinction’ carries an extrme burden to prove itself worthy of its own existence. Challenger has staked her book’s right to exist on the strange synthesis of poetry and science. I cannot say if it always works, but I can say that a strangeness is evoked, a strangeness that conveys how, in spite of all our erudition, we walk the earth in the 21stcentury as in a dream – arms out-stretched, eyes closed, the natural landscape dropping away into oblivion after our every footfall.”-the extinction of the Fuegians and other indigenous people was brought about by a culture that rationalized ever greater distances between society and nature. Proselytizing was an essential method of imposing social codes on large numbers of people, but it also legitimized the invasion of one culture by another deemed to be more effective.-[missionary work] (my words) (p.198) was driven by ideologies that sanctioned the suppression of nature and drove a wedge between people’s lives and the natural world.-as in thousands of places around the world, customs and conventions governed by the sea and earth had disappeared. P.24210/8 The Universe in Your Hand: A Journey Through Space, Time, and Beyond-Christophe Galfard- In his words I now know, at least idea wise as much as a graduate student and as much as only a handful of people knew when I was 15.Wow!-Everything experienced is regulated by matter and light playing with each other, turning into one another, and by electrons categorically refusing to share their bit of spacetime with a copy of themselves.-Gravity is not a force. It is a fall down a space/time curve.10/17 RUNNING IN THE FAMILY-Michael Ondaatje- “amber-assed” spider, “Objects stayed and people disappeared. Marvelously wound together! Hope to use some of the elements of style in my memoir. J11/05 PINPOINT:HOW GPS IS CHANGING TECHNOLOGY, CULTURE, AND OUR MINDS-as the author says: “Who would have known?” Lots of new facts: The Earth is an oblate spheroid11/07 The Accidental Life: An Editor’s Notes on Writing and Writers-“the concept of photograph as document is lost”-“Altering images with no record or verification turns everything into photo illustration as memory cards are turned over or tricked out.” (also see my memoir writing binder)Here try a few from my list. More than ten years in the making this collection represents the best that I have read. Some religious connotations in a few, but if you’re not into organized religion disregard them. Happy reading!!!! B.B.