Warsaw: A Few Shots from the Praga District

Just a few shots from my short saunter round part of the Praga district of Warsaw last Thursday evening.

The local gym seemed to be well-attended.

Definitely looks like a 2nd World War memorial:

And my destination, the Hydrozagadka to see Ben Caplan & the Casual Smokers:

Warsaw: Yes (ARW) Concert Poster

Saw the Yes (featuring Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman) concert poster above at an underground stop and saw it again in the Praga district of Warsaw:
 

Warsaw: Omega Concert Poster

Multiple posters showing that Hungarian band, Omega, will be visiting Warsaw this summer.

Warsaw: Another Hydrozagadka Mural

Always seem to find something unusual to take a picture of when I go to a concert at the Hydrozagadka in the Praga district of Warsaw.

Eastern Poland: Storks in Their Nest

My wife's wonderful shot of two storks in their nest in Eastern Poland.  Having the storks reside near your home is said to bring good luck.

Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers Live at Warsaw Hydrozagadka 24th May 2018

A few shots from the fantastic Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers gig at the Hydrozagadka in Warsaw. 

As expected, the intertwining of vocal harmonies between Caplan and Taryn Kawaja was incredible:

There was a really nice balance of old and new tunes at this gig.

From the new songs, 'Plough The Shit'  was the standout tune for me with its beautiful, kind of haunting keyboards.

And from the older tunes, 'Birds with Broken Wings'; Beautiful'; 'Under Control' etc. were always going to go down well.

Saw Ben Caplan a couple of years ago at Warsaw Proxima, so I was aware of just how good he is live.

My Vegetarian Sausage Kebab

Have just found out that by definition, I seem to be a flexitarian, as I regularly alternate between eating meat for a few days (often kebabs) and then going vegan for a few days (sadly discovered that I have an allergy to dairy products).

Here is my very basic but delicious vegetarian sausage kebab with broccoli, aubergine, and courgette accompanying the vegetarian sausage (no sauce of course, this would just destroy the meal, for me).

My Brother's Back Garden

Another interesting scene from my brother Paul's back garden in Sydney, Australia.  Think that the creature in question here is a possum, although it wouldn't entirely surprise me if it was a young wallaby (I'm no expert on Australian animals, of course).

Warsaw: Meeting My Brother at the Soviet Cemetery

When my brother Paul came over to Warsaw last month and stayed at the Sound Garden Hotel, we met up at the Soviet Cemetery (near Jeff's Steak House) twice to go and see concerts.

One evening, we walked down through Pole Mokotowskie (Park) to see Cory Henry at the Stodoła, and the next evening, we caught a bus to see Godspeed You! Black Emperor at the Palladium.

The Soviet Cemetery is worth visiting in-itself for the socialist realist art:

Have just read that over 20,000 Soviet soldiers, who died fighting the Germans in Poland during the 2nd World War, lie in their graves in this cemetery:

Have also just read that the Cemetery officially opened in 1950.

Art of Illusion Live at Warsaw Proxima 15th May 2018

Caught Polish band, Art of Illusion, opening for Arena last Tuesday night.

Liked some of the tunes I heard during their set so I'm now giving them a listen.

'For Her' is a really good tune, I think.  And 'Cold War of Solipsism', that's quite a title for an album.

Good Beer from Konstancin

This is a wonderful beer we had in a vegetarian restaurant in Warsaw today.  It's from a brewery in Konstancin, a small town which lies just to the south of Warsaw.

Kotek: More Shots

Couple more shots of the mischievous Kotek:

Warsaw Zoo Advertisement

Passed this advertisement for Warsaw Zoo while travelling back from the Arena gig at the Proxima the other night.  Have been to Warsaw Zoo a few times, it's well worth a visit.

Arena Live at Warsaw Proxima 15th May 2018

Some of my shots from the excellent Arena gig at Warsaw Proxima from last night.

This was the first time I'd seen Arena (had a ticket to see them at Warsaw Proxima about three years ago, but a friend invited me to have a free holiday in Portugal during the week of the concert so I missed them).

Anyway, finally got to see the band last night, and it was an honour to see them do 'The Visitor' (my favourite Arena album) all the way through.

My favourite tunes of the night?  They would have to be 'A Crack in the Ice' and 'Tears in the Rain' from 'The Visitor'.

Just a quick word about Paul Manzi: I think this guy has got one of the best voices in Rock music (I've been going to Rock gigs of all description and genre since January 1980), and, at times, his voice reminds me a bit of David Essex (I mean this as a compliment, of course).

Also saw Mick Pointer drumming for Marillion on the 'Script for a Jester's Tear' tour back in the early 1980s at Manchester Apollo.

Warsaw: An Uber Eats Man

A Uber Eats man filling up his rucksack at a McDonalds in central Warsaw.

The Uber Eats men, who transport food mainly by bicycle or occasionally by scooter, started appearing in Warsaw 6-9 months ago, I guess. 

Eastern Poland: Passing the Perła Brewery

While passing through Lublin, I always try to get a shot of the Perła brewery from the car.  For me, some of the finest Polish beer is made here.

Hats Off To Roger Waters

Don't always agree with what Roger Waters says, but I'm 100% full of respect for what he says here. 

John's Shot from the Cairngorms

A picture that my good friend John sent me from his recent coach trip round the Cairngorms in Scotland.

Eastern Poland: The Garden Well

A shot of a garden well from eastern Poland.

Unfortunately, the water from this well isn't for drinking.

Eastern Poland: A New Friend

While in Eastern Poland, we were visited by a new friend, Haczi. Had to clean up the kennel area so Haczi would be happy.

Eastern Poland: Yellow Fields of Spring

One of the many yellow fields of spring in eastern Poland.  Have been told that the yellow flowers are all grown for local margarine factories.

Eastern Poland: A Good Restaurant Meal

Really enjoyed this meal of potato pancakes; millet pierogi and salad at a restaurant in Eastern Poland.

Of course, this fine meal was washed down with one of the best beers in Poland:

Kotek: Up To Mischief

Kotek, up to mischief again, this time trying to topple a hanging plant from the top of a wardrobe.

Eastern Poland: Beyond the Barn

A few shots from beyond the barn in a garden in eastern Poland:

Got some decent exercise weeding the garden here earlier in the week.