🇵🇱 Poland: Past, Pain & the Peace I Didn’t Expect

Poland surprised me in the best way possible.

From the haunting echoes of Auschwitz and Birkenau to the vibrant streets of Warsaw and Kraków, this country carries its past on its shoulders — but it’s also fighting hard to move forward. They are trying to make up for their past better than America is. That was clear.

Warsaw has been remade from rubble — literally. It’s so colorful and full of life now. My guide once joked, “Warsaw ain’t pretty,” but honestly? The square was gorgeous. Bright buildings, cobblestone streets, music in the air — and that moon 🌕? I swear it looked like you could reach out and touch it. That’s a core memory right there.

The coffeehouses in both Warsaw and Kraków were what coffee dreams are made of. Cozy corners, rich espresso, desserts that looked like art. They’re not just cafés — they’re experiences.

Kraków gave me a funny and horrifying story I’ll never forget. The night before we were leaving, my duffle bag just gave up on life. The seam ripped while I was packing in the hotel room, and I just stood there like “WTF?!” 😂 Thankfully, we had the day off. I told the group, and we all huddled in the lobby trying to figure out where to go. Our phones were half-working thanks to spotty service, but we found a mall, found a suitcase store, and by some miracle, I got a good-sized bag on sale. Bless.

We explored the mall a bit, helped one of the guys look for a leather jacket (we struck out), and headed back. That’s when we found this perfect coffeehouse — soft lighting, warm vibes, and a dog asleep next to its owner. It was magic. I got an iced coffee, of course, and we all just melted into the moment.

And then — as if it were scripted — the skies opened up. Total downpour. We were soaked from head to toe, my suitcase included. But we laughed the whole way back, changed into dry clothes, and hung out in the lobby until closing.

That’s how we wrapped up Kraków.

I love how diverse Poland is — and to be honest, I wasn’t expecting that. I don’t know why, but I had this American way of thinking that made me assume it wasn’t a diverse place. I was so wrong. Seeing it for myself changed everything. Most areas spoke English, and our guide told us learning Polish is one of the hardest languages — even she still struggles with it, and she was born there!

Poland captured my heart ♥️ like all the European countries have. I’ll be back. In my Arnold Schwarzenegger voice.

Poland gave me both heaviness and healing — tragedy and laughter. It’s a country layered in history, resilience, and yes, great coffee. I didn’t get to see the salt mines (ugh 😩 we were strapped for time), but it gives me a reason to go back.

And I will be back.