Warsaw 2.0

Obviously, a city has to change over the course of two years.  However, I was kind of surprised at how similar everything looks!  The same HM is on the same corner of the same streets...the mall is exactly the same. I helped other Americans buy phones in the same place I bought mine two years ago---a little resale shop in the Metro station.  Given some of the store turnovers in the states, I expected the little shops throughout Centrum station to have changed.  Everything is exactly how I remember.

There are some major changes to the city though.  The most noticeable, at least to me, is the construction of the national stadium.

It's a gorgeous stadium that was built for Poland hosting Euro2012.  Apparently, a few weeks ago they had an American football game: Europe V. USA.  The final score was something 81-7.  The opposite would be true for a Europe v. USA European football game. 

The second big change in Warsaw is the construction of a second metro line.  Warsaw is possibly the only major city in the world with good public transportation and only one metro line.  Unfortunately, the construction of the line means entire streets are closed...which led to a little bit of confusion when I was trying to use the buses one day.

All in all, everything is amazing.  My Polish friends in Warsaw have taken me out for coffee or meals a couple times.  I even went to a party at one of their apartments.  Hopefully next time I visit, I'll be able to make one of the poker parties with my old dorm friends!