Spring was late arriving in Warsaw this year and there was still some snow lying around when we arrived! But the sun was shining and the buds on the trees were all beginning to open. I had three goals in Warsaw - World War 2, Marie Curie and Chopin. The Warsaw Uprising Museum opened our eyes to the horrors of WW2. It is a visually confronting testimony of the cruelty, brutality and horror of what the Nazis inflicted on the people of Poland. Pawiak Prison and the Gestapo Headquarters were places of unspeakable acts of torture and terror. The majority of people taken here never left alive. Hitler is quoted in 1939 as saying "All Poles will disappear from the world. The war is to be a war of annihilation." In fact, almost 25% of the Polish population died. Poland had the biggest resistance army of any country and was the only European country to try to take on the Nazis with the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944. Tragically it failed costing more than 150,000 Polish lives. Hitler was so angry with the Poles that he decided to obliterate Warsaw and the consequent German bombings destroyed nearly the entire city. After the war, the Poles had no intention of leaving their once beautiful city in ruins. They used old photos and pictures to slowly and painstakingly rebuild their city which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Even the 14th century Royal Castle was lovingly and carefully rebuilt. Marie Curie (nee Sklodowska) is the only woman to have been awarded the Nobel Prize twice and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different sciences - chemistry and physics. The house where she was born is now a museum and contains many of her personal belongings as well as a replica of her laboratory. The short film about her is very interesting. There are some lovely family photos on the wall of Marie and her two daughters holidaying with Albert Einstein and his son! I wonder what they discussed over dinner!!! Poland's most famous composer, Chopin, was born near Warsaw and the Fryderyk Chopin museum dedicated to his memory and only recently opened in 2010 is absolutely amazing! Incredibly hi-tech, the entrance ticket is a smart card with a chip which is used to swipe the interactive exhibits. These include short video clips to watch, illustrated stories to read and little booths to sit in and listen to his music privately. The collection is so vast it even has his passport, his candy box, a lock of his hair and the last letter he ever wrote. He died in Paris but his heart is interred at Holy Cross Church in Warsaw - (the rest of him is buried in Paris!). I spent 3 hours at the museum. But as a lover of Chopin, I could have spent all day there, just listening to all the recordings! A return trip is essential!! Chocolate in Warsaw: For a delicious hot chocolate as well as a variety of chocolates and pralines try Karmello Chocolatier and Cafe Chmielna 11 Warsaw