Springtime in the city ... with the kids
A sunbeam is trying to wake me up, but today is Sunday and I can sleep longer. I turn my back to this fastidious ray, pretending not to be awake, but I know this fight has already been lost. Reluctantly, I open my eyes and I look through the window to see a sunny spring day.
At once I am completely awake and ready to venture into something special to enjoy the weather with my husband and children. Well, I have a couple of ideas. First, a breakfast big enough to give us energy for what is coming. Afterwards, we put our bicycles on the car roof and drive towards Kabaty Forest, a large natural reserve in southern Warsaw. We approach it from ul. Powsińska where you'll find the best parking facilities (a guarded car park costs zł. 3 for one hour, zł. 5 for two hours), and it's not very far from Wilanów. It's quite early and the car park is not crowded; but later it will be hard to find a place on the free-of-charge side.
We unload the bikes and start cycling through the silent woods, listening to woodpeckers. The Kabaty Forest is a refuge from the noisy, polluted city centre. Here you can breathe fresh air and watch the arabesques made on the path by sunbeams filtering through the trees.
We continue in the direction of the Botanical Garden (Ogród Botaniczny) and when we arrive, we must leave our bicycles outside since they are prohibited. We walk along the paths, admiring the small ponds, beautiful roses, strange plants and small wooden bridges, while inhaling the sweet fragrance of the flowers. The children grow quiet and express interest in these fascinating plants which they have never seen before.
After a while we start to get hungry. It's time to join our friends and grill some sausages. In Powsin there are four special areas for bonfires in a large glade in the middle of the park, which are all at the disposal of park visitors. After the meal, the children join some others and play football. And after so many sausages all of us feel a pressing need for more exercise, so we return to the car and drive to Satra Iwiczna. (To get there you must go towards Konstancin, then turn right in the direction of Piaseczno drive for a few kilometres and then once past Piaseczno, go in the direction of Magdalenka; on the left side of the road you will see a horse-riding school.)
We leave the car in a car park outside the riding centre and go to the paddock where the children will take a horse-riding lesson. The paddock is big, and in case of inclement weather, you can ride in a covered arena. There are ponies for younger kids, but my older boy prefers a normal horse, saying that a small pony can be good only for his younger brother. The instructor is friendly and she speaks English. She is patient with my boys, who after a bit of initial resistance are enjoying their ride. While watching the kids, my husband and I rest in a small bar. In the "Poster riding hall," more experienced riders can take advantage of the beautiful surroundings, galloping through the meadows and woods.
An hour has already passed, and the boys return, leading their horses. They are so pleased with this new sport that my husband books a next lesson for both of them (zł. 50 an hour).
Having bade the horses goodbye, we head back home. The sun is low in the sky, my husband is relaxed, my younger son has fallen asleep with a smile on his face, but my older son seems unusually thoughtful. Suddenly he breaks the silence in the car: "Mum, you know, I like living in Warsaw very much." I beam at him, thinking that he is absolutely right.
Botanical Garden of the Polish Academy of Sciences: ul. Prawdziwka 2, (tel.) 648 3856; open March 29-October 31, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; zł. 6 for adults and zł. 4 for children.
Claudia Barbieri di Maggio and Katarzyna Miazek are the authors of Stolica dla dzieci z Claudiš i Kasiš, published this month. It is available at bookstores in Warsaw or from the editors at kasiamiazek@post.pl or (fax) 648 8050. An expanded English version will be published in May.
At once I am completely awake and ready to venture into something special to enjoy the weather with my husband and children. Well, I have a couple of ideas. First, a breakfast big enough to give us energy for what is coming. Afterwards, we put our bicycles on the car roof and drive towards Kabaty Forest, a large natural reserve in southern Warsaw. We approach it from ul. Powsińska where you'll find the best parking facilities (a guarded car park costs zł. 3 for one hour, zł. 5 for two hours), and it's not very far from Wilanów. It's quite early and the car park is not crowded; but later it will be hard to find a place on the free-of-charge side.
We unload the bikes and start cycling through the silent woods, listening to woodpeckers. The Kabaty Forest is a refuge from the noisy, polluted city centre. Here you can breathe fresh air and watch the arabesques made on the path by sunbeams filtering through the trees.
We continue in the direction of the Botanical Garden (Ogród Botaniczny) and when we arrive, we must leave our bicycles outside since they are prohibited. We walk along the paths, admiring the small ponds, beautiful roses, strange plants and small wooden bridges, while inhaling the sweet fragrance of the flowers. The children grow quiet and express interest in these fascinating plants which they have never seen before.
After a while we start to get hungry. It's time to join our friends and grill some sausages. In Powsin there are four special areas for bonfires in a large glade in the middle of the park, which are all at the disposal of park visitors. After the meal, the children join some others and play football. And after so many sausages all of us feel a pressing need for more exercise, so we return to the car and drive to Satra Iwiczna. (To get there you must go towards Konstancin, then turn right in the direction of Piaseczno drive for a few kilometres and then once past Piaseczno, go in the direction of Magdalenka; on the left side of the road you will see a horse-riding school.)
We leave the car in a car park outside the riding centre and go to the paddock where the children will take a horse-riding lesson. The paddock is big, and in case of inclement weather, you can ride in a covered arena. There are ponies for younger kids, but my older boy prefers a normal horse, saying that a small pony can be good only for his younger brother. The instructor is friendly and she speaks English. She is patient with my boys, who after a bit of initial resistance are enjoying their ride. While watching the kids, my husband and I rest in a small bar. In the "Poster riding hall," more experienced riders can take advantage of the beautiful surroundings, galloping through the meadows and woods.
An hour has already passed, and the boys return, leading their horses. They are so pleased with this new sport that my husband books a next lesson for both of them (zł. 50 an hour).
Having bade the horses goodbye, we head back home. The sun is low in the sky, my husband is relaxed, my younger son has fallen asleep with a smile on his face, but my older son seems unusually thoughtful. Suddenly he breaks the silence in the car: "Mum, you know, I like living in Warsaw very much." I beam at him, thinking that he is absolutely right.
Botanical Garden of the Polish Academy of Sciences: ul. Prawdziwka 2, (tel.) 648 3856; open March 29-October 31, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; zł. 6 for adults and zł. 4 for children.
Claudia Barbieri di Maggio and Katarzyna Miazek are the authors of Stolica dla dzieci z Claudiš i Kasiš, published this month. It is available at bookstores in Warsaw or from the editors at kasiamiazek@post.pl or (fax) 648 8050. An expanded English version will be published in May.
