Saska Kępa

While chatting with a friend, I had to admit, with unhidden shame, I had never (except for in transit) been to Saska Kępa. Last Saturday I drove there to catch up a bit and improve my familiarity with districts of Warsaw on the eastern bank of Vistula (I venture there seldom).

I have parked my car (frequent thunderstorms on 13 July between two of which I took the trip were an excuse not to cycle) on the southern edge of Saska Kępa, far from any trees and close enough not to drive unnecessarily and give myself a decent walk. I firstly passed along ul. Paryska beneath Trasa Łazienkowska. The busy artery has been fenced off with sound barriers and the space beneath adapted as car park (comes in handy in case of hail).

I stroll further up ul. Paryska. The climate brings to mind outer districts of Western Europe’s bigger cities. New developments have been mixed with older ones, dating back to even before WW2. Nice area, maybe exceptional on this side of Vistula, but I know several other picturesque venues in the capital.

Ul. Paryska is famous for several restaurants, specialising in various cuisines, placed one next to other. In the foreground, an oversized SUV. I do not regret parking more than a kilometre from there. Climate of the place has not been spoiled by the noise and fumes from my car’s engine.

Here, a different story, a classic Citroen H Van (had to ask the search engine to find out what car I ran across). The model was manufactured between 1947 and 1981, but my search did not help me estimate which year which marvellously restored vehicle was produced in, yet somebody must have put in a lot of effort and money to bring the car back to such condition.

Yet another restaurant. I must say all eateries were not chock full of visitors. I was after lunch and my goal was not eat out. I do not recall seeing any people who looked like tourists, I believe only locals were hanging around on the lazy Saturday afternoon.

The snap taken from the corner of ul. Irlandzka and ul. Saska. These are not the main streets of Saska Kępa, i.e. ul. Paryska, ul. Francuska and ul. Saska which contribute to the climate of the district, but such narrow streets with well-restored houses and lush gardens. A place akin to Stary Mokotów, also full of older houses and shrouded in greenery.

Looking west at Trasa Łazienkowska. I saw the viaduct several times, but had never been on it before. I caught up. The traffic is sparse due to holiday period. As you note, the thoroughfare has a bus lane which has urged several drivers to change their habits and opt for faster form of transport.

I walk back towards the car wandering around the housing estate built in 1960. The climate of the place, especially the hexagonal cobblestone called trylinka in Polish remind of the ugliness of Wrzeciono. This provokes me to bear in mind over the last year much has changed for the better in life. Time to be appreciate it and be thankful for it.