Sylwia ~
If you check back through old posts you may find this. I finally got around to looking at the websites. It only took me a month - busy time of year.

Breathtaking, Warsaw is such a beautiful place. All we ever hear is of the WWII Ghetto. I'm sending a picture (if it works - mine never do) of my favorite. It's the Lazienkipark with swans. The steps at the edge of the water - I can imagine living there. It also reminds me of Pemberley. I understand it narrowly missed dynamite, and is a favorite with most people, obviously. The Castle Square in Old Town, Staszic Palace, I could go on and on - just beautiful.

Arkadia is beautiful too, but more of a natural beauty. The stone arch covered in greenery is beautiful (I'm running out of words to describe). You are right, more of the romantic period - which to me always seems snaky. (Around here, it would be crawling with rattlesnakes and cottonmouths.) I guess that's why I've always tended to the more manicured, fewer snakes. (I have problems with snakes, had to kill 4 this past year. I live in the middle of nowhere way out in the country.) I like it, I just keep thinking "snakes" in the back of my mind.

Unfortunately, where I grew up we do not have such beautiful places, just the occasional antebellum building here or there and a park, but nothing so magnificent. Although larger, older cities do have nice places, especially up north in New England. Most of our beautiful establishments were destroyed during our little war by the Yankees, or shortly thereafter. I read a quote from somewhere, and I can't remember who to give credit, "In England 100 miles is a long way, in the USA 100 miles is a long time." I guess the same could be said for most of Europe. We are so proud if we have a house built in 1920, but think nothing of driving 100 miles to work or shop. My mother and I regularly drive 100 miles to visit a tea room, because there are none where we live, just chain restaurants.

Here is a link to a picture of the park where all schoolchildren visit near where I live. I think it's a requirement they go every year. It's dedicated to an Indian maiden who jumped to her death. She did not want to marry the man her father chose, because she was in love with another brave. You can see her statue on the right.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3f/Nocc_falls.jpg