04/05/2025
Want to learn more about Poland see Rick’s latest special on his visit there 💕
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A lone pianist is seated at a baby grand under a lovingly lit portrait of Frédéric Chopin. The musician's eyes are shut tight, as if to channel his heart into his fingers flying across the keys. And before him, a salon filled with appreciative music lovers swoons. You know a trip (or a TV shoot) has been a success when you have amazing memories like this one to spare. After filming in a place like Poland, even the cutting-room floor is littered with unforgettable experiences.
This week, my new one-hour special, “Rick Steves Poland,” premieres across the USA on public television (check your local listings), via PBS Passport, and at www.ricksteves.com/tv. Our biggest challenge in filming the great Polish cities of Kraków, Warsaw, and Gdańsk, plus a variety of powerful side trips — from mighty Malbork Castle to gingerbread-scented Toruń to the sobering concentration camp memorial at Auschwitz-Birkenau — was simply fitting it all into just 60 minutes.
When we got home from that whirlwind trip, we realized we had a problem: The first cut of our "one-hour" Poland special was too long. We had some tough decisions to make. And deep down, I knew that my beloved Chopin was on the chopping block. Throughout Poland — and especially in Warsaw — Chopin is revered. For our show, we hoped to include two Chopin concerts that were as different as night and day…one grand, the other intimate.
First, our crew went to lush Łazienki Park, where each summer Sunday, thousands of Varsovians gather under the chestnut trees in front of a grand statue of the Polish composer for a convivial open-air concert.
Later that evening, we went to my favorite Warsaw hotel, where Jarek hosts nightly Chopin concerts in his handsome, classy, very Warsaw drawing room. For many years, our guidebook readers (and our Best of Poland tour groups) have filled Jarek's stately salon to enjoy this exquisite musical moment. After capturing it on film, here's how I wrote it up for the script:
"In days gone by — before recorded music was even imaginable — lovers of culture all over Europe would gather for salon concerts, where musicians shared the great music of the day. Here, in the middle of a city and a culture that refused to die, we celebrate both Chopin and the high culture of Warsaw."
Poland, perhaps Europe's most underrated country, burdens the traveler (as well as the TV producer) with "too much of a good thing." Sometimes, it's packing on a few extra pounds from all the pierogi and pączki — delectable Polish dumplings and rose-jam-filled doughnuts. Other times, it's finding yourself exhausted after a dizzying day of sightseeing, from lavish palaces and churches to sobering history museums to surprising art galleries. And sometimes, you wind up with one great Chopin segment too many for your TV show. In this case, sadly, the Chopin salon didn't make the cut.
And so, when you tune into our new Poland TV special, you'll be transported to Warsaw for that exuberant "Chopin in the park" concert. But you'll have to check out the April edition of Travel News for a taste of that cozy salon concert. You'll also find Cameron Hewitt’s list of top ten experiences in Poland, tips on making the most of every cent you spend in Europe, and if you're planning your first trip to Europe this year, I'll let you know what to expect. It's all available right here: www.ricksteves.com/news.
(By the way, our new Poland special is another "sneak peek" at an upcoming full season of travel TV. Season 13 of “Rick Steves' Europe” — 10 episodes featuring Poland, Iceland, a gourmet Burgundian canal cruise, the great cities of London, Paris, Rome, Istanbul, and more — premieres this fall on public television. Stay tuned!)
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