Two of the more interesting parts of Warsaw, just off Solidarity Avenue, are the Saxon Gardens and the remains of the Saxon Palace destroyed in the war. Apart from the green oasis, the palace remains now house the tomb of the unknown soldier. Just east of those remains is a large square that featured prominently in the collapse of the soviet empire.
In 1979, a newly instituted Pope, John Paul II, visited his homeland and gave a troubling speech for the Polish communist government. It couldn't be a direct attack, but was a very subtle critique of communist society, and led to the formation of the Solidarity Movement a year later. Nine years after that, the communist edifice collapsed. Some speech! And the audience of 2 million people in the square shown just loved it.
The last picture also shows the National Theatre / Opera House in the background.
AS
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