For the 54th time, the Palace of Culture & Science. Four days of books from over 30 different natinoalities, authors signings and much more. We stood in line for about twenty minutes as the weather experience PMS, rain, shine, rain and blowing wind, until finally we were up the stairs, paying for our tickets and inside to check out all the books on offer. Fiction and non fiction, cooking and politics, English, Polish, French, Russian, Spanish and Estonian, and everything in between. There's something for everyone and it's easier for book lovers to spend most of the day browsing through the tens of thousands of books on offer at discounted prices. I even had the pleasure of seeing a writer and travel journalist Wojciech Cejrowski whose show I watch most Sunday morning as he travels barefoot and in his Hawaiian shirts throughout the world. There he was signing his books, barefoot and wearing a Hawaiian shirt. Unfortunately there was a crowd of people around him most of the day and it was impossible to ask him any questions about his journeys. Maybe another time.
I heard a rumour that this will be the last book fair held at the Palace of Culture and Science. I hope that this is not true, as this is a fantastic event for both adults and children alike. People of all ages are present, and it's something that is well organised. Warsaw needs more events like these, they are educational and interesting, they offer something to the city that appears to be disintegrating instead of improving. We need culture. We need books. Education. Togetherness. Just by looking at the queues outside the Palace of Culture & Science, the turnout was extraordinary, this is an event that should continue for a long time to come.
I hope it's just a rumour, and next year we will all be able to enjoy the book fair once again and have the pleasure of meeting many fantastic authors and journalists. And if not, I've got the details of another book fair in Krakow, a good excuse for a weekend away.
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