We really enjoyed our time (four days in/around) Krakow! It is a beautifully preserved medieval city (apparently the Germans thought so highly of it that they spared it, UNLIKE Warswaw, which was bombed to smithereens, in WWII) and very pleasant to walk around. Here are some of our random snapshots-- of city sights, and culinary delights.
Main town square (Rynek Glowny) & St. Mary's Church
The merchants' cloth hall is pictured here behind the carriage
I love the lighting in this photo (by Kelvin)
Wierzynek is one of the oldest (1364 AD) and finest restaurants in Krakow, where kings once dined...
... and where we caught an awesome Chopin piano concert by a young graduate of Krakow's Conservatory.
(I think it's obvious who was holding the camera most of the time... I seem to be in all the pictures!)
We went on another Free Walking Tour which gave us a great overview of the history of (poor, stuck between Germany & Russia) Poland and which took us to many Old Town, and other quirky, sites.
The Town Square also has this very odd, contemporary
sideways bust of Eros by Polish artist Igor Mitoraj, which was
controversially placed there among the other historic buildings (that is
our tour guide, Pawel, peeking through the left eye!).
Original 14th c. city "Florianska" Gate, through which visitors entered (or enemies tried to enter) Krakow from the north
Polish coat of arms (the white eagle)
Karol Wojtyla, or Pope John Paul II, was a very famous resident of Krakow during his university days, and was an actor as a young man! When he reached the upper eschelons of leadership in the Catholic church, he'd give speeches from this "Pope" window in Old Town Krakow.
Wawel ("vah-vell") Hill houses old Wawel Castle, where the Polish Kings were crowned and lived.
Wawel Cathedral (which, although asymmetric, is still beautiful)
Castle Courtyard
This "puking dragon" spews out rainwater
A Hindu legend states that Wawel Castle's NW courtyard emanates spiritual energy which you may draw out by touching it. Here is me trying to get some energy.
Wawel the dragon (and symbol of Krakow) breathes fire every 3 minutes!
We also ate a lot of really wonderful food here in Krakow!
Grilled kielbasa from a communist-style street van
Golabki – “pigeons” of cabbage stuffed with meat, rice,
etc.
(it was quite interesting that there was a *real* pigeon behind me as I was eating this)
K tried venison for the first time
Poland is famous for vodkas, and they specialize in flavored ones-- here is me with Wisniowka, a cherry-flavored vodka (which, I admit, does taste a bit like Robitussin). We also tried Orzech Laskowy, which is (strangely) nut-flavored
Kelvin had the best hotdog (can you call it a Polish dog if you eat it in Poland?)
of his life in Zakopane
Meanwhile, I tried Zapiekanka, which (pizza-like) is a baguette toasted with mushrooms, cheese, and ketchup!
Another famous dish is Placki ("platz-key," potato pancakes), pictured here topped with ghoulash and with a beer (which I don't normally drink, but felt as though I should, as "when in Poland...")
We also tried authentic pierogi (boiled, stuffed dumplings), streetsite pretzel ring called obwarzanek, and zurek, which is a fermented rye soup with sausage and eggs... delicious!
Krakow has filled our hearts and our bellies. We found the Polish people to be extremely warm and helpful-- UNlike in Russia, they even go out of their way to point you in the right direction. There is so much to see, do, and experience here (another half- to one-day just in this city would have been nice!), and I highly recommend you visit Krakow someday!!
