• Gillian Michael
  • Gillian Michael

Krakow Poland 🇵🇱

Exploring Europe one city at a time Read more
  • Trip start
    June 25, 2023

    Krakow

    June 25, 2023 in England ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Day 1
    Very impressed with Krakow.
    Caught the clean, tidy and modern train from the airport to Rynek Glowmy (Main town) and walked through a lovely shopping centre, which we would like to explore more later.
    Headed towards the old town to discover Krakow is hosting the European Games 2023.... There are some beautifully restored buildings depicting the original architecture. Found a wizarding themed cafe for a beer and vegatable hummus board with a really good guacamole and pesto dip. Check out the stone books! Walked the long way, along the Vistula river, to our apartment for a freshen up (or power nap in Sue's case!).
    Found a traditional polish restaurant that specialises in Gaska dishes (Goose). The goose fat on bread was delicious.
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  • The Old Town

    June 26, 2023 in Poland ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Day 2
    Today we have walked miles - 13 to be exact, learning about Polish history and how the nobleman failed to have legitimate male hiers, so invited other countries to rule Poland, to save their own status. There are over 380 churches in Krakow, along with one of the oldest universities. The first Polish Pope - Pope John Paul II, was a student. Walked around the Planty (this was the moat) and up to Wawel Castle. Here all the people who helped restore the defences are commemorated in brick plaques. Tried the Polish Dumplings 🥟 for lunch at The Black Duck. Tasty fillings of duck, spinach, potato and mushroom (least favourite). Not a great fan of the dough.
    The Salt Mines are worth a visit on a short train ride. Incredible chambers from where the salt was extracted. Religious Carvings of the Christian story, chapels and chandeliers made from salt crystals. Discovered the word salary comes from the Latin word for salt, as this was used as currency.
    Ended the day with a cruise on the Vistula River where the fire breathing Dragon was slay by a young shepherd boy named Krak.
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  • The Jewish Quarter

    June 28, 2023 in Poland ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Day 4
    Took a tour around Schindlers Factory, Kazmeria and the area that became the Jewish Ghetto., during the German occupation of Krakow. It seems Schindler was a shrewd businessman first, using situations to his advantage. Buying old factories at cheap prices and using them to support the war effort (ammunition), he made himself very wealthy. This enabled him to bribe the German officers who allowed him to employ Jews, whom he didn't have to pay. Our tour guide suggests by doing what he did, was making sure he had an insurance policy should the Germans be defeated.
    He did prevent 1200 Jews from going to Auschwitz though and looked after them by obtaining food on the black market. For this he should be remembered.
    But should also be Jan Karski who was a spy and was given information about German locations. He also told the west (Roosevelt) about the death camps in 1942. They choose not to get involved despite his insistance that waiting to win the war would be too late for the Jewish population. The chairs are a memorial to the 3000 Jews murdered where we were standing while waiting with there belongings to be sent to a "camp"
    Found a lovely French cafe where they served cream of beetroot and raspberry soup with goats cheese -Sue's favourite meal
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  • Home again

    June 29, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    A late flight home after a full few days. Sue likes to speed walk so it was difficult to keep up with her, partly due to sore feet! In flight entertainment was the card game Cambio, at which Sue thrashed me every time!Read more

    Trip end
    June 28, 2023