What cities do you think of when you hear the words ‘European holiday’? Of course, visions of Paris and its artistic beauty, or London and its legendary history, or Venice and its sparkling canals immediately come to mind. But I’m here to change your mind! Don’t overlook the gem of the east: Krakow, Poland – it has art, history, and beautiful rivers all its own, and it’s considerably cheaper than all the previous places!
10) Climate.
When I declared my intention to visit Kraków for six weeks in late 2002, there were two stock responses that I received from almost all of my family and friends. The first was a sophomoric attempt at humor, likening the city’s name to the vague homonymy of “the house of cracks”, while the second was about the positions around the temperature there. It was commonly assumed by my southern neighbors to be Poland, and thus Kraków . >middle of the winter – I found the climate more comfortable than at home – but there was only about two inches of snow, compared to the one that had fallen in Columbus until the middle of March. and from that time the weather abated a little.
9) Rynek Glowny
Pronounced ‘RIN-ek GWOV-nah,’ Ryneck Glowny is the largest market square in any European city – and more incredibly, more or less in its current state there were more than eight hundred. years While there may be a cyber-cafe or a McDonald’s restaurant on the roof today, most of its permanence records still exist strong, and breathing to the visiting tourists. In the center of the Grand Square is the Panna Hall, a monolithic building filled to the brim with merchants, brimming with affordable home-made goods (from enamel jewelry to hand-carved toys and elaborate woodenchess sets), as they have since the Middle Ages. Upstairs is the Krakow National Museum and a huge collection of Polish paintings from the 18th century, some of which are still quite famous today. At the far end of the square are an incalculable number of merchants and cashiers, from small shacks operated by older Polish merchant families to monolithic western vendors selling imported Krakovian youth culture. If you want to go shopping in Poland, Ryneck Glowny is the place to do it, and everything is jaw-droppingly cheap (in terms of price, not quality).
8) Food.
I’m a very picky eater, and so one of my biggest concerns before my trip was that I wouldn’t be able to find the right foods today. I was under the impression that Polish people only eat sausages like kielbasa, dipped in kraut and other nasties – and boy was I wrong! First, I’m not very adventurous – and so I was delighted to find a fabulously up-scale restaurant not far from my rented flat. I was doubly happy when I saw the pricing, for a Polish family, 20 zlotys is a very high price to pay for lunch – but for an American holiday, it’s $5! For this price, I got the most wonderful egg-drop soup of my life, a huge plate of sizzling butter and , several cups of soda, and a pineapple-fried table. All while enjoying the atmosphere, many in the United States would pay top dollar for it.
Over time, even the best Chinese food gets boring, and so I experimented with more local food. And I was surprised at how much I enjoyed every morsel. From fruit pierogies to bowls of bread with homemade soups, everything was barely and untouched. of repentance! And since the traditional Polish restaurants were of a somewhat lower order than the fare I initially started with in the East, I was surprised that I could comfortably feed myself for about $2 per meal, if not less. And I like to eat!
7) Wawel Castle.
Wawel Castle was built on the hill that bears the same name and has been inhabited by people for more than fifty thousand years. Not before the year 1500, Sigismund the Old, king of Poland, decided to build a palace there. It brought artists and craftsmen from all over Europe to the Renaissance, and it quickly grew to be a monument to the power of the monarchy. Its magnificence and beauty remain today, largely untouched by time – you can wander into the royal chambers and admire, past the ancient lines executed by the best Dutch and Italian artists, and even marvel at the magnificent Renaissance furniture that still adorns every inch. place.
Perhaps the most interesting site is outside the castle walls on the Wawel mountain itself. Legend has it that Krakow was founded centuries ago by a slain dragon prince called Krak. The dragon made his home in a huge cave on Wawel Hill, and from there he terrified the crowd; they consume cattle and virgins with impunity. Krak the victor slays the dragon, but the legend lives on – and the cave that held this Stone Age beast is frequently visited by tourists, and can be accessed from within the castle itself. It attracts many visitors – and in fact, a large metal sculpture stands on six feet – and to the delight of visitors it spews fire every minute, in true draconic fashion!
6) Casimir.
Kazimierz is Krakow’s traditional Jewish district, once a center of commercial activity. But that changed somewhat abruptly in Germany with the invasion of the Nazis, and the full truth of what happened to its inhabitants is well known to all but the ignorant. Even today we can see the huge synagogues and cemeteries that served as the heart of Polish Jews for centuries, but in stark contrast is the huge yellow building that was used by the Nazi SS in the relocation and eventual extermination of the population. Casimir It is an area where you can simultaneously marvel at the beauty of historic-architecture, as well as contemplate the cruelty and brutality common to humanity’s past.
5) Auschwitz.
While Auschwitz isn’t technically part of Krakow, it’s only 60 km from the city, and many tour groups make direct trips there for an affordable fee. It is here that the Jews of Kazimierz were imprisoned and killed along with Gypsies, Polish males, and finally the Soviets. The visit is a guided experience, but there is one thing that we encourage all travelers to do – attend the informative tours, and while being welcomed donations, it is no crime to see the camp or to hear of the crimes committed there.
4) Hejnal Mariacki.
Hejnal Mariacki translates, in Polish, to the ‘sign of the trumpet.’ They live every hour, in Ryneck Glowny, and I heard many times while sipping tea or shopping. before I was informed of his meaning. In 1257, Poland was under threat of Mongol invasion. With the Tatars at the Krakovian gates, he stood bravely on his tower and played a trumpet, warning the city of imminent danger . For this reason the gates were closed before the enemy could gain access. Sadly, a pipe was shot in the throat by an arrow of the Tartars, and therefore, in memory of the old sacrifice, the city renders its song, which it did, ending abruptly, as if it had killed it. While the complete version of the tune is now unknown, it is a Testament of ancient history, and the longest memory, of the Poles and their people and should not be forgotten.
3) Vistula.
The Vistula is the largest river in Poland and runs straight through Krakow. For as little as $5, you can take a three-hour boat ride through the city and view its sights from the lookout, which few are lucky enough to experience. If you’re feeling more daring, you can still split the watercraft and go out on your own. Motorboats and kayaks are available, but I recommend two-person canoes. They allow for a nice romantic excursion, are very affordable, and give you some exercise if you want it.
2) Jagiellonian University.
The Jagiellonian University has stood for more than five hundred years, exactly where it stands now. Even today it is one of the most important institutions in Poland, and some of the most famous citizens of the country have attended there – from Nicolaus Copernicus to the late great Pope John Paul II. For tourists, though, the most exciting feature of the university is its huge historical library. Housing 4.5 million books, some of which date back eight hundred years, the library is Poland’s oldest and largest. Even if you don’t speak Polish, it’s worth taking a peek.
1) Vodka.
Polish rum reigns supreme of all the liquors I have tasted. There are literally dozens of varieties of stuff, but my absolute favorite (no pun intended) is Bison Grass Vodka, called Zubrowka by the natives. It’s a strange looking yellow liquid, and each bottle has a long bison grass floating inside, a trademark not unlike Mexican tequila and its worm. Unlike tequila, however, Bison Grass Vodka has a very good taste. With flavors reminiscent of almonds and vanilla, it’s an unusual drink – and at 80 proof, it’s sure to get you where you’re looking. Even if this fancy designer vodka is out of your price range (at around $5 per bottle), you can always try some of the cheaper stuff – the everyday Polish vodka lacks the bite I’d expect from such a drink; but they certainly do not lack iron. There is a lot of drink orange juice and I suddenly found you drunk.
Report:
- Official Krakow Tourism English Site: www.krakow.pl/en/< /li>
