Day 45: Krakow

Tuesday was a day for relaxation, particularly after the long and emotionally-trying day trip to Auschwitz Concentration Camp. We got a late start to the day (Skyping with my mom until late in the morning) and set out to explore the streets of Krakow. 

We started by trying to book our overnight train to Budapest. Rick Steves had mentioned a travel agency on the Main Market Square that had good English employees and didn't charge any extra fees. Since this was more central than the train station, we headed there first. Unfortunately, the travel agency no longer exists (what the heck, Rick?). So, we walked to the train station anyway. The woman there spoke fine English and there were no lines. We wished we would have just started there.

We then headed back into the main town and found a vegetarian restaurant for lunch. While neither of us our vegetarian, we had such a good experience with vegetarian restaurants in Prague that we had to try this one out. It was good but not great. The price was so low that we didn't mind.

We then wandered a bit more around the downtown area and followed the walking route recommended in our guide book.

*A typical street in the Old Town of Krakow

However, before the tour we grabbed some food for sustenance, a obwarzanek (something that resembles a bagel) from one of the many stands in Krakow. They are pretty yummy.

*Obwarzanek (ring-shaped roll) stand, which are all over the city

*These rolls are quite yummy. We have tried a couple and have even identified our favourite stand with the freshest rolls :)

The first stop on the tour was St. Francis' Basilica, a beautiful gothic church that was the home church for Pope John Paul II while he was Archbishop in Krakow. It was a beautiful church. I didn't take any pictures to respect those praying.

When exciting the church, we came upon the Archbishop's Palace, which is where the Archbishop of Krakow resides (Pope John Paul II resided here). He is beloved across Poland, and a banner with his image still hangs from his bedroom window. When he became Pope, it remained his home away from home and he would stand at the window for hours before bed, chatting causally with people assembled below about religion, sports, and politics.

*Archbishop's Palace, where the Archbishop of Krakow resides; the home of John Paul II from 1964-1967

We then continued down a very busy thoroughfare and captured the following couple of pictures.

*Stained glass design by Stanislaw Wyspianski, a famous Polish artist

Near the end of this street is Wawel Hill, where a castle has stood since the beginning of recorded Polish history. There is a large cathedral, castle grounds, and many museums that overlook the Vistula River. 

*Donors to the preservation of Wawel Hill (see donor from Buffalo, NY)

*Wawel Castle grounds

On the castle grounds are this corner (seen in the picture below). Apparently, believers of the Hindu concept of Chakra believe that a powerful energy field connects all living things and that the seven chakra points on the body are mirrored by seven points on the surface of the earth. These are located in: Delhi, Delphi, Jerusalem, Mecca, Rome, Velehrad, and Wawel Hill, specifically this location within the castle grounds. The smudge marks on the wall are from people pressing up against the corner to absorb good vibes.

*Charkra wall within Wawel Castle

After finishing at the castle, we walked along the Planty (parkland that runs around the Old Town quarter) and found a really nice cafe, where we enjoyed some tea and beer. Around 19:00, we continued on to an Italian restaurant that had been recommended. While it wasn't overly busy, it was delicious. We enjoyed some house wine, bruschetta, risotto, and pasta.

On the way back to the apartment, we walked through the Main Market Square at nighttime and got a couple of nice pictures.

*Nighttime on the Main Market Square

*Nighttime on the Main Market Square

Back at the apartment, we enjoyed some Polish vodka (the brand is Zubrowka, which comes with a blade of grass from the bison reserves in Eastern Poland...the bison flavours the grass, while the grass flavours the Vodka) and watched a bit of TV to unwind. Till next time!