We are ready for our get-away-trip to Krakow, Poland! Our adventure began when we walked over to the train station which is next door to Mark's office. We had purchased our tickets a week before so we didn't have to wait in lines. Our first challenge was understanding what platform we were taking and what side to board the train on...
We made it on board...a good thing we were observant...the train was only there for 5 min. Mark wanted to go exploring on the train...to see the other cars, compartments...they are all quite different. I didn't care for going in between the cars...we were in a compartment that seated 6 people and we were glad we had window seats.
The ride to Krakow should usually take about 3 hours...but our train took 4.5 hrs because of construction on the primary railroad tracks. The time went by quickly and it was fun to see the countryside around and away from Warsaw. The picture below is out of the back of the last car in the train.
We stayed at the Holiday Inn...our room was on the 3rd floor, 2nd from the right window above. We walked everywhere...and it was a less than 10 min. walk to the main square.Below is the view across the street and from our window.
Friday a.m. we were up early...heading for breakfast, walking around the main square.
Stopping on one of our walks...cobblestone streets are everywhere in Poland...especially in Krakow! They are quite beautiful and varied in their patterns and sizes. You always have to be careful though because they are not even and often loose...but they are pretty.
Our first breakfast...Mark has an "English breakfast" and I have a "French breakfast". They were both delicious!
We walked over to the Wawel Royal Castle...we didn't take a tour but just walked the grounds. They were lovely! This was once home to the Jagiellonian kings, a place for coronations and burials and it is considered by Poles as a spiritual shrine. It was built in the 1500's...they have done a good job in preserving it and making it into a museum.
We took a 4 hour bike tour of Krakow in the afternoon. The tour started in the middle of the Main Square...we rode, got off and listened and rode again..there were about 15 people in our group...the biggest challenge for me was manuevering around the many pedestrians. We had perfect weather and it was great being outdoors all day! We were the only two wearing bike helmets - which we had packed from Warsaw.
Church of St. Mary on the Main Square built by citizens of Krakow in the early 1300's..and continued being built for almost 200 years.
A view next to the Vistula River...and a beautiful bridge we passed under. The Vistula River is the longest river in Poland and never leaves the country's borders... it eventually goes through Warsaw and up to the Baltic Sea.
A statue of Copernicus...a student at one of the oldest universities in Poland...Jagiellonian University.
This dragon statue sits next to the Vistula River...Mark thought of "Pete's Dragon" when he saw it and I thought of the newer movie, "How to Train A Dragon". The legend tells the tale of a young cobbler living in the city of Krakow. He worked out a clever plan to destroy the dragon, which was living in a cave beneath King Krak's castle and terrifying his people. To the left and below the statue is the dragon's cave.
After our 4 hour bike ride we went to the Cloth Hall. It is a beautiful Renaissance building that replaced a once Gothic market hall. It was built in the 14th century and was an important place for trading. It was destroyed by fire then rebuilt again.
Today the ground level has small shops going down the sides of the hall...merchants are selling their wares...mostly traditional Polish souvenirs.
Here I am checking out some Amber jewelry...it is really quite beautiful! It comes from the Baltic Sea...I didn't buy any but one day I am hoping to do so before leaving Poland.
We were able to take a tour of the underground levels at the Cloth Hall. Five to six years ago excavation work was done and fascinating discoveries were found...we saw areas of the market that were here hundreds of years ago...they have done a very nice job in presenting and preserving what they have discovered.
Saturday a.m. we took a 45 min. bus ride to the ancient Salt mines...in the town of Wieliczka and took an almost 2 hour tour. We walked through chambers, chapels and areas that were over 700 years old!
There are many statues inside carved completely out of salt...here is one about a famous story. A 13th century Hungarian princess called Kinga was on her way to marry a Polish prince. On her way, she stopped and threw her ring into a well, wishing good fortune and prosperous times for her new country. Soon people started digging around the well and they discovered rich veins of salt...that well is now the Wieliczka Salt Mine!
There is a huge chamber with salt carvings made into the walls...we are standing in front of one of those carvings...Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus traveling together.
We have found on many Market Squares....people enjoy individual entertaining. They place a box, hat or bag in front of them hoping passer byers will listen, watch and throw in a few coins. On this day we saw this man being held up by what appears to be..just a pole. It was entertaining to see and we could not figure out how he managed to stay up!
An older couple entertained us while we ate an outdoor lunch. The Polish music was quite entertaining!
Here we are being entertained by a Folk Show during our dinner. The food was good, and entertainment was great!
Mark was selected to participate in one of their dances...he did very well!
We ate our last breakfast meal outside which was located on the balcony/terrace of the restaurant.
We have had a good couple of days together...it was good for Mark, myself and the two of us together!
Mark is in front of the Krakow train station...this was smaller than the station in Warsaw and as a result...much easier to get around and figure out. Our train arrived early so we had plenty of time to board.
How lucky we were to have the 6-seated passenger compartment all to ourselves! A fun, unexpected treat...loved the ride, the view and the safe return back to Warsaw. All went well except Mark left his baseball cap and straw hat on board the train...I'm sure he will find another one in the near future.
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