Monday, September 17, 2007
Krakoov
That's how the Poles pronounce Krakow, a small, charming medieval city center crowned with a castle and surrounded by a ring of green (where the moat used to be!).
Our first look at Krakow, fresh off the bus from Auschwitz at sunset, just outside the 'green ring' circumventing the old town.
I love trams! They are ubiquitous in Central Europe...
As night falls, a young traveller's fancy turns to dinner, which we had across from this illuminated building, in a three level eatery with an informal top part, a very upscale bottom part, and a wildly busy kitchen in the middle, where informal eaters place their orders and pick them up when ready. Up the staircase, down the staircase, up the staircase, down the staircase...
Krakow's ring of greenery / where defense moat used to be
Wawel Castle, from where Krakow was governed. Seen here from a distance..
Urban renewal! Your tax zlotys at work. (pronounced zwoa-tees)
Castle and chapel, seen from the castle courtyard. There was some dragon attraction I went to, but found myself five levels below, on the street, staring at the Vistula River, having seen nothing for my trouble...
Myriad flowers adorn a large green space inside the castle courtyard...
This twin-towered Cathedral is the home of the Bishop of Krakow, which you may remember was the previous gig of Pope John Paul II. This is the northeast corner of a HUGE square. It would look TWICE as huge if there wasn't a large yellow rectangular building at the center partially bisecting the square into two halves.
Another (leaning) church, within a church, at the southeast end of "the square."
En route to the Jewish quarter, I found this pink tram quite cute.
Night falls on the central square/marketplace of Krakow's erstwhile Jewish quarter.
Earlier, I wandered into a Solidarity parade - I'm not sure why they were parading, and never found out. Yes, THAT Solidarity...
Stare down any street, and something gloriously medieval is likely to stare back! The next morning, we took a day excursion to Krakow's famous Salt Mines, tomorrow's blog topic... Do widzenia (doe vee-DZE-nya) is Polish for 'Goodbye'
Engrish: Noodle Nonsense
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