Europe (Krakow,Poland) May 2009 D18-D19

My next destination was Krakow, Poland. As I had to take a 06.15 Eurolines bus (Euro$17) from Budapest to Krakow, I had to wake up at around 05.30. Another traveler from the same hostel was also heading for the same destination, so I was not alone. I arrived Krakow at around 13.30 and stayed in Dizzy Dazzy Downtown hostel (Euro$5.50) for two nights. I enjoyed the lush green country side scenery from Hungary to southern Poland when our bus passed a number of country towns along the way.

Krakow is the 3rd largest city in Poland. Many of it's old buildings dating back to the 7th century. Despite the Second World War, their old architecture is still intact. I spent most of my time at the Rynek Glowny, Old Town where there are a number of old towering Gothic churches, the Wawel Castle and the Kazimierz, a dominant Jewish's community area. Rynek Glowny is the largest town square in Europe. If time permits, I suggest you visit Warsaw although the city was badly destroyed during the Second World War.

The reason I took the bus route is because the scenery along the Hungarian and Polish border is more scenic than taking a train journey which passes mainly through vast tracts of flat land.

1) The country side scenery along the border of Hungary & Poland

2) Street performers & a group of nuns in Main Square, Krakow - go to the Main Square at the Old Town, where street performers showing their skills to impress you in return for a small money contribution from the spectators or passers-by.

3) Florianska Gate - in the past, Krakow was surrounded by city walls. The Gate (built in 1307) was the entrance for all the Polish people visiting the King of Poland. This was the starting point of the Royal Road which leads through the Main Square and the Wawel Hill.

4) The Cloth Hall Gallery, Rynek Clowny - a great collections of the famous Polish and International 19th century paintings are found in this Gallery. The ground floor is a large craft market targeting mainly the tourists

5) St Mary's Basilica, Rynek Glowny - built in 13th century, this Northern Gothic style red brick building housed the works of the biggest artists from Europe.

6) Artist's corner - Polish artists offering their paintings to passers-by on the side streets of the main square.

7) Rynek Glowny, The Main Square, Old Town - admiring the old towering Gothic churches and buildings. Not a dull moment as you manoeuvre your way around the streets here.

8) The Wawel Hill - located near the bank of Vistula River. The Wawel castle can be seen at the top. The Polish Royal families lived here in the 17th century. Visitors flocked to the Cathedral and Chapel (gold covered roof) to take pictures of these magnificent buildings

9) Old Polish style buildings in and around the Jewish Quarter , Krakow

10) Polish War Hero memorial

11) Krakow is a special place of the Holy Father John Paul II . He lived in Krakow between 1958-1967.

12) Churches - Poland churches looked great and magnificent - make sure you spent sometime inside these churches .

Something to ponder in Krakow: Six million Polish people died during the World War Two !Three million Jews were brutally killed in Nazi death camps. In the present Krakow, there is a Jewish community in Kazimierz area where I visited. The current Jewish population in Krakow is about 100. Free coffee, tea & honey drink awaits you when you visit this underground café of an old Polish Church.

" When in Krakow, consider joining a day tour to Auschwitz Birkenau Memorial and Museum (the death factory - a symbol of terror, genocide and the Holocaust established by the Nazis in 1940 ) and Wielickzka Salt mine (a UNESCO Cultural and Natural Heritage). 

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