We went to krak off – which apparently is the right way to say it – not Krak ow!
Had a bit of a long weekend – travelling on the Thurs monring and back on the Monday night – plenty of time to see the sights, maybe too long, we’ll see..
Up very early on Thurs, had to be in the airport at 5:30, so although tempting, it was too early for a beer, and instead the regulation burger king was had instead. After the checkin/security and breakfast, we didnt have too long to wait until the flight came. It is completely amazing the way that flights work now – so many are leaving, one after each other, all therse people flighing around Europe for 50 quid each way – it really is amazing when you think about it.
Landed in Karkow about 10:30, with the hour difference – and was loking to get the train, but nah, too hell with that, lets just get a taxi. 89 zlotes – which is something around 20 quid – but no hassles, no mucking about – tidy.
Hotel room was ready, quite a nice hotel very near to the centre (Holiday Inn), and in next to no time we were out to the square.
It’s a big square.
It was a bit widy and a slight bit raining and was a nice break from the non stop heat we have had back home – we sat on the West side of the square and had the first local beer – a Tyskie, and tried out my Polish – I was rubbish.
After a short time, we went for a stroll, and then to Moburger, just off the square – which provided a pretty damn good burger.
We walked a little more, then back to the hotel for a quick snooze – I was knackered. Then we headed back out to the old town, and sat in a boozer called Cafe Art and had some Zywiec’s until the cows came home. We picked up some water and some crisps and went to bed.
Day 2. Took the free tour around old town, and then the tour around the Jewish Quarter – both about 2hrs and about 2 miles. Was pretty good, the morning one was better. In between we stuffed down some polish sausages and some dumpling things.
We had a couple of beers in the Qrt, and then back to the square for some drinkies and a big steak. We went to Sioux this time – pretty good place…
Day 3. Did a bit of sight seeing, saw inside some of the churches, and had a real cup of tea in the morning at the bulldog bar, which was full of hungover brits, some of them keeping the British stereotype alive by drinking beer.
Back to Sioux for livers for lunch, then headed down to the Qrt for a night out. Sat in a couple of bars, one used to be a SInger factoy, and we sat with a sewing machine, then we found a bar ith some live guitar playing and ventured in. The bar man, had no mixers, but he had beer, and Sian was happy with the initial vokda – the barman turned out to be a bit of a charactor, was boozing, and tempting shots out. We were buying rounds at under 3 quid for a pint and a shot – acording to Monzo we had quite a few.
Got slightly lost on the way home, and I had a terrible keebab, which was like a tosted sandwich, and which I found out in the morning was full of sauerkraut.
Day 4. Quite hung over, but booked a tri to the salt mines for 11:30. So had a poor breakfast on the square, and in the Taxi for about an hour in a long and winding vouage to pick others up, and then to the salt mines. Which were neither as cold, nor as amazing as I was led to believe.
The mine itself was massive, really incredible, and the carvings and things were quite impressive – but it was like a cattle market. In here, little chat, now here, not granite floors, but salt, now here, and chat, salt things. I did lick the walls and it was very salty.
Back to the square, and a relaxing few beers, and quite an early night.
Day 5. Last day, already. Up early as we had to catch the minibus to the camps at 7:30. Bigger van this time, and a movie for the one or so hr trip out to Auschwitz.
After a bit of confusion with the size of the bags we were in and being herded around the camp one. It was nothing like I expected, big buildings with displays – like a museum I suppose. We say the piles of hair, and shoes and combs, and glasses and heard the history of the place.
It’s an event one needs to see, so I won’t explain too much, but I preferred the second camp, a lot more “real” for me. They say birds don’t sing there, and I didn’t hear any – I did n the first camp, but this second one, was different.
Back to the square for a couple of hours, some ribs, then to the airport and home.
We liked Krakow, we had plenty to do over five days, the weather was great, it wasn’t too expensive and it’s only a couple of hours away. Tidy.