wtorek, 12 sierpnia 2014

Long weekend in Krakow

Despite of the fact that the weather has been...cold, rainy and windy recently, the long weekend which is coming is going to be partly sunny. I present you the weather of each days bellow:

Friday: partly cloudly, no rain, the pressure: 1010.30 hPa, the temperature is about 23*C
Saturday: partly sunny, shower, the pressure: 1009.80 hPa, the temperature: 22*C
Sunday: shower, the pressure: 1015.00 hPa, the temperature: 21*C

I am of the opinion that the weather forecast presented above is conducive to spontaneous trips outside the city on bikes. Due to the fact, we spend a lot of time in the city, that activity looks pretty nice, because we can breath fresh air and gain energy for the new work week. You need to remember the weather likes changing so check it before you travel by bike.



Around Krakow, there are many great places to relax and contemplate with the nature. Check the list below with places to see.

poniedziałek, 4 sierpnia 2014

Today in Krakow (for Children)

It doesn't matter that today is Monday and another week just begins. There are some things you can do.
During holiday, there is always something to do with the little ones.

1. "A storm summer" in Home Army (AK) - Wita Stwosza Street 12

This event is created for children 8 - 13 years old. You can expect many surprises and attractions for all participants. The main aim is to show fascinating past history of Krakow. Children will visit headquarters of a military unit and will know about soldiers' real life in that time.

"Lessons" last from
1) 4 - 8 Aug
2) 11 - 14 Aug
3) 18 - 22 Aug
4) 25 - 29 Aug

The programme looks as follows:
Monday: a tour through Piłsudski Mound and Kościuszko Mound, art classes, board games
Tuesday: a tour to the headquarters of a military unit, board games tournament, making leaflets and others
Wednesday:  a movie and a meeting with a war veteran, games
Thursday: a tour to the ZOO, classes, a movie
Friday: walking through Krakow's streets, a concert

You can book by e-mail: rezerwacja@museum-ak.pl or calling (12) 410 07 70. The participation costs 40 PLN per day (200 PLN per whole "lessons").

2. "A holiday adventure with books" The Public Library in Nowa Huta (Os. Dywizjonu 303 Street 1)

Entrance: FREE

Children will learn new definitions connected with library, literature and gain valuable skills like using an electronic catalogue. Organisators also prepared many creative classes, quizes etc.

Contact: (12) 647 28 85
email: filia10nhbp@interia.pl

środa, 9 lipca 2014

Auschwitz

Auschwitz is a place known as an extermination camp. It was established in 1940 by the Nazi Germans. The first assumption of Auschwitz was to be a concentration camp for those of arrested Poles who could not stay in prison due to a lack of free places. Therefore Poles were first prisoners in the concentration camp. In the course of time, lots of people were transported into the camp. At the beginning there were around 8 thousand in which were small group of Jews and Germans.



 A year ago, there were almost 26 thousand of people (around 15 000 Poles, 10 000 prisoners of war and over 1 000 Jews). Since 1942, a number of people has increased very fast. 197 000 of Jews were transported there in that time, in 1943 the number icreased to 270 000 of Jews and in 1944 - 600 000 of Jews.  It would be easy to noticed that the structure of prisoners have changed and Jews were the most popular group in Auschwitz.

  
Nationality/Category Number of people
Jews 1,1 mln
Poles 140-150 thou
Gypsy 23 thou
Soviet prisoners of war 15 thou
Others 25 thou
Total ~ 1,3 mln

* souce: http://pl.auschwitz.org

Despite of the fact that the camp was enormous, Nazis decided to divide it into three part with an autonomy for all of these part separately. 

Nazis carried out tests on humans (prisoners of camp). Those acts were the worst they have ever done during that time. Their behaved unprofessional as doctors because treating people like animals or subjects is not really conform with medical ethics. 

Breaking news from Auschwitz - Birkenau Memorial and Museum 

1) The beginnings of the Etermination of Jews in KL Auschwitz
Unpublished documents and other materials until today you can see in Auschwitz. 
Price per unit: 40,00 PLN 

From time to time I will try to put here some "news" about exhibition and so on.


wtorek, 1 lipca 2014

Salt Mine Krakow

Most of tourists choose trips to Salt Mine Wieliczka during their visit in Krakow. Therefore I decided to write something about that place.

Nowadays, Salt Mine Wieliczka is a combination of tradition and modernity. It is a great place for organising a ball (like proms), wedding or even press conference. The air of salt chambers improve health in general especially breathing. Even though you will be stand deep under the ground, you can experience a relief for a soul due to provided concerts, theatre shows and lots of art displays.

Breaking news: Two treatment chambers have been opened recently in the Mine. One of them will be used for kinesiotherapy. The second one will be used as a chamber for resting and education.

Thanks to the micro climate everyone will be relaxed. An air free of pollution and allergens is especially something for me, because I'm asthmatic and alergic. Todays, visiting place like this is a good escape from polluted cities where we work, study and live all the time. From my point of view, taking a break from work for view days could help you to clear your mind from problems and take an opportunity to think about another stuff and maybe take care of someone you love.


Ojcowski National Park

Ojcowski National Park is one of 23th National Parks in Poland. The area is situated in the Lesser Poland, near Krakow.


This beautiful national park was devastated in ninetheeth century due to cutting trees, digging in caves (some of people were looking for a fertiliser). In the same time explorers discovered new spieces of plants and animals. Beauty of the Prądnik Valley grabs the tourist's attention. What's more, a scultpure of area is very interesting. You can see for eg. the Needle of Deotyma, the Krakow's Gate. A limestone substrate contributed to create caves like the Łokietek Cave or Zbójecka Cave.
Due to a human activity, most of the species have died long time ago, but the nature has preserved a large variety of species you can admire now.The number of animals is estimate around 11 thousand living in the park. The Ojcowski National Park is recognisable by several symbols like for eg. bats.


There are many hiking trails you can follow.
1. Red Trail
Length: 13,6 km
Interesting things you must see: Hermit Cottage, Source of Love, the Needle of Deotyna

2. Blue Trail
Length: 9 km
Interesting things you must see: Będkowska Valley, Czajowice, Ciasne Skałki Ravine, Krakow's Gate, Ojców, Grodzisko, the Rock

3. Yellow Trail
Length: 9,5 km
Interesting things you must see: Krzeszowice, Szklary, Wierzchowie, Murownia, Prądnik Valley, Sąspowska Valley, Sąspów, Pieskowa Skała

4. Green Trail
Length: 5,3 km
Interesting things you must see: Sąspowska Valley, Gold Mountain, Castle Park, Residence "Under Crown", Dark Cave, Okopy Mountain, Prądnik Valley, Krakow's Gate

5. Black Trail
Length: 9,2 km
Interesting things you must see: Łokietek Cave, Chełmowa Mountain, Jonaszówka, Ojców, Kaliski, Młynnik, Sunny Mountain, Herianówka, Pieskowa Skała

Ojcowski National Park is also for families with children. There is a posibility to get there by car, but only to the castle in Ojców. An entrance to the Ojcowski National Park is for free. Although inside the park are lots of plants, valleys and caves, there are facilities for baby carriages therefore you don't have to be worried that you would not be able to walk with babies through the park.

środa, 25 czerwca 2014

Paths of John Paul II

Today is gonna to be a beautiful day, isn't it? I am going to Wadowice tomorrow. It will be a very emotion trip because of my emotional engagement in the faith.

John Paul II (rightly Karol Wojtyła) was born in Wadowice in 1920. For most of his life he was called Lolek by friends and family. Karol usually played football, furthermore he was well-built, tallented, tall boy.
At the beginning of his life, he was struggled with many problems like a mother's death when he was 9, and brother's death three years later. During his education in Gymnasium, in Wojtyła's heart was born a passion to the art, especially to acting in performances organized at school in hometown. He graduated from school with a very good marks, which allowed in that time to get to almost every univesity without passing any exams. Unfortunately, his education at Jagiellonian University in Krakow has disturbed by second world war. Wojtyła's father has gone during war. Despite of the fact that he was alone, he didn't really feal loneliness thanks to his friends. He couldn't continue studying, so he found Teatr Rapsodyczny, together with friends. Suddenly, he has dropped everything and joined the Metropolitan Seminary in Krakow, which theology studies weren't popular in that time. Life showed how much talented man he was when he lived.
In 1978, He was elected as the Pope in Vatican as the youngest one amount their formers. He used to travel a lot, in which he has met mostly injured, discriminated, poor people, but everyone could see him. His speeches were always very touchy and he was capable to unite people different races and another faith.

Although, Karol Wojtyła became the Pope and lived in Vatican, his heart was always beating for Poland.
In Krakow there are numerous places where he stayed and lived, places, where he will be remembered as a student of polish philology, worker, actor, poet, seminarian, young priest, teacher of life and finally - as head of the Catholic Church. Route running through these places called "paths of John Paul II."
Like he said "in Wadowice all it began", but Krakow was a city with which Wojtyła was connected in a special way.

Most popular places connected with John Paul II
1. Bishops' Palace (Franciszkańska 3 Street)
2. St. Peter's Basilica. Francis of Assisi OO. Franciscan (Franciszkańska 2 Street)
3. Seminary of the Archdiocese of Krakow (Podzamcze 8 Street)
4. Dziekańska Tenement (Kanonicza 21 Street)
5. Cathedral Church of St. Stanislaus and Wenceslas at Wawel
6. Church of St Michael the Archangel and St Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr (Skałka) (Skałeczna 15 Street)
7. House of John Tyranowski (Różana 11 Street)
8. Church of Stanislaus Kostka XX. Salesians in Dębniki (Konfederacka 6 Street)
9. House Szwecka 12 Street
10. Home Tyniecka 10 Street
11 The papal stone on Błonia
12. Monument to John Paul II in Jordan's Park (entrance from 3 Maja Street)
13. Jagiellonian University Collegium Novum (Gołębia 24 Street)
14. St. Mary's Church (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary) (Market Square)
15. St. Florian's Basilica  (Warszawska 1 Street)
16. Monument to John Paul II in Strzelecki Park (Lubicz Street)
17. Tomb of the parents of Pope John Paul II Cemetery Rakowice
18. The John Paul II Hospital (Prądnicka 80 Street)
19. Church of St. Jadwiga (Łokietka 60 Street)
20. Church of Our Lady the Queen of Poland Ark of our Lord in Bieńczyce (Obrońców Krzyża 1 Street)
21. St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe Churchin Mistrzejowice (Osiedle Tysiąclecia 86 Street)
22. Zakrzowek Quarry (chapel at the crossroads: Ruczaj-Pychowicka and Kamieniarska-Wyłom)
23. Former Soda Factory "Solvay" (the building at Zakopiańska 62 Street, now - Centre for Contemporary Art "Solvay")
24. Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy in Łagiewniki (Siostry Faustyny 3-9 Street)
25. John Paul II International Airport (Krakow - Balice)

czwartek, 5 czerwca 2014

Welcome to Podgórze District

Podgórze District used to be a seperate part of Krakow, but currently it is one of the thriving city district. Over the years, Podgórze has been an industrial facilities for Krakow, which eventually was connected in 1915. In this part of city was created a big ghetto by Nazis for Jews have been living in Krakow during World War II.


What do you need to see in Podgórze?

1. Ghetto Heroes Square (formerly named the Agreement Square).

Ghetto was founded by Otton Wachter, who was a main initiator of this project in 1941. Every non-Jewish person was moved from that area to another. During the first selection in 1942 died at least 111 Jews. Later in 1943, the ghetto was liquidated. On that time Nazis did the last selection on the square.

2. "Pharmacy under the Eagle"

"Pharmacy under the Eagle" was the only chemist's in the ghetto during the Nazis occupation in Krakow. Owner of the chemist's was a Pole who used to live into ghetto from the beginning to the end of its exsistence.  Further, the pharmacy was a conspiratorial place, which helped Jews  living inside the ghetto.
Nowadays, this place is a branch of the Historical Museum of Krakow.

3. Schindler's Factory, Lipowa 4 Street

Opening Hours:
November - March
on Mondays 10 am - 2 pm, Tuesday - Sunday 10 am - 6 pm

April - September
on Mondays 10 am - 4 pm, Tuesday - Sunday 10 am - 10pm

The museum is situated in the administrative building of the former Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory. Fate of rescued Jews are illustrated in Spielberg's film called Schindler's List. 

4. St Joseph Church

The church has  built over the main square on the rock podium of the former quarry. Previously on this land stood the temple built in 1832. Currently remains only a bell tower which is located at the rear of present church.

5. Podgórze Market Square

It is a specific place because of  a triangle shape. Since 1915, Podgórze has been a separate city. Therefore a square was called Podgórze Market Square. The building market is characterized by House under Deer of the 18th century, House of the Dark Eagle of 18th century, Manor of the White Eagle (which was the first town hall).

6. Old Cementery of Podgórze

Regard as the oldest municipal cementery in whole Krakow, founded between 1786 and 1792. The cementery was expanded twice in 1838 and in 1895. After all, the Old Cementery was closed in 1900 where lied the most meritorious people for Podgórze. Unfortunately most of graves have been destroyed forever due to the expansion of Telewizyjna Street and construction of the railway line.

7. Krakus Mound

Krakus Mound is one of the largest in Europe and the largest in Poland. In every Tuesday after Easter, the mound is a place of Rękawska Fair. There is a legend that the mound was made by people with their own hands.

8. Wojciech Bednarski Park

Park is popularly known as a great place of redevelopement of post industrial land. One of the amazing green place in Krakow.

9. Płaszów Concentration Camp

The camp was established in 1942 and abandoned in 1945. Most of prisoners were Jews and Gypsies. Poles were used as a workforce. It is estimated that around 8 000 people were killed there.

10. Torn-Out Hearts Memorial
The monument was erected in 1964 and initiated by Witold Cęckiewicz. It is a memorial of murdered people by Nazis.

środa, 4 czerwca 2014

Top 5 polish restaurants in Krakow

1. Pod Baranem (At Ram's), St. Gertruda 21 Street

They specialize in Polish cuisine with toouches of European cuisine. All the dishes are prepared by them, without using semi-finished. All ingredients are bought from selected suppliers. High quality guaranteed.

2. Pod Złotą Pipą, Floriańska 30 Street

Interior style reminds times of Emperor Franz Joseph who has visited Krakow long time ago. You can sit at the bar or at a table and taste wines, beers and coffees. You are a witness of a great combination of peaceful restaurant and lively pub. During the summer, meals and drinks are served in a green garden often with live music.

3. Galicyjska, Pijarska 9 Street

Galician Restaurant attracts the strongest flavors of venison. For lovers of the Krakow kitchen, chef prepares delicious sop. In this restaurant you can feel like nobility. They also organizes special events including weddings, communions, banquets, business meetings, parties for tourist groups and catering.


4. Pod Aniołami, Grodzka 35 Street

This restaurant is known as a leader of pickled meats, baked in the oven grill. The interior atmosphere brings guests to the times of Royal Medieval Krakow. On the first floor is situated the Burgrabia's Chamber of Wawel Castle where he invited people for sumptuous lunches.

5. Miód Malina, Grodzka 40 Street

Restaurant "Honey Raspberry" was built in the 14th century on the corner of Grodzka Street and Poselska Street. It refers to the colorfull village in the middle of Krakow. The style is sophisticated, but with homey atmosphere which is perceptible from the entrance.

czwartek, 29 maja 2014

Top 5 museums in Krakow

1. Royal Wawel Castle on the Wawel Hill 


Permanent exhibitions at the Royal Castle:
1) State Rooms;
2) Royal Private Apartments;
3) Treasury and Armoury;
4) Oriental Art;
5) The Lost Wawel.

Castle seasonal routes:
1) Dragon's Den;
2) Sandomierz Tower;
3) The history of Wawel Hill

Wawel Hill is available to visitors daily from 6 am to dusk. Arcaded courtyard of the Royal Castle is closed half an hour before the gates of the Wawel Hill.


2. Czartoryski Museum


Da Vinci's Lady with an Ermine grabs your attention here. As for museum, it has many old masterpiecies like e.g. a dramatic landscape by Rembrandt. The museum collects European paintings of the thirteenth and eighteenth centuries. Further, museum posess monuments of European and Islamic art and crafts from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century, also posess graphics, ancient art and military.

3. National Museum in Krakow


National Museum in Krakow is the oldest one bearing the name "National". The institution was founded in 1879 as a museum of Polish contemporary art. Thanks to many donations is now the largest museum institution in Poland in terms of the number of buildings, branches and facilities. Despite of the fact that museum specializes in mainly Polish art, those are also great collections of European art and from others including paintings, ancient art, military, Western sculptures, arts and crafts of the Far East ans so on.
The first seat of National Museum was the Sukiennice. To this day, you can admire Century Polish Art there (on the Main Square).
Entrance free on Sundays.

4. MOCAK - Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow

The project to establish the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow began in late 2004 when the Municipality of Krakow took over and bought the buildings located in a place where the Schindler's Factory existed long time ago. The main aim of the museum is to present art last 20 years in the context of the post-war avant-garde and conceptual art.


5. Polish Aviation Museum 

Polish Aviation Museum was one of the oldest permanent airfields in Europe. It was founded for the Austrian and Hungarian aviations in 1912. Currently, the museum occupies a small piece of past military airport in eastern Krakow (Rakowice - Czyżyny) which include a large hangar and garage and storage facilities, built by Germans during the Second World War.

czwartek, 22 maja 2014

Zakrzówek

I wrote earlier about Zakrzówek. In day like this, I am of the view that you must to go there!
Judging from the fact that Krakow is very loud city and no one likes spend its spare time there, you should take your bags with blanket and healthy food (don't forget to take water because around the Zakrzówek you will not find any shops) and catch every warm moments with your friends or lover. Please remember you cannot swim in water if you don't have a permission to dive. Only professional divers are allowed to be inside water. The point is that there is a risk you will die or something like this. Nowithstanding, you can enjoy the view instead of swimming!

There is a legend that says long time ago Mr Twardowski was a teacher of magic. One day something went wrong during the lessons and somehow everything burned. Due to the exploision of laboratory were created stones which are named Stones of Twardowski. Beautiful story, isn't it?

Anyway, the place is amazing!

As far as I know, there is a fence along whole body of water. In summer time, young people are very stupid and not resposible for what they've done, because they drink a lot of alcohol during a party in fresh air and want to dive in water. So stupid! Thus you can lie on the grass. The place is located few kilometres from the centre of the city. Oh, thanks to God, without noise :)

środa, 7 maja 2014

Other places in Krakow

Where can you go on a sunny day? Zakrzówek, which is located in Ruczaj, is a quarry flooded by water. That breathetaking place is often visited by young people who organize parties and other event that type. Depth is about 32 m, but a limit visibility is about 25 m. Due to a specific of that place, many divers swim in water. They sometimes find weird things like e.g. flooded bus, mirrors, ships and car. On the edge between grass and trees you can make a picnic with your friends.

Another place worth seeing is Botanic Garden located almost in the centre of city. They have got lots of species of flowers, trees and others. In the break, when you are waiting for a train or a bus, you should go there and breathe some fresh air.








Around Krakow are many places you should see too. One of them is Auschwitz-Birkenau. You can go there from the main market, where workers of travel agency will suggest you a trip. That place is associated with a big historical tragedy. According books of history, Germans have put there polish politicial prisoners of oposition. Since 1942 Auschwitz has became a place of murders innocent people, mainly Jewish. Visitors have an access to the bigger part of camp and can go inside and watch real hairs, nails, shoes and other clothes which were the property of prisoners.

The second one is Wieliczka where is a mine of salt. You can also use the suggestion of travel agency workers and get there by bus with other turists. That place is recommend for people who has a problem with their breathe system.



One of the 23 National Park in Poland is the Ojcowski Park Narodowy. You have to be aware of danger, when you get into the park and wear comfortable shoes before the trip. It would be safe to take a guide with you. Łokietek Cave is the first point on your map. There is a legend associated with this person. After an escape from Krakow, Łokietek was hidden in a cave. His life was safed by a spider, who made a cobweb and thanks to the spider no one has seen Łokietek. The next one is the Herkules Club. Name of this nature monument was created thanks to its shape. It is a great opportunity to spend free time with your family together.



Schindler's factory was founded in 1937 as a place for production of sheet metal and enamel. In few years the factory was taken by Oskar Schindler, who was an entrepreneur. The Schindler's factory is located in Zabłocie. Since 1943 the production was expanded by reinforcing, mainly for Wehrmacht. Lots of Poles have worked there. However, many Germans wanted to eliminate Jewish, so they forced them to work in the camps. According to the history, when workers from the Schindler's factory have put into barracks, Oskar has moved the factory to other city named Brunnlitz and created a list of names of people who worked for him. Thanks to the Schindler's list, some of people were rescued from the death. Since 2007 the old factory was taken by representitives of Krakow authority and today we can go there and watch the exibition named Kraków – czas okupacji 1939-1945. Around an area of the factory was founded Museum of Contemporary Art in Kraków (MOCAK). 

Krakow Zwierzyniec

Do you have enough cars and noise of the public transport? Go to the Las Wolski and visit the ZOO. On the suburbs of Krakow is located a big ZOO in the middle of nowhere.

On holidays many animals are shown, because of the period of time. Many animals like giraffes, elephants, lions and so on, living usually in Africa are accustomed to live in high temperature. During winter, they are in their special houses. When you decide to go with your family on the weekend to the zoo, remember you must not to feed animals. There is an information written on every boxes.

In front of the zoo are small birds. Then you will probably see a real version of animated Julian King from Madagascar movie – meercats. Next, you will see wolfs and foxes. From my perspective, the most wanted animals in the zoo are these who come from exotic countries, whose usually you will not see in Poland.

If you want to see whole city from the top, you should go to the Kościuszki Mound. For the entry you have to pay, but nothing can replace that view. This is the highest Mound in Krakow. Near the mound is located the RMF FM radio. Therefore you cannot go there at the midnight to admire the view.




In Zwierzyniec are two football stadions of two teams: Wisła Kraków and Cracovia. Karol Wojtyła, who was the first polish pope in Vatican and recently has became Saint John Paul II, was a Cracovia team fan. On Błonie usually are held big events. Next to the Błonie is Jordan Park, where you can go and sit on a bench looking at the monuments of great artists. 

Krakow Kazimierz

The most important point in your visiting plan is Kazimierz. This district has cosy and comfortable places for lovers and people who appreciate their privacy. Due to the cultural lifestyle, Kazimierz can be compared to e.g. New York, where all day and all night people walk the streets. Lots of Jewish used to live in Kazimierz, that's way are held Jewish Culture Festival which drawing the attention thousand of people interested in that kind of events every year. 

From ages, Kazimierz have had its own law and was an independent city. However Kazimierz became a part of the Krakow in the end of the XVIII century. If you are hungry, you will try the most famous rolls baked in special cooker with different components like cheese, chicken, mushrooms, or ham. There is no place similar to that small bar in whole Krakow. Don't have any idea where to go with your lover? Choose Kazimierz at the night and feel the magic of this place, where street lamps suit perfectly to the rest of the architecture buildings.


For sure, places worth seeing are: National Pantheon (also called Cementery of Great Poles), Saint Catherine Church, Corpus Christi Church. On the Szeroka Street is Old Synagogue – the oldest synagogue in Poland, which was destroyed during the second world war. Monuments have been inscribed on the UNESCO in 1978. Since 1994 Kazimierz with other places in Krakow (like Podgórze, Wawel, Stradom, Piaski, Old City and Nowy Świat) was declared as the Monument of History.  

Nowa Huta

NowaHuta, a district declared as an odd part of the city, is located on the eastern Krakow. Because of its history citizens think that they can effort the difficulties of the disctrict and get an independency to become strong and sufficient area from economic point of view. Nowa Huta was founded as a first socialist city in Poland. Therefore people from whole country come to there to see architecture monuments. The mix of three eras caused an amazing atmosphere.

Its creation was based on the ideology of comunism as a contract to the other parts of cultural Krakow. What's grab your attention here is the Wanda Mound. According to the legend, Wanda did not want to marry some German guy and she jumped into the Vistula river. Her body was found near a current location of Wanda Mound. On the top of the mound is a monument of white eagle designed by Jan Matejko. In the middle of the Nowa Huta are the Central Square and the Alley of roses – the most famous street in that district. Around those places are amazing law and order and make an impression that every buildings and streets are symmetric.

Market Square

On the market square you have to be careful. This place is alive! When you are sitting on a bench, drinking a cup of coffee, eating a piece of cheesecake, you might see how the carriages with horses are waiting for tourists (but they are not the only one who want to ride this kind of ecology transport), how weird people put on their faces a make up to become e.g. a dragon or an angel, how a boy is buying flowers to his girlfriend in hurry and running for a meeting with her and finally how children are having fun during his breaks and running through the market between pigeons. Thoose pictures of different situations are components of the market square in Krakow. 

If you want to hide from the Sun you may go to the Sukiennice which are located in the middle. This place is fulled of stalls where you will find souvenirs. An interesting fact is that on the first floor was founded the first gallery of polish arts. Walking through the market square can let you feel relaxed. Why? The answer is simple. On the top of the Mariacki Church is played a bugle call every hour from ages. That sound is friendly for our ears and makes a smile on the faces. In summer lots of concerts are played on the market square too.





Thanks to the location and a proximity to every part of the city, you can quickly get there and meet your friends. Due to the fact that Krakow is a known city in Poland, there is a chance to meet celebrities or actors or any famous people who are living here or spending their holidays here. Being in Krakow is associated with visiting the Czartoryski Museum. There are very popular paitings like „Lady with an Ermine”. As a curiosity can be mentioned the movie (polish production) called „Da Vinci” in which criminals have stolen that paiting. What is important in that movie, they made a copy of „Lady with an Ermine” and no one noticed the difference between an original version and the copy. Near the Czartoryski Museum is a Floriańska Gate and Barbakan too. What do you need to know about that architecture monuments? There are a part of the defensive walls. In summer time porches are opened and available for tourists.

Are you hungry? Around the market square are some bars and restaurants where you can taste polish food or others if you want to. Afer the dinner you should go to the Chocolate Fountain by Wedel. I have never eaten such a delicious chocolate before! In the evening most of the people choose night clubs to relaxed after rough days at work. Thanks to a proximity, you can easily go out from one place and go to another in short time. One of the advantage, if you think about the market square, is the short distance between the market  square and e.g. railway station where are few stop buses and trams and you can easily come home after sucessful party.  

Wawel Castle

Krakow is a city located in a southern Poland. As you know, Krakow is known as a city of kings, because of its history. When you want to visit this semi-ancient and semi-modern city you cannot forget about a camera, of course! 

At the beginning, the most seen building in Krakow is the Wawel Castle which is located near the Vistula river. Inside the castle are a lot of paintings, chambers where used to live e.g. Zygmunt August long time ago. Since a dramatic situation in Smoleńsk where one of a polish president died in 2010, his grave has located between kings in the Wawel Castle. A main attraction for children is a dragon located next to the Wawel Castle. Parents willingly take photos of their kids with him. Moreover, the dragon sometimes breathes fire! 






Walking along the Vistula river can surprise you. Guess what? Lots of people spend their spare time lying on a field of grass, watching the Sun and an enormous Wawel Castle. This city is full of diversity. Why? It is a good question. A place with a long tradition, where the past and the present time are connected together into one piece might cause undescrible feeling. You don't have to run across whole city to enjoy your time. It depends on you what kind of leasure activities you want to follow here. It would be a sin if you did not use an alternative kind of transport like ships. There are many possibilities to get on the other site of the Vistula river. Some of people prefer an active way to get e.g. to Podgórze disctrict. Others prefer the cruise on the Vistula. 

At night you will probably see a footbridge in different colors. This is a place created for lovers, where they can make theirs promises that they will never ever stop loving each other. Due to a beautiful view of Vistula river fulled of magic, lovers who are just married often take photos here.