I took an early morning walk around the city and saw the walls which in places were 8 feet thick and 32 feet high. There was a 72 foot wide moat. Pretty amazing. Much of the wall was pulled down in the 19th century, but the main city gate "Brama Florianska" survived together with three adjacent towers.
A stately and very interesting building I found on my walk was the The Opera Krakowska. Still active today, it was founded postwar in 1954, but it sure looks older than that.
We took a day trip out to Auschwitz and Birkenau where there is a guided tour. Of course seeing the grounds and buildings is a solemn event and one that will not be forgotten. A day to think about what mankind is capable of and it was moving and emotional. I had been to Dachau, Germany in 1980 with John and that was a day to remember too. This site has been very well preserved and is again a UNESCO site.
We took a tour of the city in a little golf cart like vehicle with a fun young driver. He had lived in the U.S. for several years to attend college, but wanted to return home. It was only the 3 of us so I requested we eat something my Polish friend, Magda recommended. It is called zapiekanka. It is a halved baguette topped mainly with mushrooms and cheese and toasted. Can also order it with other things like meat and veggies. Known as a French bread pizza. Our driver knew the best place to take us and in all of my trip to Europe this was my favorite food. I want one right now. We ate several during the week back in Warsaw, but none was as good as the one in Krakow at the round kiosk in the market square.
Warsaw
My friend Magda was not in Poland but she was so kind to introduce me to her sister-in-law, Ela, who I got to spend time with. She took me walking and showing me sites and we rode the metro. That is not something I'd want to do alone. It is small, but just seemed very confusing. We had a great walk and went up on top of a university library and had a wonderful view of the river and surrounding area. We also met one evening and she brought her little baby girl, Milena. It was a fun evening with a great dinner and a pretty good rainstorm and we had no umbrellas. A night to remember. That was so great to get to make such a nice friend and I thank Ela for meeting up with me.
When Mike, Cheryl and I came in via taxi from the airport there was an interesting building that we commented on to our cab driver, saying "Oh wow, that is quiet a building." His response was something like "that is shit and I hate it".....as it was a building built during the communist years by Stalin. Interestingly enough, there are 6 or 5 of these Stalin architecture buildings in Moscow. (I saw several of them when I was in Moscow later on the trip) They are really amazing. The one in Warsaw, while hated by many for the memories, is really something to behold. It really fascinated me and I walked to it and spent quite a bit of time taking pictures.
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/may/08/warsaw-palace-of-culture-stalin-a-history-of-cities-in-50-buildings-day-32
I did have a visit to the doctor, which thank goodness doesn't happen often when I travel. I was stung by a wasp and seemed to have a sensitivity to that and my hand was really swelling up like crazy and two of my fingers started turning purple. On the side of caution I went to doctor and was given a prescription and some cream. That hand itched so bad and I was clawing at it. Mike would look over at me and say, "Gena, stop that." So I did while he was watching me and then begin again. That damn thing itched so bad, but as in all things healing started and it was a real relief.
Krakow:
We took the train to Krakow. Nice to see the countryside. Felt that this little city was slow moving and very pleasant. The downtown is very walkable, cobblestones everywhere and many varied ethnic restaurants. We spent three days here so we weren't too rush. We planned a tour day trip out to Auschwicz. Stayed in a nice Airbnb, and it was right next door to a jewelry store that had some gold jewelry in the window. I saw a gold feather ring that I looked at every day trying to decide if I "needed" it. Finally, on my last day I went in and bought it. Means so much to me, John was there I felt. It is 3/19/19 and I'm still wearing it. So glad I got it.
I walked around the city and took pictures. The old walls are so interesting, along with the huge main plaza. Grand churches and a lovely park. We took a tour with a fun Polish guy who had lived in Chicago for several years. Cheryl's knee by this time was really bad and really not an option to do lots of walking. We rode on a large golf cart thing and he showed us all the various areas of the city.
I really did love visiting Poland and would like to go back again. Actually I did go back to Warsaw when I was going to fly to Russia I spent two days. I spent a day walking downtown and taking pictures. I loved seeing the Stalin building up close and took many pictures there. Actually went shopping and bought a blouse. The next day I went to the National Museum of Warsaw, a good walk from my hotel. That evening I met up with Ela and she brought her little baby girl, Milena. It was a fun evening with a great dinner and a pretty good rainstorm so walking without umbrellas was a wet, but fun experience. A night to remember. That was so great to get to make such a nice friend and I thank Ela taking her time to meet up with me.
So guess I still want to go back. Much more to see and I really do like it there. I was glad I got to experience the old historic center and then the more central downtown.
I usually buy a magnet and postcard from where I travel, but I could not resist so many beautiful items in Poland. I bought several pieces of beautiful amber jewelry and traditional dolls and pieces of china. The colors and designs on their work was irrestible to me so I weakened and had to mail an entire box of goodies home. I think being with Cheryl on my first time there encouraged me to buy more than I normally would as she is a shopper, but I'm glad I have all my treasurer and while it took a very long time to get my box in the mail, it did finally arrive and everything was intact.
I will never forget my time in Poland as there was a diversity in the areas I visited and it was most enjoyable. I highly recommend visiting Poland.
When Mike, Cheryl and I came in via taxi from the airport there was an interesting building that we commented on to our cab driver, saying "Oh wow, that is quiet a building." His response was something like "that is shit and I hate it".....as it was a building built during the communist years by Stalin. Interestingly enough, there are 6 or 5 of these Stalin architecture buildings in Moscow. (I saw several of them when I was in Moscow later on the trip) They are really amazing. The one in Warsaw, while hated by many for the memories, is really something to behold. It really fascinated me and I walked to it and spent quite a bit of time taking pictures.
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/may/08/warsaw-palace-of-culture-stalin-a-history-of-cities-in-50-buildings-day-32
I did have a visit to the doctor, which thank goodness doesn't happen often when I travel. I was stung by a wasp and seemed to have a sensitivity to that and my hand was really swelling up like crazy and two of my fingers started turning purple. On the side of caution I went to doctor and was given a prescription and some cream. That hand itched so bad and I was clawing at it. Mike would look over at me and say, "Gena, stop that." So I did while he was watching me and then begin again. That damn thing itched so bad, but as in all things healing started and it was a real relief.
Krakow:
We took the train to Krakow. Nice to see the countryside. Felt that this little city was slow moving and very pleasant. The downtown is very walkable, cobblestones everywhere and many varied ethnic restaurants. We spent three days here so we weren't too rush. We planned a tour day trip out to Auschwicz. Stayed in a nice Airbnb, and it was right next door to a jewelry store that had some gold jewelry in the window. I saw a gold feather ring that I looked at every day trying to decide if I "needed" it. Finally, on my last day I went in and bought it. Means so much to me, John was there I felt. It is 3/19/19 and I'm still wearing it. So glad I got it.
I walked around the city and took pictures. The old walls are so interesting, along with the huge main plaza. Grand churches and a lovely park. We took a tour with a fun Polish guy who had lived in Chicago for several years. Cheryl's knee by this time was really bad and really not an option to do lots of walking. We rode on a large golf cart thing and he showed us all the various areas of the city.
I really did love visiting Poland and would like to go back again. Actually I did go back to Warsaw when I was going to fly to Russia I spent two days. I spent a day walking downtown and taking pictures. I loved seeing the Stalin building up close and took many pictures there. Actually went shopping and bought a blouse. The next day I went to the National Museum of Warsaw, a good walk from my hotel. That evening I met up with Ela and she brought her little baby girl, Milena. It was a fun evening with a great dinner and a pretty good rainstorm so walking without umbrellas was a wet, but fun experience. A night to remember. That was so great to get to make such a nice friend and I thank Ela taking her time to meet up with me.
So guess I still want to go back. Much more to see and I really do like it there. I was glad I got to experience the old historic center and then the more central downtown.
I usually buy a magnet and postcard from where I travel, but I could not resist so many beautiful items in Poland. I bought several pieces of beautiful amber jewelry and traditional dolls and pieces of china. The colors and designs on their work was irrestible to me so I weakened and had to mail an entire box of goodies home. I think being with Cheryl on my first time there encouraged me to buy more than I normally would as she is a shopper, but I'm glad I have all my treasurer and while it took a very long time to get my box in the mail, it did finally arrive and everything was intact.
I will never forget my time in Poland as there was a diversity in the areas I visited and it was most enjoyable. I highly recommend visiting Poland.
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