quicky from krakow (also spelt cracow on some english language signs... )
krakow, the town of no traffic lights: guessing this is a hangover from communist poland where everyone slowed down for there pedestrian comrades / didn't have any cars. the opposite is most definitely the case now
spent a semi-comfortable night stretched out on the 2nd class pleather seats from budapest; managed to make the cabin look suitably full so to deter any lurking travellers from ussurping our horizontal monopoly. managed to finally sleep comfortably with my hand above my head due to the just-less-than-shoulderwidth breadth of the seats: something i have wanted to master since i was a child
despite arriving at 7am and spending almost a full day here (minus a shower/nap time thismorning) i feel like i've seen practically nothing of this very beautiufl place. first impressions are all much greater than expected. krakow sports an "old (stare) town" with cobbled streets and vaulted buildings like many other cities eastern european cities, but the sorrounding architecture is outstanding; all of the renaissance and baroque buildings most beautifully highlighted by the circular park which replaced the old walls and other prolific greenery (along with a flowing river banked by soft grass). i seem to have inadvertantly taken myself on the ignatius tour of eastern europe, we accidentally bumped into the 'church of st peter and st paul', an amazing baroque style church with understated ornamentation. some of the frescos were of hillsides and clouds which is refreshing when you're bombarded with cherrubs allday long.
looking forward to doing much touristy stuff - tour of the saltmines in about an hours time and then the castle tomorrow sometime with a suitibly nerdy tourguide. managed to eat in 'zac', an old communist eatery which now is more of a polish-style soup kitchen (primarily due to its very cheap rates). i had a cabbidgy/stewey/sauerkrauty thing which was fucking delicious after a hungry night on a train with no foodcart (we think) and lucy had the tripe.... which she thought was chicken soup. this meal promptly also became mine and she opted for the boiled egg and fruit compote drink.
wise
planning to go to prague in a couple of days time, girl that works in the hostel is gonig with some mates and says the cheapest way is to catch a bus to the border, walk the crossing and then jump an internal train to prague. we're up for it and will hopefully have polish guides!
more about castles and saltmines and maybe auschwitz later
spent a semi-comfortable night stretched out on the 2nd class pleather seats from budapest; managed to make the cabin look suitably full so to deter any lurking travellers from ussurping our horizontal monopoly. managed to finally sleep comfortably with my hand above my head due to the just-less-than-shoulderwidth breadth of the seats: something i have wanted to master since i was a child
despite arriving at 7am and spending almost a full day here (minus a shower/nap time thismorning) i feel like i've seen practically nothing of this very beautiufl place. first impressions are all much greater than expected. krakow sports an "old (stare) town" with cobbled streets and vaulted buildings like many other cities eastern european cities, but the sorrounding architecture is outstanding; all of the renaissance and baroque buildings most beautifully highlighted by the circular park which replaced the old walls and other prolific greenery (along with a flowing river banked by soft grass). i seem to have inadvertantly taken myself on the ignatius tour of eastern europe, we accidentally bumped into the 'church of st peter and st paul', an amazing baroque style church with understated ornamentation. some of the frescos were of hillsides and clouds which is refreshing when you're bombarded with cherrubs allday long.
looking forward to doing much touristy stuff - tour of the saltmines in about an hours time and then the castle tomorrow sometime with a suitibly nerdy tourguide. managed to eat in 'zac', an old communist eatery which now is more of a polish-style soup kitchen (primarily due to its very cheap rates). i had a cabbidgy/stewey/sauerkrauty thing which was fucking delicious after a hungry night on a train with no foodcart (we think) and lucy had the tripe.... which she thought was chicken soup. this meal promptly also became mine and she opted for the boiled egg and fruit compote drink.
wise
planning to go to prague in a couple of days time, girl that works in the hostel is gonig with some mates and says the cheapest way is to catch a bus to the border, walk the crossing and then jump an internal train to prague. we're up for it and will hopefully have polish guides!
more about castles and saltmines and maybe auschwitz later
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