Krakow, Poland

We spent Thursday through Sunday in Poland. Krakow was a pretty interesting town and I could have easily spent another day or two there, as most of our days were pretty booked. Krakow is definitely more rustic than Prague and has not had as much renovation, but there was construction and renovation all over the place. 

Kazimierz Jewish Quarter was home to a very large Orthodox Jewish community, and the site of the events for which the film Schinlder's List was based. This is the wall to the cemetery that was built out of broken tombstones. All of the Jews in Krakow were sent to concentration camps. Our guide said that since they were such a large and close knit community, people knew nobody on the outside that could help them hide. For me it was sort of a reminder that no matter how different we are, isolating ourselves with our own kind is not a healthy way to live. Today the Jewish population in Krakow is nonexistent. 

Cloth Hall market "world's oldest shopping mall" built in 1555. I don't think the florescent lights are original. 

               

Wawel Cathedral from inside the Royal Castle walls.

Gotta love golf cart tourism! Unfortunately not included in our program fee. 

Hot air balloon outside Basilica of the Virgin Mary. This is a huge Gothic style cathedral that is still very well used, as like 75% of Poles are practicing Catholics. The hot air balloons were part of some festivities in the old square that also included a motorcycle parade and a high school jazz band concert. Random but fun!

Loren, Kelly, & Katy show off our jug & mugs of very good wine at a traditional 17th century Polish restaurant. We had a great time at this place. I ordered salmon, and while I am not sure that is 17th century Polish food, it was great. Kelly is my roommate and Loren & Katy are in my social work classes. 

Our last stop before heading back to CZ was Wieliczka Salt Mine. This place was pretty amazing believe it or not...Hundreds of caverns and passages and even cathedrals carved out of salt hundreds of feet below the ground. Here is our group in the largest cathedral (taken by one of the professors with a fish-eye lens). Even that chandelier is made out of salt. 

And here is my obligatory licking the wall photo. Yes it was very salty. 

Auschwitz post coming soon...