mattAtomic: Europa - Polska part I: Kraków

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Europa - Polska part I: Kraków

After gathering our bags and wits about us, Shane and I caught a train to Kraków Główny Osobowy. It is the largest and the most centrally located railway station in Kraków. From there we boarded a streetcar to our hotel, The Ibis Kraków Centrum. We got our room, settled in, took some time to relax and freshen up, then headed out to explore the city. Kraków is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Our hotel was located near the river and several blocks from the Wawel Castle, built in the 14th century, it is considered the most historically and culturally important place in Poland. We walked along the river to view the castle. The Wawel Dragon is a famous dragon in Polish folklore. His lair was in a cave at the foot of Wawel Hill on the bank of the Vistula River. Wawel Castle stands on Wawel Hill. In front of the entrance to the cathedral there are bones of pleistocene creatures hanging on a chain, which were found and carried to the cathedral in medieval times as the remains of a dragon. It is believed that the world will come to its end when the bones will fall on the ground. The cathedral features a statue of the Wawel dragon and a plaque commemorating his defeat by Krakus, a Polish prince who, according to the legend, founded the city and built his palace over the slain dragon's lair. The dragon's cave below the castle is now a popular tourist stop. We wandered around the castle and hillside, then stopped for dinner at a restaurant located in the castle. Afterward we walked streets through Kraków Old Town and Market Square. Kraków represented Old Europe to me and it was incredible to be here. We stopped and had some lody (ice cream), then meandered through a park as we headed back to the hotel for the night.