Krakow, Poland – 12-16 August 2012

After wasting time walking around the train station I head down to the platform to take my train to Krakow (Sunday, August 12, 2012). Thankfully the entrance I take leads me directly to my wagon. Having a reserved seat is awesome as the train is completely packed!!!! I want to run upstairs to the lady that booked my seat and hug her. Getting down the wagon takes patience; I am of course right at the other end - typical!! We depart dead on time, my kind of country.

As the journey progressed through the Polish countryside it became more and more apparent that the train was overbooked and a lot of people would be sitting on the floor. Even more hugs now for the woman who sold me my ticket.

The close to 3 hour journey seems to go quickly and before long I'm wandering the streets of Krakow's old town trying to find my hotel. I've chosen somewhere that is right on the main square, right now I'm regretting that as I seem to be walking around in circles trying to find it! Finally I'm in :)

The view from my room is great, so many famous sights within a stone’s throw.

As I'd been sitting for so long and didn't go for a run this morning I head out for a walk with no fixed abode. 40 minutes in the heavens open, I'm in jandels and no umbrella......this better not be the norm for the next 4 days, I won't be pleased!!

After drying off and planning my must see/do/eat list for tomorrow the rain comes to a stop so I make a run for it and head out for a beer. Better to start with the easy stuff. I'm surprised that a beer is 4 Polish Złoty....close to being free in Singapore language. I will be returning! I then decide to order a water which would you believe costs the same. What is the world coming too I ask.

As luck would have it (from the umbrella sellers point of view) as I'm leaving the bar the heavens open...bloody hell this is not my day. I'm close to my hotel so decide to go somewhere nearby for dinner. Looking like a drowned rat twice it a day does not appeal to me at all.

I pick a vodka, water and soup and within 2 sips of my vodka am thinking I should have ordered something more hearty...I'd brought my book to read but can't see it being read tonight!!!

Observations from today - there are more local people that speak English than they did in Warsaw; there are definitely many more "non-local" tourists in Krakow, I hear English spoken wherever I walk; alcohol is cheaper yet water costs the same as alcohol??; the old town is very pretty with many side streets to wander down.

Monday morning I wake early, no surprises there, and head out for a run. Brrrrr it's much colder than Warsaw (below 10 degrees). The city is just starting to come to life when I return.

I decide today will all be about wandering and stopping as and when I see fit. As soon as I leave the front door I'm amazed at how many people are around (it's just gone 9.30am), an hour ago there was next to no one.

I stumble across the Rynek Underground and am pleased its 5 minutes to opening time.  I'd read it's a scrum to get in, whoever wrote that wasn't wrong! Luckily I was near the front and managed to get in, buy my ticket all within 5 minutes.

Rynek Underground is beneath the market square and consists of medieval market stalls. I find it quite surreal walking around and hearing lots of noise; it's as if I'm in the middle of the market many years ago! Not sure I'd rate it as a top spot but it was interesting.

Crossing over the square I come to the amazing St Mary's Church - what a sight this is!! I enter in the door for worshipers and am overcome with how beautiful the inside is. My head is moving from side to side trying to take it all in. There is a service going on which I decide to join. Not easy following along when there is no service sheet or book and it's all in Polish. I felt special though being part of the service, even just for 15 minutes.

I'm now in desperate need for coffee and fast, unfortunately everywhere I see is a chain then I see KFC and McDonalds....um that will be a NO! I find one with a perfect spot for people watching, and after waiting what seems like forever decide to leave. You don't want my money fine I'll take it elsewhere!!
Instead I go to the opposite side of the square and am served before I even sit down. The lady at the table next to me has a really nice bag so I ask her if she speak English (to ask where she got it from). She looks me up and down then walks off......rude cow!!! Not the best start to my day, which means it can only get better.

I'm feeling much more better good now; decide to walk away from the main square to Saints Peter and Paul Church and right next door St Andrew' Church. I'm a bit churched out now!!

I decided to join a walking tour for the afternoon on the Jewish Quarter. Great not to have to think where I was going, just listen and follow. I was blown away by the huge amount of knowledge our guide had and how passionate he was about his city.

At the end of the tour I got speaking to a couple, she's from NZ and he is from Slovenia and they have been living in Slovenia but in a couple of months will return back to NZ for good. We ended up going for one drink that turned into quite a few!!! They hadn't tried the vodka since being here so of course I insisted they did......not the best idea I've ever had :)

Tuesday (August 14) I wake to my alarm with a bit of a sore head. It's raining again, no surprises there! I thought it was summer.....clearly not. Out of all the mornings today would have been good to go running to clear the head but alas it's not to be. Today I'm heading down to Auschwitz Concentration Camp (to the Polish it’s known as Oswiecim) which is about 1.5 hours south of Krakow.

After getting breakfast, which was a big struggle, I'm all set. Now if I could shake the head sore feeling I would be aok.

The drive is 1.5 hours south of Krakow, time passes quickly as we watch a documentary - I'm left wondering why on earth I'm coming here. I visited a Concentration camp about 12 years ago in Germany and vowed and declared I'd never return again!!

Auschwitz was the scene of the largest attempt at genocide…….an awful experience being here but I feel it’s also important to at least try to understand more about history.

We visited two sights, Auschwitz and Birkenau (Auschwitz II) which are about 2 km apart, both as bad as each other.

I needed to get away from here – I really hope never again to visit.

I wanted to walk around a bit before having dinner but only managed to walk 3 minutes before finding a cool laid back restaurant. I know 12 hours earlier I was never drinking again but I'm now feeling much better, just very tired. Plus I think the beer might help me sleep a bit :) and get over the day.

Wednesday August 15th I wake early and head for a run. Just as I'm finishing the heavens open....buggar! Thankfully its short lived.

I enjoy wandering the outskirts of the Old Town making my way to the Royal Castle. I have no idea how the tickets work so join a line - one hour later it's my turn and I'm informed the next free slot isn't for another 1 hour 40 minutes and you don't need to buy a ticket to enter the Cathedral. Double buggar, I've been starting in line for nothing. One of the negatives of traveling alone, you can't go and suss things out then return to your place.

So for now I'll walk around and take everything in.  The Wawel Cathedral was only opened at certain times; I happened to be there when it was closed so joined the many lines. As soon as the doors open there was a scrum to get in! I was pleased I was near the front so that the scrum ended soon after it started for me! Once inside it was busy but with lots of look at the crowds were soon forgotten. I know people say once you have seen one Cathedral/Temple you have seen them all – but the insides are always so different and the Wawel Cathedral does not disappoint.

Walked back to my apartment, love being so central! Before going for lunch at a place I'd walked by numerous times - had a small compromise, had a chicken salad (not exactly Polish) and big beer. There goes all the running I did this morning, ooh well I'm on holiday and life is for living.

The afternoon passes in a bit of a blur - is that due to the beer? Or lack of sleep? Who knows?
I visit St Mary's Church, this time entering in the tourist door. I'm struck with the sheer beauty, the vibrant colours and amazing frescoes. Wow I could spend all day here just looking and wouldn't get bored. One of the staff come and speaks to me in what I assume is Polish, she is taken back when I say I only speak English. I'm not allowed to take photos unless I brought a special ticket....strange but ok I'll be good and won't take any more photos.

Today is a public holiday in Poland so there are so many more people around than the past couple of days.

After having a wee rest I head out to the Pierogi (Polish Dumpling) festival; I've only tried these once since being in Poland and wasn't that fused by them. I decide to give them one more try - wow these are tasty!! Now I understand why people rave about them....yum yum.

After enjoying a beer I head off in search of a place for dinner - never an easy task and after walking around for what seems like hours (probably only 5 minutes) I choose somewhere near my apartment. First thing I order is wodka and water – never something I'd order at home with dinner but hey ho....I’m definitely not disappointed!

Thursday August 16th after waking early I head out for a short run - great to be out early and running around a park.

I enjoy breakfast sitting on the main square in the sun watching the world go by. This is the life!  I wander around the Old Town one more time before completing my packing and heading to the train station.

We depart dead on time - I'm in first class this leg but it definitely doesn't feel like it. I'm heading to Warsaw where I'll take a flight to London. Ye ha! The journey seems to go on and on and unfortunately we make a few stops along the way. Not as quick as going to Krakow.

After taking the bus to the airport I discover there is another 45 minutes before they open the check-in counters, time for a late lunch.

We depart Warsaw a little late but as I have a spare seat next to me its ok, I don't feel squashed in like a sardine. Unfortunately I have a complete moron sitting on my row -- he's already drunk when he boards and sits in the row behind (a shame he didn't stay there!!); he listens to his music VERY loudly the whole journey not once switching it off when asked; he continues to drink and then the kicker of all kickers - he starts to smoke....WTF!!!! One small positive is it’s an electric smoke, but still. Unbelievable - I want to open the door and jump out.

On arrival into London I jump up straight away, need to get away from this guy and fast. Of course my plan doesn't go too well as we need to wait for buses to take us to the terminal. I'm pleasantly surprised with the immigration line, it moves quickly and within 10 minutes I'm next...then I am in!

Now we all know the debacles I've had with my luggage around the world, well let me tell you it continues tonight. Firstly there are bags on the belt when I get there but it's not moving, after waiting a good 20 minutes we have movement but no bag. Then there is just two of us waiting, we were one of the first to check-in in Warsaw so I wonder if that has something to do with it. In the end I claim a missing bag report and after a while our bags appear - woo hoo!! Thankfully, I'm now ready to get the heck out of this airport.

I had a wonderful time in Poland and would happily return! For now it’s London-town for 3 days.