Well what can i say about Krakow, mostly good i must say. First two days were so cold. On Sunday we went to Auschwitz-Birkenau , two concentration camps. With it being so cold you got some sort of idea how the weather must of played a big part in their misery. It was -17 with the wind chill and never above -10. That was so hard to stand in all day. Monday we walked around and found Oskar Schindler factory, took us 30 mins to get there from the hotel. Again it was -10 and it really killed us. Relief was in a very nice shopping mall and we hanged out there for an hour to get warm again. On the same day we walked around the Jewish quarter and found an old church. We took some photos and swear we caught some ghosts.
Tuesday and Wednesday were much milder and we walked around the old town a lot. Exploring the underground restaurants and bars, if you don't look you will miss them. They are everywhere but some of the best ones are hidden and not so advertised. The big neon lights are just tourist traps. We found a few great restaurants and a great pub that you will love, its called CK Browar. It has a good restaurant, pub, and nightclub and they brew the beer in front of you and pour it from the vats. I must say it is good beer and costs about a £1.50 a pint. I have pictures and will post the link at the bottom of the page.
Oh one more thing you must visit is the salt mine. We booked both tours with Cracow city tours, you can turn up at the office and pay there, cheaper than any where else and they treat you good. Magda and Sebastian were great. Sebastian cracks funnies all around the tour of the salt mine .
Here is their web site http://www.krakowtraveltours.com/auschwitz-tour.htm
If i was to choose between here and prague. I would say prague is more beautiful and cheaper, but Krakow has nicer people more bars and restaurants and we had a more enjoyable time in krakow. Two down sides, Some pubs and restaurants have people at the loo waiting for a zloty and the dog mess is a real problem. They let their dogs defecate any where.
http://www.dustysworld.net/photogallery/KrakowFeb2008/index.html
I see what you mean about the ghosts 
Great photos. I'm sure we'll do that some trip sometime but the camps must be difficult to visit( emotionally I mean)
Great photos. I'm sure we'll do that some trip sometime but the camps must be difficult to visit( emotionally I mean)
Thanks for the comments. I showed it to the receptionist and she could not see the face and said it was fog, i said in a church 
I will see if i can find a ghost website and send it to them and see what they think. Back to Krakow, the camps were depressing but i found it so overwhelming the magnitude of what happened there to make it emotional. It would of been more upsetting if it focused on a persons individual tragedy. Example, i am not ashamed to say i cried at the Anni Franks museum in Amsterdam.
I will see if i can find a ghost website and send it to them and see what they think. Back to Krakow, the camps were depressing but i found it so overwhelming the magnitude of what happened there to make it emotional. It would of been more upsetting if it focused on a persons individual tragedy. Example, i am not ashamed to say i cried at the Anni Franks museum in Amsterdam.
I surprised myself by sobbing reading the messages on the crosses in the war cemetery in Thailand close to the bridge over the River Kwai so I know what you mean.
fabulous pictures Dustyjoe . Glad you enjoyed Krakow . we certainly did . what a difference in weather you had to what we experienced 2 weeks ago . we had bright sunshine for 3 whole days 
. We wore thermals to Auschwitz because my daughter had said how cold it was there a few weeks earlier but we had to strip everything off . I did a little report here http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=17643&start=60
. We wore thermals to Auschwitz because my daughter had said how cold it was there a few weeks earlier but we had to strip everything off . I did a little report here http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=17643&start=60
I think it being so cold made us appreciate the conditions that people had to endure there.
Id say you are probably right there dusty. I had read this harrowing book before we went and so was fully aware of everything that happened there . much worse than I ever imagined ,and we actually felt guilty walking around in the lovely sunshine.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eyewitness-Auschwitz-Three-Years-Chamber/dp/1566632714/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203766494&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eyewitness-Auschwitz-Three-Years-Chamber/dp/1566632714/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203766494&sr=8-1
Looks like a good book, i may well buy that .
Great pics Dustyjoe, it brought back memories of our visit but we visited in the summer so it was weird seeing the square so empty. We did not take photos in the camp because it was so emotional and I will never forget. The Salt mines photos were very good as well.
Glad you enjoyed.
Linda
Glad you enjoyed.
Linda
An excellent book dusty . I thoroughly recommend anyone that plans or has visited Auschwitz to read it .I actually brought it by accident thinking it was more of a guide book.
We have just got back from Krakow and have had a great time, we were staying in the Grodek hotel which is about a 2 minute walk from the town square, the hotel was lovely.
We have been to Prague and found Prague more beautiful than Krakow but everything is so compact in Krakow and an easy walk.
We walked to the Castle and Cathedral, old town walls, Jewish district, had lots of hot chocolate (to warm us up) all in all we had a lovely break.
I borrowed my sons camera as mine wasn't working and I accidently deleted most of my photo's
We have been to Prague and found Prague more beautiful than Krakow but everything is so compact in Krakow and an easy walk.
We walked to the Castle and Cathedral, old town walls, Jewish district, had lots of hot chocolate (to warm us up) all in all we had a lovely break.
I borrowed my sons camera as mine wasn't working and I accidently deleted most of my photo's
Glad you had a good time McBabe. My husband and I went to Krakow in 2007 at wintertime and it was lovely looking round the square, eating hot sausages and browsing the markets. Hopefully these photo's will bring back some nice memories
They did thanks, it was cold but it was nice for walking around and it was an excuse to stop for a hot drink, I loved the idea of the bugler playing in the church tower every hour and stopping dead, We found a lovely cafe on our last day inside an old church called caffe magia, I had chilli chocolate, it was very warming and husband had hot wine.
we never saw any hot sausages, but had some fresh bagels from a street seller.
we never saw any hot sausages, but had some fresh bagels from a street seller.
Great review and photos brought back great memories. Weird seeing the square so empty as I went in the summer.
Glad you enjoyed
Linda
Glad you enjoyed
Linda
I have also just returned from Krakow. After comparing it to Prague, I personally think Krakow is actually much nicer. I loved the winter there. I did not mind the cold, just enjoyed the magical atmosphere of the city covered with snow.
Being Jewish, I started with the trip to Auschwitz, which was extremely moving. I then spent a couple of days just walking around the Old Jewish Quarter, where I discovered so many traces of the Jewish history: old synagogues, Jewish cemeteries, museums and galleries. There are even some restaurants serving Jewish menu alongside live Jewish music. The Old Jewish Quarter (also known locally as Kazimierz) is in my opinion the best place to see in Krakow, especially if you also travelled to see the concentration camp in Auschwitz and you saw the film Schindler's List.
The Jewish District (also known locally as Kazimierz), is very near to city centre. The Old Town Square is indeed spectacular, but I found it too crowded and far too commercialised (not to mention the prices...) I would very strongly advise to eat out in the Jewish District. The restaurants, cafes and bars there offer (in my opinion) a much nicer and much less expensive food than those closer to the main Square. My personal favourite was the Ariel restaurant. Another thing worth mentioning was the service I was able to attend at the Remuh Synagogue built in the 15th century!
As for the accommodation I decided to trust my friends' recommendation and stayed in a self-catering holiday apartment. The apartment was exceptionally cosy, spotlessly clean and located in a quiet residential road between the Jewish Quarter and the Royal Castle (when you go out in the street on the right you see the castle and on the left the Skalka church - another place not to be missed).
By the way, I think the most beautiful place I discovered in Krakow is Skaleczna Street, leading from the Skalka church towards the Jewish District!
Being Jewish, I started with the trip to Auschwitz, which was extremely moving. I then spent a couple of days just walking around the Old Jewish Quarter, where I discovered so many traces of the Jewish history: old synagogues, Jewish cemeteries, museums and galleries. There are even some restaurants serving Jewish menu alongside live Jewish music. The Old Jewish Quarter (also known locally as Kazimierz) is in my opinion the best place to see in Krakow, especially if you also travelled to see the concentration camp in Auschwitz and you saw the film Schindler's List.
The Jewish District (also known locally as Kazimierz), is very near to city centre. The Old Town Square is indeed spectacular, but I found it too crowded and far too commercialised (not to mention the prices...) I would very strongly advise to eat out in the Jewish District. The restaurants, cafes and bars there offer (in my opinion) a much nicer and much less expensive food than those closer to the main Square. My personal favourite was the Ariel restaurant. Another thing worth mentioning was the service I was able to attend at the Remuh Synagogue built in the 15th century!
As for the accommodation I decided to trust my friends' recommendation and stayed in a self-catering holiday apartment. The apartment was exceptionally cosy, spotlessly clean and located in a quiet residential road between the Jewish Quarter and the Royal Castle (when you go out in the street on the right you see the castle and on the left the Skalka church - another place not to be missed).
By the way, I think the most beautiful place I discovered in Krakow is Skaleczna Street, leading from the Skalka church towards the Jewish District!
Hi alisgan -thanks for posting your report. I am going to Krakow in May for 5 days and I am actually staying in Kazimierz, so it was good to hear how you found it. I am actually staying in a hotel, but it sounds a really good part of the city to be based in. I have also been to Prague, so it will be fun to compare the two cities! Will certainly try out the Ariel while I am there - always looking for good restaurant recommendations!
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