It Starts With The Locals...

As you know from my last post, I've just spent the last 4 days exploring the wonderful city of Krakow. 

As usual, I'll be writing a few posts around my visit and down the track (once I've written them, that is), you'll be able to find them by typing Krakow or Armchair Tours into the search box on Gidday's The Good Stuff page (where it says More Fossicking? on the left hand side).

But in tribute to the friendliness of Krakow's natives, for me today's post must start with the locals...
 

This local next to Bazylika Mariacki (St Mary's Basilica) was keeping his eyes peeled for likely comers

As I meandered through the Old Town Square (Rynek Glowny) on Day 1 of 4, I was struck by the 'long and short' of this negotiation...

...but it seemed that this young fella managed to seal the deal.

As I crossed the square I saw a sign from afar...



...and nearby I found a king-like soul keeping vigil at St Mary's Basilica.

A whole host bade me welcome at St Peter and Pauls Church
( I saw a fantastic chamber music ensemble here on my first night
 - both the music and the venue were breathtaking)

And I couldn't leave without taking a pic of The Papal Window for Mum (who behaved like the biggest groupie I'd ever seen when we saw the man himself at St Peter's in 2000).
Pope John Paul II made several public addresses to the people of Krakow from this window. Not only was he Archbishop of Krakow before becoming pope but did you know that he also lived through Krakow's occupation during World War II?

Clearly opinions still run high. This 'grafitti' in the old Jewish Quarter of Podgorze makes a poignant point. The mass deportation of Jews in the 1940s means that an estimated 200 Jews remain in Krakow - from 65,000 pre-WWII (according to my Lonely Planet Krakow Encounter Guide).

The Legend of St Kinga (you can read it for youself by clicking on the link) - a story carved in salt at Wieliczka Salt Mine

                     

Retailing creativity extends into jewellery, ornaments, foodstuffs...

 

...and ceilings. Yes, that is a painted ceiling in this shop, obviously no longer the singular province of the churches here in Krakow.

In spite of my limited Polish (read none), this sign seemed to suggest that I could find a spot of liquid refreshment at this establishment

But if in doubt, I knew where I could find an off-licence...

...as it seems did Winnie the Pooh.
(Seems he translates in any language!)

Rest assured that this merely skims the surface of the fascinating and historic city - remember to keep your eyes peeled for more on Krakow soon...

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Other posts in the Krakow series...
Lightly Salted
The Dark Side
A Monstrous Vision
Eat, Sleep And Be Merry