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Post by nancym on Nov 3, 2008 5:21:42 GMT 1
I don't have a hope of finding the right place for this post, but bonobo in his infinite wisdom will let this one stand or fall.
Krakow won the second place among favorite overseas cities in this year's Guardian, Observer and guardian.co.uk Travel Awards.17 thousand readers can't be wrong! ;Dwww.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/oct/12/travel-awards2008Favourite overseas city Last year's winner, Hong Kong, tumbles down the rankings – letting Sydney move to number one. The real surprise is Krakow which jumps from ten to number two. Top five: 1. Sydney 2. Krakow 3. San Francisco 4. Singapore 5. Vancouver
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Post by Bonobo on Nov 3, 2008 21:25:41 GMT 1
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Post by nancym on Nov 4, 2008 17:44:37 GMT 1
well, at least I put it in the same place as tufta! ;D
I am surprised that you did not crow about this honor. I have visited Krakow twice and I agree that it is a good place to visit.
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Post by valpomike on Nov 4, 2008 19:50:55 GMT 1
Nancy,
Glad to see you are now posting, keep it up, we want to know what you think.
Mike
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Post by Bonobo on Nov 4, 2008 21:43:42 GMT 1
I am surprised that you did not crow about this honor. Hmmm..... Verily, reasons for that are multiple. ;D Firstly, Poles are modest people. Secondly, we`d better be careful. Last year Krakow`s PR experts started crowing over the first prize Krakow won on some British tourist site. Later they had to swallow a bitter pill learning it was a gay portal which organized gay trips to foreign countries. Not quite the image those PR makers desired to achieve for Krakow ;D ;D ;D ;D Thirdly, see my comment below. I have lived in Krakow for 40 years and would like to move out of it at last. Only my kids` education keeps me here..... |
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Post by tufta on Nov 5, 2008 10:40:17 GMT 1
Oh Bo, I do understand you very well. But as a teacher - you should be able to look at it from the distance not from your personal view only   ;D Krakow, believe it or not, IS absolutely great place for a tourist ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by Bonobo on Nov 5, 2008 17:26:02 GMT 1
Oh Bo, I do understand you very well. But as a teacher - you should be able to look at it from the distance not from your personal view only ;D Krakow, believe it or not, IS absolutely great place for a tourist ;D ;D ;D to warsaw, right?  ;D Yes, I think Warsaw is a better place to live because it is a relatively new city, while Krakow is old and crumbling. While I walk in the city, I have an impression sth is going to fall on my head! That is why, whenever, I have a chance, I try to visit Warsaw. Here is a photo I took on my last trip. My fav view!  |
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Post by nancym on Nov 5, 2008 19:36:46 GMT 1
Yes, I think Warsaw is a better place to live because it is a relatively new city, while Krakow is old and crumbling. While I walk in the city, I have an impression sth is going to fall on my head! Maybe that is why Americans like it - we don't have anything as old as you - er, I mean Krakow - here. Why is that picture your favorite view? I don't know what it is a picture of  |
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Post by Bonobo on Nov 5, 2008 21:45:29 GMT 1
Why is that picture your favorite view? I don't know what it is a picture of I am amazed you don`t know it. It is the view of the Royal Castle and King Sigismund`s column. I like it a lot because these things were razed to the ground in the literal meaning of the word, only a heap of rubble was left behind. Yet, they were rebuilt. Sort of resurrection. Being a religious man, I am fascinated with the theme. 1945  |
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Post by valpomike on Nov 5, 2008 22:31:03 GMT 1
Both are great, as is all of Poland. Be happy for all of Poland, not just where you are, or come from.
Mike
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Post by Bonobo on Dec 21, 2008 16:22:22 GMT 1
Krakow gets new opera house
thenews.pl
14.12.2008
The historic city of Krakow and Poland's major cultural centre has a
new opera house.
The concert venue has been inaugurated with a production of Krzysztof Penderecki's The Devils of Loudun, a work which has had about thirty productions all over the world since its premiere in 1969.
The production was directed by Laco Adamik, with Andrzej Straszynski conducting the Krakow Opera Orchestra. The gala opening was attended by several government ministers, the President of Krakow and the Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz.
With a surface area of 12, 000 square meters, the opera house has
three theatres, the main one, seating 760, and two smaller ones
designed for chamber opera productions and recitals. The facility
boasts the latest in stage equipment and technology.
The new opera house will be the venue of New Year's Eve and New Year concerts. Daily performances will be given as of February, following the company's tour of Holland.
  
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Post by Bonobo on Apr 13, 2009 16:46:14 GMT 1
CNN launches campaign for city of Krakow
Radio Business Report
2009-04-06
CNN International will air the City of Krakow's first international advertising campaign, using its multi-media assets in a combined online and traditional TV advertising push to promote Krakow, Poland to CNN's audience. Airing to more than 149 million households across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the campaign extends Krakow's footprint across international borders at a time when focus on growing economies and value destinations like Poland is increasing, whilst tourism in Western markets has experienced notable declines.
Rani Raad, SVP Advertising Sales, CNN International comments: "Krakow is a thriving city and we're very pleased they've chosen CNN as their platform of choice for their first international advertising campaign. We've worked hard to translate our knowledge of the tourism landscape into bespoke media campaigns that deliver tangible results".
"We were heavily involved in the preparation of our first advertising campaign on CNN. The network has an influential set of viewers to whom we want to promote Krakow as a trendy city and one an attractive place for investment", says Jacek Majchrowksi, Mayor of the City of Krakow. "We're convinced that Krakow, with its historical beauty and idyllic lifestyle, will delight those interested in discovering art and culture and we're pleased that through CNN, we can invite viewers to visit Krakow".
The campaign is planned to roll out in three phases with the second and third phases in June and September. In a truly collaborative effort, CNN International Advertising Sales' specialist in-house creative unit, Turner Commercial Productions, will produce the television spot from raw material shot specifically for the campaign by the City of Krakow.
Strategically placed online advertising will be visible to users across key markets in Europe and will comprise internet banners encouraging users to enter via the Krakow tourism site to win a weekend in Krakow. In June and September, online activity will be extended to include Asia and the US.
Krakow's first international advertising campaign continues on from a raft of strong activity which has seen the CNN take a deeper look at Poland as a country on the move, internationally. In a first for the region, Poland took centre stage in October 2008 during CNN's special week of programming, `Eye on Poland: Country at the Crossroads'. The week saw a variety of top Polish clients take advantage of multi-platform advertising opportunities in a burst of commercial campaigns concentrated around one of CNN's most popular flagship series.
CNN International is committed to delivering the best commercial solutions for its tourism industry clients. The Network's Tourism Advertising Solutions & Knowledge (TASK) Group provides consultative services on the development of strategic tourism advertising campaigns. The flexibility offered by TASK enables clients to customize their advertising output according to their business needs.
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Post by valpomike on Apr 13, 2009 17:17:35 GMT 1
Be careful, CNN is know for it's slanted reporting.
Mike
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Post by Bonobo on Apr 13, 2009 22:53:14 GMT 1
Be careful, CNN is know for it's slanted reporting. Mike Like Fox news? |
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Post by Bonobo on May 9, 2009 21:50:01 GMT 1
Brits back to party in Krakow
thenews.pl
14.04.2009
After a several-months break, Krakow is again full of young British tourists.
The reason is a stronger pound, claims Gazeta Wyborcza.
"Crisis? Forget it! Brits are back again and they are keeping us busy," says a waitress from the trendy Kazimierz district.
Twenty-five- year old Ted from Liverpool is one of those who decided to visit Krakow this spring. "I came here with my friends but we had to take separate planes because all tickets to Krakow were sold out," says Ted. It is his second visit to the southern city – he was in Krakow also two years ago at the peak of British tourist wave.
Until the last summer, young British men were the most frequent guests in the historic city. They were attracted to the former capital of Poland not by its outstanding monuments or vivid history but by cheap alcohol and accommodation. In 2007, Krakow became the most popular spot for the British to celebrate stag parties.
The owners of restaurants and pubs, especially situated in the city's Old Town Square, were delighted to see crowds of British tourists who showered them with money. Yet, the citizens of Krakow complained that young people were badly behaved – they were extremely noisy, publicly exposed their naked bottoms and pissed into fountains. Soon restaurant-keepers, annoyed by the Brits, hung signs on their doors saying: "Drunk Brits will not be served" or "We do not organize stag parties."
The problem was unexpectedly solved by the fluctuating exchange rate. In summer 2008, the value of the pound went down dramatically to about 4 zloty. Previously, it had been worth almost 7 zloty. For young people from Britain, staying at home or choosing different destinations was more cost-effective. Now, with the pound being worth over 5 zloty, Krakow is again a hot spot for Brits looking to blow off steam.
---------------------------------------------------------- Oops! A weird article with Krakow mentioned. What did the authour want to convey? 
So Much to Hear in Krakow
Tamar Abrams
Huffington Post
4/12/09
It took Krakow, Poland to turn me into an Ugly American - no easy feat given that I've lived in many countries, and traveled to at least 20 more in the past 10 years. On the other hand, perhaps it wasn't the town that should be blamed as much as the circumstances. I decided to take my elderly parents and my sixteen year old daughter on this trip. It made sense at the time. My dad's ancestors left Krakow in the late 1880s to start a new life in America so it would be a sort of pilgrimage for my folks. And my daughter had a strong interest in visiting Auschwitz so it would be a history lesson for her. Me? I am always eager to add a new stamp to my passport though, in this case, Poland never imprinted itself on the document.
My parents are well-traveled people in their own right. My dad was Air Force JAG long before it became a TV show and was stationed in Asia, Canada and Europe during my childhood years. Since his retirement, my parents have enjoyed trips to the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, among other places. But they had not traveled since the increasingly restrictive days of 9/11. They are also - how to put this kindly? - hard of hearing. My dad's new uber hearing aids work well at times, but not so well at others. My mom is deaf in one ear, but I can never seem to recall which one. My daughter - who can hear me whisper to a friend in another county - turned her iPod on as we left for the Washington, DC airport and didn't appear to turn it off until our return.
So there we were - four people - and one set of functioning ears. In Krakow. Using something called a zloty to buy things. What choice did I have but to speak VERY LOUDLY?? Many Poles speak English and so I can only assume they were cringing as I bellowed, "OKAY EVERYONE, HERE'S A PUBLIC TOILET." Or, "THE JEWISH QUARTER IS SO LOVELY. WHAT A SHAME THAT ALL THE RESIDENTS WERE KILLED." Yes, definitely entering Ugly American territory. Sometimes I even had to repeat myself several times for the benefit of my family and the Polish people who needed another reason to loathe Americans: "CAN YOU BELIEVE HOW MUCH THE CURRENCY HERE HAS BEEN DEVALUED?"
We're safely home now. I believe my daughter has finally had to turn off her iPod in order to recharge it. My parents have retreated to their own house nearby where the TV is turned way up and they can communicate in sign language or written notes or telepathically or however they do it when no one else is around. I'm taking a vow of silence for a few days as I comb The Washington Post for any news of increasingly strained US-Polish relations last week. And I offer my heartfelt apologies to the good Polish people who heard me yell, "I THINK IT'S MADE FROM A COW!" last Tuesday to my daughter.
As we flew out of Krakow the day before Easter, I realized that immigrations agents hadn't stamped our passports either when we entered or left Poland. An oversight perhaps. Or maybe intentional so we can all begin the healing process...-------------------------------------------------------------------
A Lot To Be Proud Of
John Marshall
The Krakow Post
30th April 2009
How time flies. No sooner have we finished Easter (painted eggs, baskets of food, interminable hours around the family table) than summer's just around the corner. With the longer and warmer days, Krakow has become a sensual feast. In winter, the stone kamienica across the street was inhabited only by shadows, who scuttled quickly up staircases. Now, the sun has made them flesh and blood, painted smiles on their faces and made you notice details in the stone you'd somehow missed before. Double-windows are thrown open to catch the sun and your attention is captured by the strains of an unexpected violin or clarinet, wafting through the net curtains and rolling gently down the street. You realize that even shadows have lives, and colourful ones, in fact. Like flowers, they only need the right conditions. And, closer to home, balconies blossom with bratki ("brothers") and begonias, carefully tended by their babcia owners.
Though far from the Main Square and Mariacki Church, I hear the Hejna³ (the mournful tune played by the trumpeter on the hour, every hour) drifting along my street. Maybe it's the radio, a practising musician or perhaps a daydream. Whatever it is, like a friendly, sleepy, dragon, "Krakow" - the thought of it, the feel of it - has awoken from its long slumber and permeates once again the souls of its people.
And not only the souls, but their bodies too. Towards the end of April, I received an SMS from a friend. A short message, innocent enough in its way: Did I want to run the Krakow marathon? Well, yes, the thought did appeal to me. After all, I'm not in bad shape and I've always wanted to see more of Krakow. And here was my chance. I should leap at it, gazelle-like. And so I did - metaphorically. Sort of. Almost. That is to say that, for a couple of hours or so, I let the idea run around my head for a while, before reluctantly coming to the conclusion that running a dog up and down the local riverbank two or three times a week hardly qualifies me for the remake of Chariots Of Fire. Not to mention the fact that, fortunately for me and all the serious, well-prepared, runners, I discovered that the invitation had arrived just twenty-four hours too late for me to register and pay good money for that particular kind of self-inflicted madness. Not that that stopped nearly four thousand brave souls from taking part on a hot Sunday morning, the winners coming from as far afield as Ukraine, Kenya and Ethiopia. World-class indeed!
However, I personally prefer my pursuits to be more artistic than athletic. Just as well I live in Krakow then: a city with a fine intellectual and artistic heritage – a heritage the City Government is determined to capitalise upon. I recently interviewed an international marketing executive on the City's behalf. A man who has set foot in more cities than McDonald's, he was very impressed by Krakow, telling me it had taken him precisely eighteen minutes to fall in love with the place (not, presumably, including baggage-handling and the taxi ride from Balice). According to him, we Cracovians live in "a mini-Florence" (albeit one with its fair share of concrete blocks). Kind words – and no doubt heartfelt – but, as a lifelong Cracovian had, coincidentally, explained to me only a few days previously, Florence – like many historical cities - is a victim of its own success, left wondering where to go now. In the city centre, its winding medieval streets are snarled up with traffic and its overdependence on tourists inevitably impacts upon the local atmosphere. Apparently, it's even rare to hear a native-to-native Italian conversation there these days.
The same colleague then recounted how, ten or fifteen years ago, it was, in contrast, extremely rare to hear any foreign language on Krakow's streets. And, if we go back a little further, twenty years ago would have seen the Rynek G³ówny (Main Square) dark and lifeless at 8 pm, even at weekends. Impossible now to imagine that huge and vibrant public space, where everything happens and everyone meets, so devoid of life. How the city has changed in a generation – and how the new generation is changing the city.
John Marshall is a writer and teacher who has had the great fortune to live in Krakow for several years. Krakow's been good to him and, he hopes, he's been good to Krakow.
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Post by Bonobo on May 18, 2009 21:25:51 GMT 1
Krakow wins again.... ;D ;D ;D ;D
1989 celebrations in Krakow, not Gdansk
thenews.pl
07.05.2009
Do to possible trade union disruption in Gdansk the main celebrations to mark the end of communism in Poland will now take place in Krakow on June 4, and not Gdansk, as was originally planned.
"I do not want the summit to be overshadowed by riots," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk and added that he cannot guarantee that foreign guests will be safe in Gdansk.
Trade unionists from the Gdansk shipyard threatened to disrupt the celebrations after the European Union intervened in the privatization and restructuring of the historic shipyards, which could mean thousands of workers being made redundant.
The Gdansk yard is where the Solidarity movement was born, after the legendary strikes of 1980.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk has now confirmed that the meeting of the representatives of four Central European states, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic - which will form the centre piece of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the fall of communism - will now take place in Krakow, far from the Baltic shipyard.
The decision has already been criticized by opposition politicians. "Poland's Prime Minister should not be a coward and let himself be blackmailed, " commented Andrzej Celinski from the Social Democracy of Poland - New Left party.
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Poland moves Visegrad Group summit
Associated Press
2009-05-07
Poland's prime minister says he is moving next month's meeting of Visegrad Group leaders out of Gdansk due to a planned union protest there.
Donald Tusk told reporters Thursday that concerns for Poland's image abroad and for the security of the leaders of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have made him move the June 4 summit of the regional alliance to Krakow.
Union leaders in Gdansk, where the Solidarity movement was born, say they plan large demonstrations to protest the recent loss of jobs due to the closure of shipyards.
The summit will be used this year to mark the 20th anniversary of Poland's first free elections that saw the communists ousted from power, paving the way for democratic change in other communist countries of the time.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gdansk strike threatens "Solidarity" anniversary
By Dominika Maslikowski
May 7, 2009
Warsaw - Gdansk is famous the world over as the striking shipyard that toppled communism in Poland, but now a 20th anniversary celebration has had to be relocated - because the shipyard is threatening to go on strike.
The shipyard, birthplace to the Solidarity movement led by Lech Walesa, was to have played host to various European leaders on June 4, but worried officials have now switched the party to the southern city of Krakow.
The announcement of the change of venue was announced by Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Thursday, over security fears that a celebration of protests would, ironically, be marred by protests.
'Yes, they (the shipworkers) have a right to demonstrate, ' Tusk said, but also pointed to his responsibility to play the host to foreign leaders and 'guarantee their security.'
The unions had warned of molotov cocktails and burning tyres, Tusk said, and more extreme activists had even promised that 'blood would spill' on the day.
Union leaders responded that there was no threat to the 'solemnity' of the celebration, and appealed to officials to 'show respect to Polish workers.'
They would respect the anniversary celebrations, they said, but declined to say if they would cancel their demonstration.
The festivities will mark June 4, 1989, when Solidarity won a landslide victory in the country's first post-war, partly-free elections. Dozens of leaders are expected to attend, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Czech President Vaclav Havel.
But now only a concert will still be held in Gdansk. Politicians will celebrate the anniversary in Wawel, outside Krakow, a city that draws tourists but lacks the political symbolism of Gdansk.
Gdansk's President Pawel Adamowicz accused the union of 'betraying the ideals of Solidarity,' and betraying Poland by announcing a strike on such an important date.
'On June 4, dozens of European leaders wanted to thank Poland for Solidarity and the peaceful uniting of Europe,' Adamowicz said.
'They won't come. They won't thank us. It was supposed to be a big, happy celebration. '
Protests turned violent recently as unionists clashed with police on April 29 during a congress of the European People's Party. Police used batons and tear gas and several people were injured.
Solidarity officials subsequently said they could not guarantee avoiding similar scenes in Gdansk as they could not vouch for every shipyard worker's behaviour.
The unions are demanding job security and better pay for the shipyard workers of modern Gdansk.
Since the fall of communism, the yards have run into severe financial difficulties and since 2002 have been kept afloat by state aid and production guarantees.
Gdansk once employed 17,000 people, according to Karol Guzikiewicz, Solidarity's deputy chairman in Gdansk. It now employs some 2,300 people with an average monthly salary of 1,750 zloty (532 dollars.)
The European Commission in 2005 launched an investigation into the Polish government's subsidy and declared any aid not used purely to rescue and restructure the company as illegal.
Poland then agreed to sell the yards' assets by May 2009, and use the proceeds to repay creditors and return illegal aid to the state.
But the deal alarmed workers, who worried the yards would be bought up by companies intent on asset-stripping rather than ship- building or keeping jobs.
Now as the shipyards' future is in the balance, unionists accuse politicians of 'cowardice' and ignoring workers' plight as they mark a democracy that owes so much to unions.
Others say politics should be kept out of the festivities, and that Poles for a day should leave their conflicts behind to celebrate together.
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Post by tufta on May 20, 2009 17:21:57 GMT 1
Krakow wins again.... ;D ;D ;D ;D oh dear, oh my dear Bo ;D ;D ;D Life is an experience not a competition, remember? |
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Post by Bonobo on May 31, 2009 12:24:04 GMT 1
Krakow hopes to lure foreign tourists
Polish Radio
29.05.2009
A CNN campaign presents Poland's historic capital as a city full of unique charm.
The southern city of Krakow hopes to attract more foreign visitors thanks to its new promotional campaign on CNN Television.
A short film, to be shown for the first time on Monday, is the story of a young couple on a business trip to Krakow who resort to various tricks in order to prolong their stay. Having told their colleague that they lost their passports, they visit many beautiful sites and a mysterious pianist, who turns out to be Poland's top jazzman Leszek Mozdzer. They become so fascinated with Krakow that they think of an another excuse to stay longer. They will most probably lose their air tickets.
The film will be shown 130 times during the four weeks of June. The campaign has cost the Krakow City Council an equivalent of 140 thousand euros.
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Post by Bonobo on Jun 16, 2009 21:47:39 GMT 1
Return to Poland - an illuminating journey
Otago Daily Times, New Zealand
02/06/2009
The unequal towers of 15th-century St Mary's Church dominate the eastern corner of the Rynek Glowny. The taller tower is 81m high; the lower 69m. Photos by Robin Charteris.
Former Otago Daily Times editor Robin Charteris discovers the essence of Europe in the former Polish capital city of Krakow.
Mulled beer with strawberry essence and cloves, warmed, served in a tall glass and sipped through a pair of large straws?
"Especially good for cold weather like this," said the dinner-suited waiter in the Restauracja Senacka, just off the historic rynek, or market square, in Krakow's Old Town.
He was spot on, as Judi and I learned during a lunch-stop on our first day back in beautiful Krakow in late (European) winter after a wonderful wander of the Old Town and its many glories earlier this year.
It may have been a chilly -1 or -2degC outside, with a light snow falling, but we were well wrapped up, and the shops, churches, museums and other attractions we'd visited, plus the rather posh Senacka restaurant, well heated.
We sipped our mulled beer contentedly as we waited for our lunch of braised pig knuckles and sauerkraut.
It hadn't been quite like this the last time we'd visited Poland and Krakow, back in 1986 when communism and grim austerity ruled, when any restaurants were hard to find and when it had been colder and grimmer than a southerly buster through Foveaux Strait.
We'd been in a campervan then, just out of the even more dismal Soviet Union, so Poland, whose people had retained their personal warmth and devotion to Catholicism despite years under communism, had been especially welcome.
Even so, food and facilities had been pretty basic for our family of five Kiwis.
What had impressed us in those Iron Curtain days, beside the relative verve and energy of the Poles themselves, had been the glorious Old Town of Krakow.
The cobblestoned rynek, the largest medieval square in Poland and reputedly all of Europe, designed in 1257 and surrounded by picturesque churches, towers and ancient merchants' houses, had remained intact and little changed ever since, unlike Warsaw to the north, much of which had been levelled in World War 2.
Judi and I promised ourselves then, in 1986, we would return some day for a longer tour of Krakow and southern Poland.
Now, 23 years later, to mulled beer, braised pig knuckles and all, we were here.
The Rynek Glowny (main market square) was just a five-minute stroll from our comfortable (and cheap at 179 zlotys, or $NZ100, a night) apartment.
At this time of year there were few tourists to share the rynek but we were surprised by the numbers of bright young people walking, working and sightseeing.
Most, we discovered, were university students - Krakow has more than 70,000 students, 10% of its population, at its 11 tertiary institutions, including the 600-year-old Jagiellonian University, making it Poland's best-educated city.
We headed straight for the huge and historic Cloth Hall, slap-bang in the centre.
Now used as a base for 50 and more handcraft and souvenir stalls, it also serves as a tourist office and, upstairs, as the Gallery of 19th Century Polish Painting.
It was built in the 14th century as a centre for the cloth trade, but gutted by fire in 1555 and rebuilt in Renaissance style.
Later, decorative arcades were added, giving the hall its distinctive castle-like appearance.
The painting gallery is a branch of the nearby Krakow National Museum, which has five other grand museums in Krakow.
This is a city of the arts: galleries, museums, concert halls, churches, spires, towers . . . their very number and quality stun ordinary tourists such as us into a kind of culture shock.
St Adalbart's Church, dating from the 10th century, is tiny and fascinating; huge and overpowering is St Mary's Church, which overlooks the square from the east, and which has twin towers of great but unequal height.
Local history has it that two brothers were commissioned, one to build each tower.
Sibling rivalry was strong and the younger brother, who was slower and whose tower was shorter, killed the other with a knife which he then plunged into his own heart. The historic knife hangs at the eastern entrance to the nearby Cloth Hall.
The taller tower, 81m high, has traditionally functioned as a watchtower. It has a spire surrounded by turrets and a 350kg gilded crown.
Every hour, the hejnal, a simple five-note tune, is played on a trumpet from the tower (and on Polish national radio at noon) and sounds throughout the Old Town.
Intriguingly, it breaks off in mid-bar, said to be the result of a watchman during the 15th-century Tatar invasion spotting the enemy, sounding the alarm and, mid-phrase, receiving an arrow through his throat for his trouble.
The car-free nature of the Old Town, save for a few service vehicles, horse-drawn tourist carriages and a tram-line or two (greater Krakow has a wonderful and extensive tram service), makes wandering a joy.
Boutiques, coffee houses and restaurants abound, many using the huge and ancient merchants' cellars that once held the trade goods that made Krakow the prominent European market city it was.
Beyond the rynek is the Wawel, the gigantic castle rated the very symbol of Poland.
The seat of kings and capital of Poland for more than 500 years until the monarchy shifted to Warsaw in 1596, it's described as a guardian of national history and the most-visited place in Poland.
Chapels, treasuries, crypts, museums, royal chambers, even a reputed dragon's cave are all there for visitors to pore over.
To us, that's the enduring value of Krakow. It's an encapsulation of much of Europe in one small Old Town; the history, the architecture; the people; the ambience - but not (yet) at European prices.
A fancy
It was a moment that expressed a universal truth.
We were in Krakow's giant market square, strolling with hundreds of others late on a winter's afternoon, snowflakes drifting, the light crisp, the air sharp and clean.
They were mother and teenage daughter, arm in arm as Europeans do, talking animatedly, engrossed in each other's company.
He appeared in a blur of movement, thrust a long-stemmed white tulip at the attractive young girl, then dashed off into the crowd.
He was 15, maybe 16; obviously in love.
Those three faces glowed - his exultant in his courage and devotion; hers with shock and delight; mother's with surprise and pleasure, and perhaps a tinge of concern.
Spring was in the air.
On the side
Two must-do side trips from Krakow are to the notorious Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp and the Wielickza salt mine.
Both can be visited in one day but it's best to allow a day each for longer visits.
Tours to Auschwitz-Birkenau, 60km west of Krakow, run several times a day. Be prepared to be shocked. This living memorial to Nazi inhumanity is mind-boggling.
Nearby, at Wadowice, is the birthplace of Pope John Paul II.
The salt mine at Wielickza, 15km southeast of Krakow, has drawn workers and visitors for 700 years. It is a labyrinth of 300km of underground tunnels hacked out of a massive salt deposit.
Early miners carved a 54m high chapel, creating all elements from chandeliers to altarpieces from salt. Guided tours operate daily.
Back in Krakow, a 10 minute walk east of the rynek, is the refurbished Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz, famous for designer cafes, a fascinating Jewish museum and now for Schindler's List tours.
Online info
The site I chose for information about accommodation, sightseeing, tours, travel, car hire etc in Poland was www.staypola nd.com/
It provided an excellent range of accommodation and rental car options, replied immediately (in English) and contacted me by telephone to obtain details I had omitted. All arrangements made weeks earlier were honoured.
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Post by tufta on Jun 17, 2009 18:38:18 GMT 1
St Adalbart's Church, dating from the 10th century, is tiny and fascinating and famous since Bonobo and Bonoba got married there! |
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Post by Bonobo on Jun 17, 2009 18:55:47 GMT 1
St Adalbart's Church, dating from the 10th century, is tiny and fascinating and famous since Bonobo and Bonoba got married there! Yes, it was a spectacular event. All foreign tourists cried seeing us on 1 August. |
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Post by Bonobo on Aug 6, 2009 20:35:43 GMT 1
Patent bugling in Krakow
thenews.pl
23.07.2009
The Krakow Municipal Council has decided to patent the hejna³ bugle call, played from the top of St. Mary's basilica every hour on the hour in the southern city's market square.
The Council wants to protect the sound as a trademark for the promotion of the city and the surrounding borough.
"If the hejna³ is used for the promotion of Kraków, then people will still be able to use the sound," reports Filip Szatanik, the Municipal press officer in the southern city. "However we will now have the right to intervene if the sound is not used directly to promote the city, but rather for commercial products and the like, that's the idea behind the trademark."
Mr. Szatanik added in an interview on Polish Radio that the patent office has already received all the relevant paperwork dealing with Krakow's sonic trademark.
The legend of the hejnal bugle call dates back from the Middle Ages, when the Tatars invaded Poland, including Krakow. It is said that the distinct conclusion to the call is an echo of the siege of Krakow, when a Tatar arrow shot Krakow's bugle caller through the neck, bringing the warning call to an abrupt end.
It remains an iconic sound in Poland, and is broadcast live by Polish Radio 1 every day at noon. An accident the Main Square in Krakow. After a firecracker exploded during street theatre performance, carriage horses panicked and demolished a cafe garden, injuring 4 people - 3 foreigners and a Pole.   www.tvn24.pl/-1,1609136,0,1,dorozka-wjechala-w-ogrodekczworo-rannych-w-krakowie,wiadomosc.html Watch a video www.tvn24.pl/2245616,12690,0,1,1,konie-wjechaly-w-ogrodek,wideo.html Ooops, Krakow seems a dangerous place. Another accident with a carriage horse involved - a horse trampled on two tourist teenage girls, causing bone fractures. www.tvn24.pl/12690,1610679,0,1,kon-stratowal-dwie-nastolatki,wiadomosc.html
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Post by Bonobo on Sept 7, 2010 20:53:59 GMT 1
Krakow Residents Rally to Save Neighborhood Trees
Agnes Sekowski | 3rd September 2010
Planned road expansion would remove 200-year-old oaks
Plans to widen ul. Czarnowiejska and al. Kijowska have turned into another messy battle of residents versus developers. Residents of the Krowodrza area were shown a proposal that necessitated the cutting down of over 40 trees in their neighborhood, including 200-year-old oaks. Piotr Klimowicza, head of the Krowodrza V Neighborhood Council, claims that the roads can be expanded without touching the trees, which carry a historic significance for the area. “The enormous, almost 200-year-old oaks, which are the remains of an old garden district… do not disturb the flow of traffic, therefore I see no reason to get rid of them. It just seems to prove the strange tendency of our city to cut down and get rid of such valuable natural resources,” he says.
Michał Pyclik of the Krakow Board of Municipal Infrastructure and Transport (ZIKiT) expressed shock at the area residents’ reactions, claiming the plans were meant to develop the transportation network, making it easier for residents to get around. ZIKiT’s plans were admittedly still a work in progress, but included a new third lane for public transit and improvements to the intersections, sidewalks, and water drainage system.
In order to discuss the fate of the condemned greenery, residents demanded a meeting with developers to discuss the street expansion plans. The meeting, which took place Tuesday of this week, was more of a stand-off between the neighborhood and the plan designers from Ruda Śląska. Problems started when the sound system failed and attendees could not hear what was happening. Their impatience mounted, and after several minutes of the developers’ explanation, residents began standing up and expressing their concerns. After a heated exchange, droves of angry residents left, planning to file a formal protest the next day at the District Council against the expansion of the two roads by the group from Ruda Śląska.
This is not the first battle Krowodrza has waged over proposed area improvements. According to an article in Gazeta Krakowska, they spoke out last year against bicycle paths that were to offer passage between apartment blocks, keeping cyclists away from the noisy and smoggy streets on their way out of Krakow towards Ojców. Residents opposing the proposed bike route explained that they did not want to deal with the additional noise that such an improvement might bring. Disappointed cyclists contemplated whether it was the sound of the bicycle chain or their breathing that would have been so unbearable.
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Post by Bonobo on Sept 25, 2010 19:15:20 GMT 1
A new underground museum is set to open in the southern city of Krakow’s Main Market Square on Friday.
Having been built over the course of around 5 years, the museum is centred around an archeological dig exploring 800 years of history and the past glory of the southern city, once Poland’s capital.
The museum is to show 700 original artefacts from the Market Square, including English lead weights used for trade and even Tatar arrow heads from before the granting of the city’s charter under Magdeburg Law in 1257.
“I think there is no need to talk more about it; you just have to see it”, concludes Pawel Krawczyk from the Krakow Municipal Office. We concur.
GREAT OPENING - 24th september, 8 pm
The Underground Market Square’ – a great spectacle of sensations...
Krakow is so old that no one can fully grasp its immense history. The Krakus Mound even remembers the times of the Celts and the legendary Avars. Krakow was also home to the Slavic dukes and kings who decided on the shape of the city that was to become the capital of one of the most powerful states in medieval Europe.
The underground museum opening to visitors at the beginning of this September will be the first of its kind in Poland, and unique on a global scale too. The ‘In the Footsteps of Krakow’s European Identity’ exhibition will be a multimedia show as well as a journey through time – allowing visitors to not only see the history of the origins of the legendary city, but also to touch them!
In the archaeological park located 4 metres below the surface of Krakow’s Market Square, we will see a section of medieval Krakow come alive, something as yet unprecedented in Europe. The historic monuments that were found there are evidence of the continuity of trade, pursued here uninterruptedly for over 800 years.
Underground museum:
25 plasma screens
13 LCD screens
104 players
160 signal converters
27 multimedia projectors
37 touch screens
190 degree projection screen
1 fogscreen
98 speakers
28,000 m - total length of cables
5 holograms
150 audiobooks
700 archaeological monuments
500 models of the historic monuments
8 animated movies
5 documentary films
7 mannequins and scale models
5 time capsules
600 3D digital reconstructions
30 multimedia posts
25 display cases
64 digital cameras
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Post by Bonobo on Oct 21, 2010 21:04:49 GMT 1
The Clean Toilet campaign is the most successful in Krakow. Out of 6 major Polish cities, Krakow has the cleanest public toilets. www.tvn24.pl/-1,1678854,0,1,sa-jeszcze-w-polsce-brudne-toalety,wiadomosc.html To tell the truth, I haven`t seen a dirty public toilet in Poland for ages. Such a view is quite impossible in Poland:  Zmiany, zmiany, zmiany. |
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Post by Bonobo on Nov 15, 2010 20:44:51 GMT 1
Krakow 5th Favourite for Brits
Staff journalist | 19th October 2010
Polish city makes top five list of Guardian's favourite overseas cities
This weekend, the Guardian newspaper once again announced their Guardian and Observer Travel Awards winners. Coming in at fifth place was Krakow, behind Tokyo, Berlin, Sydney (last year's winner), and San Francisco. According to the newspaper, the Japanese city came out on top due to it being "home of all things hi-tech, modish and online".
The awards are based on surveys of Guardian and Observer readers, which the newspaper calculated take a combined 20.8 million holidays per year, despite both financial hardships stemming from the recession, as well as the brief halt in air travel this spring as a result of the Icelandic ash cloud.
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