Glam Voyage Diaries: AUTUMN IN KRAKOW

I needed a bit more time to upload this post, but simply I didn't want to make a quick move and cut you off with some information ( ok, I admit, I needed some time to recover and to gather impressions from this trip). The ones who read my post about Prague know that I wrote a lot details about this city and that I tried to bring the magic of the city closer to you with words. This time I will try to bore less with words considering the fact that I made a quite large gallery of photographs which will (I think) tell more than words.

Trebalo mi je malo više vremena da objavim ovaj post, ali jednostavno nisam htela da vas zbog ishitrenosti uskratim nekih informacija ( ok, priznajem, trebalo mi je i neko vreme da se dozovem sebi i saberem utiske sa ovog putovanja). Ko je čitao moj post o Pragu zna da sam se raspisala detaljno o gradu i da sam pokušala što bolje da vam dočaram grad rečima. Ovaj put ću pokušati što manje da vas davim tekstom s obzirom da sam napravila prilično veliku galeriju fotografija koja će (ja mislim) više reći od reči.

I've (unfortunately) spent only 2 days because my college obligations did not allow me more, but even within this short time it was enough to form a very positive opinion of this city! I traveled with AQUA TRAVEL tourist agency and I am very satisfied with their services.

U Krakovu sam (nažalost) boravila samo 2 dana jer obaveze na fakultetu mi nisu dozvoljavale više, ali i ovo kratko vreme je bilo dovoljno da formiram veoma pozitivno mišljenje o ovom predivnom gradu! Putovala sam preko agencije AQUA TRAVEL i sasvim sam zadovoljna uslugama.

Arrival in Krakow will stay marked in my memory with wonderful appearance of Wawel which presents a complex of facilities where castle Wawel and famous cathedral are dominant. While we were walking to Wawel we saw a symbol of Krakow- well known statue of Wawel dragon which is supposed to spit fire in certain period of time, but unfortunately we didn't get a chance to see that ( even if passed by there few times). All the time while we were climbing up to Wawel we had a beautiful view on the river Visla. And then Wawel. The beautiful architecture and interior are heaven for lovers of this kind of art, but Wawel isn't only rich aesthetically- but it has a rich history which you can hear on one of many guided tour within this complex. Most of facilities demands buying a ticket.

Dolazak u sam Krakov ostaće mi upamćen po prelepom prizoru Wawela koji predstavlja kompleks građevina od kojih dominiraju zamak Wawel kao i čuvena katedrala. Dok smo išli do Wawela ugledali smo simbol Krakova- čuvenu statuu Wawelskog zmaja koji bi trebalo na neko određeno vreme da bljuje vatru, ali nažalost to nismo imali prilike da vidimo ( iako smo prolazili ovuda više puta). Sve vreme dok smo se peli do Wawela imali smo pogled na reku Vislu. I onda Wawel. Prelepa arhitektura i enterijer raj su za ljubitelje ovog tipa umetnosti, ali Wawel nije bogat samo estetski- već ima bogatu istoriju koju možete čuti na jednoj od mnogobrojnih tura po ovom kompleksu. Većina objekata zahteva da prethodno kupite karte za obilazak.

Wawel also presents the beggining of Old Town- part of Krakow which is the most interesting for sightseeing. Here you can take a walk on Florianska street- the most crowded street which leads to square Rynek. Ok, I know that every city has its square and every each one of them has its own charm- but market square Rynek is something you should see! I think that what makes it unique is its spaciousness. and that is exactly which brought this square to be included in one of the greatest squares in Europe. It was built in 13th century and its spaciousness had a goal to attract as many traders as possible in that time. The square is surrounded by stone houses which Polish people call kamienice, and the oldes building is a restaurant Wierzynek, characteristic with a 20 days lasting feast in 1356. during which European monks made a deal considering great political questions. The most famous church on the square is St Marie church from the 14th century. On the square there is also a main market square Sukiennice from the 15th century. Here also stands a monument to a well known Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz., city tower, National Museum, sculpture of head offically named Eros Bendato......

When you go forward Florian street from square you get to Florian Gate whic presents exit from Old Town.

One more interesting attraction to see is the Jewish quarter which saved it's old spirit.

Wawel ujedno predstavlja i početak Starog Grada- dela Krakova koji je najzanimljivi za obilazak. Ovde možete prošetati Florianskom ulicom- najprometnijom ulicom koja vodi do trga Rynek. Ok, znam da svaki grad ima svoj trg i svaki od njih ima neku svoju čar- ali pijačni trg Rynek treba videti! Mislim da je ono što ga čini ovoliko upečatljivim njegova prostranost, a upravo to je doprinelo da ovo bude uvršćen u jedan od najvećih trgova u Evropi. Sagrađen je u 13. veku i njegova prostranost je imala cilj da privuče što više trgovaca u tadašnje doba. Trg okružuju stare kamene kuće koje Poljaci zovu kamienice, a najstarija građevina je retoran Wierzynek, specifičan po 20 dana dugoj gozbi iz 1356. na kojoj su evropki monasi postigli dogovor o velikim političkim pitanjima. Najpoznatija crkva na trgu je crkva Svete Marije iz 14. veka. Na trgu se takođe nalazi i tržni centar Sukiennice iz 15. veka. Takođe, ovde je i spomenik poznatom poljskom pesniku Adamu Mickijeviču, gradska kula, Narodni Muzej, skulptura glave zvanično nazvana Eros Bendato....

Kada se od trga produži Florianskom ulicom dolazi se do Cvetne kapije koja predstavlja izlaz iz Starog Grada.

Ono što je još zanimljivo videti jeste jevrejska četvrt koja je očuvana u starom duhu.

From smaller trips which we were offered, we chose Auschwitz which was the biggest concentration camp for massive genocide. UNESCO declared this camp as a part of World herritage under name ,, Auschwitz-Birkenau- German nazist concentration camp of death." I would't write to details about Auschwitz, because you probably had a chance to read about it, watch movies and documentary shows about it. Nothing compares to a feeling when you stand there and listen to what actually happened and when cruel historical reallity hits you.

I'm sorry I didn't pay a visit to Velicko salt mine- I've heard a lot of positive impressions about it, but unfortunately, there wasn't enough time. My next visit to Krakow will definitely be enriched with this short trip.

Od manjih izleta koje smo imali u ponudi odabrali smo Aušvic koji je bio najveći koncetracioni logor za masovno ubijanje stanovništva. UNESCO je ovaj logor 1979. proglasio delom Svetke baštine pod imenom ,, Aušvic- Birkenau- nemački nacistički koncentracioni logor smrti''. Ne bih detaljno pisala o Aušvicu, jer verovatno ste već imali prilike da čitate, gledate filmove, emisije o njemu, ali ništa se ne može porediti sa osećajem kada stojite tamo i slušate šta se zapravo sve dešavalo tamo i kada vas dotakne surova istorijska stvarnost.

Krivo mi je što nisam posetila rudnik soli Velička- čula sam dosta pozitivnih utisaka o njemu, ali nažalost, bilo je premalo vremena. Sledeća poseta Krakovu definitivno će biti obogaćena i ovim izletom.

Considering traditional food and drink, I would set aside a restaurant Pod Wawelom ( I would reccomend to make a reservation before coming because this place is always full of people and preapare your appetite- portions are huge :D) and Piwnica Pod Baranami. When I entered this place I needed some time to take photographs of enterier, and then I took seat ( just look at the photographs!). And beside enterier there is a variety of drinks. I'm not a beer lover ( yes, feel free to judge me ), but when I'm in Krakow, of course, I drink beer. As a traditional drink, there is, also, a vodka Zubrowka.

Što se tiče tradicionalne hrane i pića, mesta koja bi izdvojila su restoran Pod Wawelom ( preporučila bih da unapred rezervišete mesto jer je uvek prepun, i spremite apetit- porcije u ogromne :D ) i Piwnica Pod Baranami. Kada sam ušla ovde, trebalo mi je neko vreme prvo da islikam enterijer, pa tek onda da se smestim ( pogledajte samo fotografije!). A, pored enterijera tu je i veliki izbor pića. Nisam ljubitelj piva (da, slobodno me osudite), ali ako sam u Krakovu ,naravno, pijem pivo. Kao karakteristično piće izdvaja se i votka Zubrowka.

Ok,now you realise why did I say I needed to recover in the beggining of this post, but I hope it was worth waiting for and that I managed to more or less interest you in Krakow. I will definitely come back there, because this city awakened in me a wish to explore it even more. Have you ever had a chance to visit Krakow? Tell me you impressions! If not, I hope this post intrigued you to do it :D

Ok, sada kapirate zašto sam na početku rekla da mi je trebalo da se oporavim da napišem post, ali nadam se da je vredelo čekanja i da će vas barem koliko-toliko zainteresovati za Krakov. Ja ću se definitivno vratiti ovde, jer mi je ovaj grad samo probudio želju da ga još više upoznam. Da li ste vi možda imali prilike da posetite Krakov? Recite mi svoje utiske! Ako ne, nadam se da vas je ovaj post zaintrigirao da to učinite :D