June 26, 2018 - Krakow, the Old City

 First of all, apologies for waiting so long to finish this journey in the blog.

Hi everyone, after spending an intense, but enjoyable time visiting never before seen relatives, we headed back to Krakow and after a settled rest, we headed out to see the Old City.

We had a full day to explore but we were content to wander around. Old Town is for tourists – it is busy, fun, had a little bit for everyone – we started off in the open market – settled on breakfast of Americano coffee and a huge cinnamon roll. A long strip of dough wrapped on something like a curling iron – rolled in cinnamon sugar and heated until cooked. It was delicious. 

 After our breakfast, we took to our feet and explored the city.  Starting in the Main Square, the building in the center features Polish paintings.

 There were plenty of resources to do a tour however we chose to walk.  The Old City is a tourist attraction and there is no urgent need to be concerned about communicating.  We met a couple from Texas and the conversation went from where are you from to him saying we have been to Maine.  Of course we asked where,  and expecting Kennebunk, he replied Gull Cottage.  The lighthouse keepers cottage at Prospect Harbor.

 There are several side streets leading int the Main square, and we stayed in a 2nd floor apartment.

You won't have to wait too long for the next Mass.

Then off to explore the shops, walk the streets, through the park the surrounded the city and ended up joining a 3 hour walking tour. 
This location reminded me of the Fanueil Hall Marketplace and the 3 historic market buildings.

 After the breakfast...a tour of The Old City. The historic St Mary’s Church in the square with the 13^th century steeple and the bell ringer who was shot by an arrow, the yellowed stone around the periphery hold graves of old; the site of the Battle of Warsaw area; museum of Art which houses a Davinci photo; the protected pigeons; Grave of Polish poet named Adam; Tower Town Hall; University of Krakow where John Paul II studied: the existing walls of Old Town and ended with the Wawell Castle overlooking the town and bordering the river.

Breakfast, lunch or dinner...and healthy choices.

Along the outer wall of The Old City, there is a lot of wonderful Art available.  Don't worry, they ship worldwide.

John Paul II

 It started with the historic St Mary’s Church in the square with the 13^th century steeple and the bell ringer who was shot by an arrow, the yellowed stone around the periphery hold graves of old; the site of the Battle of Warsaw area; museum of Art which houses a Davinci photo; the protected pigeons; Grave of Polish poet named Adam; Tower Town Hall; University of Krakow where John Paul ll studied: the existing walls of Old Town and ended with the Wawell Castle overlooking the town and bordering the river.

Exhausted and hungry at the end of the tour – we found a tiny Polish restaurant serving only pierogi – we tried three different types – delicious, and filling. Not quite time for bed so we grabbed a table outside a restaurant in the square, ordered drinks and watched all the activity –

Tomorrow we head north aiming to reach Jarocin before dark. Our trek will include a flight  from Krakow to Warsaw, then a puddle hopper to Poznan where we will rent a car for the trip to Jarocin – home of Tom's 1st cousin once removed.