Krakow - a Polish gem with a heavy history

The often titled 'most beautiful city in Poland' remains in our memory with many different yet unique features. Two friendly, loving, and well-intentioned people from home came to visit us here: Lisa and Felix. To make this long-planned meeting a reality, we drove from the Masurian region to the southern Polish city in two days, passing through congested Warsaw and enduring scorching summer heat while following (according to Google Maps) the 'fastest road connections' and necessary ice breaks. We reached our weekend apartment before our friends and were absolutely delighted by the luxury of a washing machine, a shower, a kitchen, a table and chairs... and a bed! Once we were all settled in the early evening, we headed to the nearby city center and had a conversation-filled dinner, ending the evening at the Florian Gate - where else?

The next day, we embarked on a joint city tour. Starting from the Market Square, we headed towards Wawel (the old Polish royal residence and coronation church) and then towards the Jewish Quarter, where a rain shower forced us to take refuge in a café. Afterwards, we visited the museum about the German occupation of Krakow between 1939 and 1945, the emerging Jewish ghetto of the city, and the famous factory and the courageous deception of Oskar Schindler. Unfortunately, these exhibitions were too extensive and substantial to fully explore in the late afternoon. After a rainy dinner, we returned to the apartment to end the evening with card games and recharge.

The next morning, it was already time for Lisa and Felix to depart. Since the weather did not invite further city sightseeing until check-out, we spent the remaining time cozying up in our apartment. Thank you both for the wonderful weekend, your gifts, and organization! =)

For the rest of the day, we - once again just the two of us - were busy drying our laundry before heading back to the city center and enjoying Indian food to catch up on missed opportunities.

The next morning, we visited the Kosciuszko Mound, which was raised and designed in honor of the globally influential Polish liberation hero and allowed us to immerse ourselves in its extensive history. After a tiring and unsuccessful visit to a large and confusing shopping center, we found refuge in the Jewish Quarter for some relaxation, exploring smaller sights (squares and synagogue), and having coffee. After that, we felt prepared again to make a second, and fortunately successful, attempt to get a new tent (our old one had unfortunately become moldy after the rain showers in Helsinki) before leaving Krakow towards the west.