Krakow, Poland
September 25, 2024
We Have Arrived (Hungry) in Krakow, Poland!
We grabbed a taxi to take us to our hotel The Loft. We asked
our cab driver if you would recommend anything that would still be open because
at this time it was around 1 o’clock in the morning. He suggested this blue van
that was back in the communist air looking type van, and he said it doesn’t
look pretty, but it was great food. He dropped us in front of our hotel and
pointed to it. We dropped our bags and ran up quickly even though I guess
they’re open till three in the morning. Very random to be ordering food from some
blue van and in a parking lot but everything else around is closed and it’s
late. It is called sausages from the Blue Nysa. Which is a Soviet
air travel van. As you walk up, you see a man and would appear to be his son
roasting these amazing sausages that smelled unbelievable. They had a little
basket of wood, perfectly chopped that fit into the pit that they roasted the
sausages over on the open fire. Then there was a bunch of bread on paper plates
lined up with big squirts of mustard. Most amazing sausage we’ve ever eaten for
40 slots which is about eight dollars. I was so beyond excited to get away from
Greek food and have something other than a kebab. In bed by 2:00 with happy full
bellies!
Krakow, Poland
September 25, 2024 continues
Part II
Last night, it was a little wacky with a hotel room that is
completely black carpet walls, ceiling tile, and super high-tech. Everything’s
controlled by an iPad. Very frustrating because we couldn’t get the iPad to
work and turn on our air-conditioning and when it was time to go to sleep, we
can figure out how to turn the darn thing off. We wound up putting a towel over
it. But it was a nice good night of sleep, which we both appreciated although
it’s short. We had a nice leisurely morning and had a beautiful hot tub up on
our roof top overlooking the city, which was a big surprise! a great way to
start our first day and out. Back down for a shower and off to our breakfast in
the hotel that was included. It was a lovely breakfast and super fun to get meat. 
Then we started a huge day of walking and we went to this
cute little Polish craft market that reminded me of a Christmas market and I
got the most amazing little cheese bite. It was being heated on a hot plate and
turns out to be a local smoked cheese. The square here is the second largest
medieval square in Europe. It is gorgeous and I feel like I’m walking in a
movie set. Every street is perfect and clean and adorable and worth a picture.
We poked our heads into St. Mary’s church, which was stunning and every hour on
the hour the bell rings marking the hour and a little man with the trumpet
pokes his head out of the tower and plays a little tomb, and then waves to
everybody, and then he moves about four windows down and it again and again and
again like to the four points of the compass. It appears that he plays his
little team every hour, so that’s a lot of steps to go up and down every day.
Super cute and special marking are welcome into Krakow. We walked through the
squares, walk through the buildings, and tried to take it all in. One of the
places we ran across was called Dobra Pacezkarna. We got a Polish donuts it which
was like our doughnuts but richer and had a bit more to it.
As if we didn’t have enough to eat in the last hour, we had to fit in some pierogies. Cute little place on the corner called. Przystanek Pierogarnia. We shared a nice little order about 10 pierogies filled with me and they were tasty. We sat at a little table and chair on the street corner. Super yummy and part of the local cuisine. Wandered a bit more and found a cute little café on a corner, once again, little table sitting on the sidewalk where we shared an amazing schnitzel and kind of a bizarre entrée of a potato pancake covered with mushroom gravy. Not something I would normally think to order, but it was amazing! It was called Tomasza 22.
We ordered a taxi and took it to the Jewish ghetto where we saw the Jewish memorial with all the chairs. Then we made our way over to the Jewish ghetto wall that was still in place. The top design of it was arches and symbolized headstones.
A few blocks from there was Schindler factory, which we were.
From there we made it to the Jewish quarter which was adorable street and beautiful little restaurants and charming walkways and cute little neighborhoods.
We found a bar for a couple of drinks and then we moved
next-door to another bar for another drink which had fun wacky ones that were
super tasty. A gentleman there that we started talking to suggested a
restaurant called Moo Moo. I’m finally going to get my steak after 12 days of
not having beef! Andy and I split a big T-bone and a baked potato, and it was
all super yummy! So many cute restaurants, so many with beautiful patios to eat
on, the women are dressed like fashion models, and the guys are dressed like
thugs and somehow it all blends together with this charming stroll around the
city.
Krakow, Polland
September 26th, 2024
Krakow Auschwitz-Birkenau
Woke up early today at around 6:15. My heart already felt heavy knowing that we were off to visit Auschwitz today. We grab a taxi for about an hour and a half drive that ended up being around $60. We somehow booked a private tour, which was perfect. It was just Andy and I and a woman that Had worked there for many years. It was her first and last job she’s ever held. Her mother was not thrilled that she got the job at and told her that she could not speak any German. It is interesting to hear her perspective on it. Toward Auschwitz one and two took about four hours. With a very heavy heart and very sobering will make you really stop not arguing over small petty things in life and how fortunate we truly are.
Taking the train back and grabbing a little bite of some ham slices and rolls from across the street that we grabbed to eat on the train. It was about five dollars for both of us to take an hour and a half train ride back to Krakow. The train is clean and perfect.
Off the train and wandering through the old center of town
again. Still kind of in awe of how charming this town is. Had to grab a couple
treats and a pulled pork sandwich. The treats were amazing. Thumbs down on the
pulled pork sandwich. First thing we’ve had since we arrived in Poland that I
haven’t really cared for. Back to the hotel for a little downtime, much
deserved since we’re at 17,000 steps today which is almost 9 miles. Andy
grabbed some dirty laundry and is off to the laundry mat. Just a couple of
things need to be washed to get us through the rest of the trip.
Time for a quick hot tub on the deck again with our bottle
of champagne!
Feeling not relaxed and ready to hit the town. Headed out
for dinner which included one of these wacky French toast, cheese bread,
looking things. It’s only $4.00 and it’s giant and it taste like it’s only four
dollars 😆 everybody seems to eat them though so we had
to give it. Made it to a bar is a speakeasy called Wilton white rabbit. First
you have to find the place it’s identified by some rabbit feet and a little
bunny and then you have to hit the buzzer. You wait a few minutes, and they
come up and they get you and you literally go down into the bottom of the
building in the basement and you go through a rabbit hole. Super fun cool place
with an amazing waiter who made it fun. It was a heavy day on the heart, so
this made it nice to end with this.
Krakow, Polland
September 27, 2024
On our Way Out!
Sept 27 Krakow to Budapest
It was good to get a full night of sleep. Went out and had
breakfast at our hotel and then up to the hot tub! Our final morning here and
this is a good way to start it. The hotel was kind enough to give us a late
check out 1 o’clock. Once we checked out, we checked our banks with Hotel
because we have an overnight train to Budapest tonight leaving at 10:30. Just 8
1/2 hours to kill. We went back to the craft market where they sold those super
yummy smoked cheese bites and got one of those. Went for an amazing
local lunch. 
We shared a bowl of the local rye soup, which was interesting, a local Meet board which contained a horseradish spread made of freshly grated horseradish, cream, sugar, and a hardboiled egg all mixed together. Also, on the board we had a yummy thing of cranberry sauce. All of it went together wonderfully. And they gave us a basket of bread and pork large spread on it. Nothing like spreading breaking grease on your bread!
We stumbled upon the chimney cake place that we had a traditional vanilla ice cream inside which was super yummy. Loved watching them make them.
We went to Wasel Castle, which was
interesting but not a must do in my opinion. Went to a lovely little Michelin
restaurant and Andy had duck. Continue to walk the streets and found a great
time. Massage got out all the kinks so we can put into our body over the last
two weeks. This time for my dinner and he and Andy made us a reservation at a
local steakhouse. They had Polish beef. it was so good! 
After, we grabbed our bags and headed to the train station. Found that our train was leaving on platform too clearly stated Budapest. On our train, we couldn’t find our car so Andy left me one and he’s got it up the rest of the train. Just as the doors closed, I was trying to train somebody who worked on the train so what are you doing and I explained I was waiting for my husband because we were trying to find our train car an overnight sleeping compartment to Budapest. She quickly hit the red button, the doors open and she said you have to get off the train. It’s not going to Budapest. Explained I wasn’t leaving without Andy and she said well where is your husband and I told her down there he’s a tall guy with a striped shirt and named Andy she went running down looking for him. I’m sitting there trying to figure out what to do and where he is. He comes running back to me, grabs my bags and we jump off. Well, it turns out there is so much flooding that all trains were canceled. Went down and got refunded for our train tickets and the lady was less than helpful. We immediately tried to find other options. Car Rental was $1000 And a 6 Hour Dr. not going to happen. Flights were $800 the next day that wasn’t going to happen and we managed to get the last two seats on an overnight bus to. Keeping fingers crossed that we don’t get diverted because of flooding.
As we’re on the bus, it is just after midnight. I asked Andy
if he wanted to take this time to figure out our pits peaks and points. He
looked at me with a very straight face and said I can tell you what my pit is. 🤣
Two hours in and I used the bathroom on a bus for the first
time. I’m so hoping I don’t have to use it again. It was SO BAD! I’m going to
do everything I can to try not to use it again and put it and the smell out of
my mind.
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