Wednesday - Krakow

Wednesday

One again this morning Pan Toto made us a Polish breakfast of pastries, open face sandwiches, cucumbers, tomatoes, and strawberries. Strawberries must be in season now, they taste amazing.

Adam came to the house around 9 and we all (along with Pan Toto) took a walk to a newer Catholic church, Divine Mercy Basilica (http://www.krakow-info.com/lagiewni.htm). We were able to take an elevator to a viewing platform and had an great panorama of the city of Krakow. We then went into the church to see the famous Divine Mercy painting but First Communion services were being held so we were unable to get very close. Yes, first communion services were being held on a Wednesday morning (during a normal school day for Polish children).

Pan Toto returned home and we continued onto the tram to visit Wawel Castle where the majority of Poland Kings and Queens made their home before the country's capital was moved to Warsaw. We took a tour of the Royal Apartments. We had a personal private tour because Adam ( a long time ago he says) used to work as a tour guide there. The tapestries were beautiful and so were the rooms themselves. Next to Wawel castle is Wawel Cathdral. We did try to visit but the lines were just too long. Only a few short months ago, the Polish president, his wife, and some 80+ other high ranking members of the Polish government were killed in a plane crash on their way to Russia to commemorate the anniversary of the Katyn massacre. The president and his wife were laid to rest in Wawel Cathedral and many, many Poles were there to show their respects.

After the castle tour we went below the surrounding castle walls to see the statue of the Krakow dragon which is famous in Polish legends.

We then had lunch at a restaurant that Adam suggested. Excellent food was had by all. The kids had Russian pierogies, Grandma K had plum pierogies, Rob had a steaks salad, and I had a cucumber salad that we ended up having to buy seconds of because all of the kids wanted it. It was simply cucumbers covered with a sour milk cream and dill, very similar to a recipe my Grandmother taught me to make.

Then it was onto one more basilica...Basilica of the Virgin Mary. I don't even know how to describe it in words. I will just have to post pictures once I have them downloaded. It was so over the top that I don't think I'll ever see anything like it again in my life.

As a side note, because of the tragic events a couple of months ago, the Polish people are getting ready to elect a new president this weekend. While we were visiting the basilica, one of the presidential candidates was holding a rally not even 150 feet from where we were. There was some security but not much. I walked to the front of the stage and was able to take his photo, without any security or metal detectors or anything....this could never happen in the US.

We then took another tram back to Pan Toto's home. We then went to his daughter Kasia's home. We were able to meet Kasia's family but not Kasia as she was not there. Things were a bit lost in translation on us so we don't know what happened!