For Easter weekend I knew I wanted to go somewhere that was a little less traveled. Somehow I came across on the Rick Steve's website that Krakow had an annual Easter Market much like the ones during Christmas. Surprisingly finding people to go wasn't hard either! My roommate Sarah is Polish, and her mom even speaks a little bit of polish. Then my friend from home was 100% in and another girl Michelle who studies in Prague. So it was the four of us and we had 5 days in Poland! We all honestly had no idea what to expect having never been or heard much about the country in general. Unknowingly we all booked our flights and embarked on our journey to Krakow Poland.
I had quite a smooth flight experience and even slept through both landings. Probably because I woke up at 4:45 am to catch the bus to the airport, so my day had started very early. I touched down in Poland and caught a cab to the hostel I was staying in, Pink Panther. Again I had no idea what to expect. Well the entire staff was more then helpful and showed me to my room which was completely empty at that point. Slowly girls trickled in all of which were traveling by themselves which was sorta shocking to me. I was of course hungry so I went in search of these famous cafeterias I had been reading about in Poland. They came about because of communism, as a way to feed people in a cheap way. So when I went I expected it would be mediocre food. Well first off- major language barrier. At least in Italy I can sorta translate every other word or get the jist of what people are trying to convey to me. Here in Poland...... I didn't stand a chance. Thankfully the man behind me knew English and helped translate. Regardless of this difficulty, I managed to get a heaping amount of food and the cost? 4$ ....... Four dollars in America doesn't even buy you a movie theater popcorn let alone this feast that lay in front of me.
I had quite a smooth flight experience and even slept through both landings. Probably because I woke up at 4:45 am to catch the bus to the airport, so my day had started very early. I touched down in Poland and caught a cab to the hostel I was staying in, Pink Panther. Again I had no idea what to expect. Well the entire staff was more then helpful and showed me to my room which was completely empty at that point. Slowly girls trickled in all of which were traveling by themselves which was sorta shocking to me. I was of course hungry so I went in search of these famous cafeterias I had been reading about in Poland. They came about because of communism, as a way to feed people in a cheap way. So when I went I expected it would be mediocre food. Well first off- major language barrier. At least in Italy I can sorta translate every other word or get the jist of what people are trying to convey to me. Here in Poland...... I didn't stand a chance. Thankfully the man behind me knew English and helped translate. Regardless of this difficulty, I managed to get a heaping amount of food and the cost? 4$ ....... Four dollars in America doesn't even buy you a movie theater popcorn let alone this feast that lay in front of me.
After I had ate my weight in food I explored the Easter Market for a little bit! It was lined with stalls of food and trinkets and home made goods. But more importantly the food... Little did I know how much food I would be eating in the next 5 days, so I headed back to the hostel to relax a little before Allie arrived and to escape the blizzard rain that had started to fall. Like hello cold weather.
Allie arrived a little later that night and we headed to the common area. This is what set this hostel apart from the others that I have stayed in. Every night at 8 PM or 9PM they have a different event. This night was Sangria tasting. They had Spanish Sangria and Polish Sangria. Well in the Polish drinking spirit we went for the Polish one and with our beers sat down and played drinking games with the other hostel guests. It was crazy how far everyone had traveled. At our table alone we had us two from America, 1 Canada, 1 NY, 1 New Zealand, and 2 Australia. Over the course of the weekend we found that most people were from Australia like wow those Aussies sure do know how to travel. After a few games Allie and I were starving so we went to a traditional Polish place and again I ate my weight in food.
The next morning we woke up very early for our Auschwitz and Birkenau tour. It was one of the most surreal experiences I've ever experienced... To think that 1.5 million people were cycled through that camp and killed was insane. We also got to see the last remaining gas chamber which was small compared to the other ones. The one we saw could hold up to 800 people, where as some could hold thousands. Also to see all the living quarters they lived in was crazy. Definitely a visit I will keep with me forever.
Allie arrived a little later that night and we headed to the common area. This is what set this hostel apart from the others that I have stayed in. Every night at 8 PM or 9PM they have a different event. This night was Sangria tasting. They had Spanish Sangria and Polish Sangria. Well in the Polish drinking spirit we went for the Polish one and with our beers sat down and played drinking games with the other hostel guests. It was crazy how far everyone had traveled. At our table alone we had us two from America, 1 Canada, 1 NY, 1 New Zealand, and 2 Australia. Over the course of the weekend we found that most people were from Australia like wow those Aussies sure do know how to travel. After a few games Allie and I were starving so we went to a traditional Polish place and again I ate my weight in food.
The next morning we woke up very early for our Auschwitz and Birkenau tour. It was one of the most surreal experiences I've ever experienced... To think that 1.5 million people were cycled through that camp and killed was insane. We also got to see the last remaining gas chamber which was small compared to the other ones. The one we saw could hold up to 800 people, where as some could hold thousands. Also to see all the living quarters they lived in was crazy. Definitely a visit I will keep with me forever.
The rest of the day was ours to explore the city and we needed a little happiness in our life after such a sad and gloomy morning. So it was back to the Easter Market where I got a hot dog in this bun/ baguette the size of my head. I had promised myself I wouldn't finish it but sure enough.... gone. The rest of Friday we relaxed and people watched in the Main Market Square and met Michelle and Sarah at a revolving sushi bar that was surprisingly good!
That night we decided to go out and it definitely lived up to our expectations! There was countless bachelor parties there as well. I guess it's a popular spot for people from England to come because its cheap and fun!
The next day we grabbed some breakfast to start our day at another one of the Milk Bars. This one was Milkbar Tomasza and wow was it good. I got the irish plate breakfast...... So much yummy food on one plate. Then we set out to explore the city! We went to the Wawel Castle, Planty Park, Church of Virgin Mary and the colorful Franciscan Church. One thing we did notice was that people of all ages had easter baskets. Their tradition is on Easter Eve to make baskets and bring them to the church to be blessed and when I say everyone had them EVERYONE.
The next day we grabbed some breakfast to start our day at another one of the Milk Bars. This one was Milkbar Tomasza and wow was it good. I got the irish plate breakfast...... So much yummy food on one plate. Then we set out to explore the city! We went to the Wawel Castle, Planty Park, Church of Virgin Mary and the colorful Franciscan Church. One thing we did notice was that people of all ages had easter baskets. Their tradition is on Easter Eve to make baskets and bring them to the church to be blessed and when I say everyone had them EVERYONE.
Then finally the next morning was Easter!!! We decided to treat ourselves at the Cafe Camelot and got some green smoothies that tasted exactly like the drinks I have at home at Nektar! So.Good. Then I had a yogurt parfait with fresh kiwi, oranges, granola, almonds, and honey. Then when we left they gave every woman a bundle of Daffodils.
So with our Daffodils in tow we headed to the bustling Easter Market! Every one even the locals were there enjoying the sunshine and curbing their chocolate cravings including me. That night we then opted for the haunted ghost walk and even went on the pub crawl with our hostel. I think the staff was quite shocked to see we were still guests at the hostel but equally as excited. I honestly think we outstayed everyone with our record 5 nights in krakow.
So with our Daffodils in tow we headed to the bustling Easter Market! Every one even the locals were there enjoying the sunshine and curbing their chocolate cravings including me. That night we then opted for the haunted ghost walk and even went on the pub crawl with our hostel. I think the staff was quite shocked to see we were still guests at the hostel but equally as excited. I honestly think we outstayed everyone with our record 5 nights in krakow.
Then the following morning we woke up still a little tired from the pub crawl we had done easter evening, because why not celebrate? So we headed to get some food at Pod Wawelem, which is right near the the castle walls, and the name literally means under the castle. So after some perogies and schnitzel it was off to our salt mine tour! The Wieliczka Salt Mines were unlike anything I had every seen. Everything was actually made of salt so we had no shame in licking the walls at any point in the tour. Which we actually did much more then I expected, and hey tasted just like salt. Our tour guide did point out that if you were to see all the caves in the mine it would take over 4 months. So we saw only a fraction of the mine which was still so cool. The main room which was so tall even had chandeliers made of salt crystals and carvings of paintings like the last supper. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone in Krakow!! But beware the stairs down were quite daunting and getting back up was quite interesting but I'll leave that part a surprise :)
This activity was the last on the agenda so when we got back to Krakow we went to a traditional perogi place, enjoyed our last bit of polish food and even stopped for an ice cream sundae and bid farewell to our new home away from home. I will say tuesday morning it was hard for me to leave because I had come to know Krakow so well and can honestly say it was one of my favorite trips I was able to go on this crazy packed semester! So thank you Poland, I will definitely be back some day :)