In Krakow for a day

For our tour of the Auschwitz-Bikernau Concentration camps, we had decided to stay in Krakow one night. We reached Krakow by 11.15 am, kept our luggage in the cloak room of the P and J apartments we had booked and walked the cobbled roads to the nearby Old Town. Our first impressions of Krakow was, that it was a beautiful, historic and a heritage place. Such an old world charm of the place. And we felt it more so, coming from Warsaw, one of the fastest developing cities in Europe.

After our seven hour tour of the Auschwitz camp, we take some time to rid ourselves of the enormous emotional upheavel these camps has caused us. But the charming beauty of Krakow helps to uplift our spirits.

Peeping in at doors...

When evening falls, we go out for dinner near the Old Town..

After dinner, we quickly make our way to the Old Town. It was like being transported to a magical world on a carpet. People were thronging the streets, There was the famous St Mary's Basillica, looming large over all. Thee central Old Town monument had become a place for cosying couples. there were street artists playing on their guitars. A couple was dancing infront of some lights everyone was admiring the shadows that formed as a result of the lights behind her. There was the clickety click of the horse carriages. And there was this couple waltzing to a jazz song. It was so beautiful.

Early next morning at 7 am, we decide to go to St Marys Basilica to listen to the Bugle on the hour. It said no tourists as it was mass time. It would open from 11.00am- 6pm. But as we reached, we heard the Bugle from the different directions from the Bugle tower.

An early morning walk in a historical site is a must. The place looks so ethereal and blessed.

Although we sw Wawel, Krakows Royal Castle complex, we could not enter as it was before opening times. So we had to satisfy ourselves with glimpses..

Reluctantly we made our way to the hotel...peeped into closed windows..surveyed their effecient waste disposal system..

Lost our way, past more shop windows, churches...till we reached our hotel at last. Krakow is a place to get lost. It is small and should be walked through, willfully or not..