Poland Day Six: A Final Walk In The Tatra Mountains And A Bus Ride Back To Krakow
My hopes to see some sunshine on my last morning in the Tatra Mountains were disappointed when I awoke to another cool and cloudy day. It looked like rain, or snow, but I only had a few hours until my bus left for Krakow so I was left the hotel at dawn for one last hike in the National park.
I heard the rushing of a stream near the hotel on my previous hikes so I decided to have a closer look. I walked through the fields toward the stream and found another trail, that ran along the stream, to Kuznice.
It, again, was a steep trail and I knew the hike back up would not be easy.
I found more of these flowers, which I have come to love, , growing all along the trail.
The trail soon approached to the fast running stream and I stood for awhile and listened to it’s roaring waters, as well as the singing of the birds in the treetops above the stream. Here is a link to a video of the stream I uploaded to my YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/3cXOWutz6aE
I continued down along the trail, passing beneath the cable car towers that ascend Mount Kaspowry.
I soon was on the outskirts of Kuznice, and I wanted to explore the village, but realized I had to head back and I knew the walk back up the steep trail would take much longer than it was getting down.
It was an exhausting but nice hike under the spruce and pine trees. My timing was good that morning since, just as I was nearing the hotel it began to rain. Here is a link to some more photographs from my last hike in the Tatra mountains. https://keepyoureyespeeled.net/poland-photographs-april-2017/nggallery/poland-april-2017/Poland-Day-Six-Kalatowki-walk-morning-April-13-2017-
After another light breakfast I finished packing. Upon checking out of the hotel I joined a father and his young son in a van for the bumpy ride down to Kuznice. They had their skis, rain gear and back packs and were probably going to take the cable car up the mountain and ski down.
I left the van in Kuznice and took a taxi to Zakopane. My driver spoke good English and he was surprised when i told him how my dad kept all of the Polish customs and traditions. We even sang, well I attempted to sing, some Polish Christmas carols. I really feel in love with this area. I will miss the mountains of Poland.
I arrived at the bus station to find a full bus to Krakow. And once again it left the station exactly on time at 10:20 am.
It was pouring rain as we began our journey back to Krakow. I decided to stay there another night. We were soon driving through the streets of Zakopane passing it’s many wooden homes and businesses.
There were a lot more stops on the trip back to Krakow but I enjoyed seeing the small Polish towns and cities.
I also enjoyed watching the passing scenery of the farms, towns and wooded hillsides.
The rain stopped and we had some clearing as we neared Krakow. I continued to watch passing scenery, now becoming more suburban, and, like most modern cities, including many gas stations, restaurants and businesses.
Soon we were in the suburbs and the many shopping centers, malls, car dealerships and other evidence of our modern consumer based planet.
I was soon able to determine where I was when I saw this now familiar sight, impressive Wawel Castle towering over the Vistula River in the distance.
We drove through downtown Krakow and I soon found myself at the bus station, not far from my hotel. I wasn’t sure were I would be this night but I decided to return to the friendly staff, good food and comfortable and historic rooms of the Grodnek Hotel. Here is a link to some more photographs of my bus ride to Krakow. https://keepyoureyespeeled.net/poland-photographs-april-2017/nggallery/poland-april-2017/Poland-Day-Six-bus-ride-to-Krakow-Thursday-April-14-2017-
It was around 1 pm when the cab dropped me at the hotel and I was greeted by the doorman George and a friendly young woman at the desk. I decided to stay in Krakow for the night since I had another bus drive to Czestochowa in the morning. However, I wanted to visit Wadowice, the birthplace of Pope John Paul II and wasn’t quite sure how to get there. The young woman at the desk arranged a guide and I was to be picked up at 1:30. I quickly settled into my new room and was ready for a new adventure in Poland.
“Travelling shouldn’t be just a tour, it should be a tale.” ― Amit Kalantri
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