Poland Day Ten: Back To Exploring Krakow, And It's Churches, History And Food

Poland Day Ten: Back To Exploring Krakow, And It's Churches, History And Food

St Andrew's Church Krakow -6
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            <![CDATA[It was a 10 minute taxi ride &nbsp;from the train station to &nbsp;the beautiful &nbsp;Sheraton Hotel in Krakow, which is &nbsp;located near Wawel Castle just outside of old town. I arrived &nbsp;around one p.m. &nbsp;After checking in the hotel and settling in my room I &nbsp;immediately sent my cloths for some much needed &nbsp; laundering.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.keepyoureyespeeled.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Krakow-1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-79259" src="https://www.keepyoureyespeeled.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Krakow-1-225x300.jpg" alt="Krakow-1" width="225" height="300"></a>

 I looked out my window at the scenic Vistula River and noticed the sun had broke through the clouds. I decided to take a walk and join the many residents of Krakow, who were on holiday, and walk along the river in the April sunshine. Poland Day Ten Krakow Vistula River -5

A lot of folks and families were feeding the swans and ducks living on the river. It was a pleasant afternoon for a walk. Here are some more photographs from my short stroll along the Vistula.https://www.keepyoureyespeeled.net/poland-photographs-april-2017/nggallery/poland-april-2017/Poland-Day-Ten-Krakow-Vistula-River-hike.- Poland Day Ten Krakow Vistula River -3

I received a message from my sister and niece and learned they would be arriving around 3 p.m. so I decided to again walk the ancient streets of old town Krakow for a couple of hours. Poland Day Ten Krakow afternoon walk churches -2

I walked past the impressive walls of Wawel Castle and crossed the planty into the now familiar streets of the old time and it’s many old buildings. Poland Day Ten Krakow afternoon walk churches -5

I walked to  the “Royal Route” taken by coronation processions, parades and other important state celebrations since the middle ages. It  followed historic Grodzka Street which I soon entered and I again came to the impressive  churches of St. Andrew’sPoland Day Ten Krakow St. Andrew's -17

and St Peter’s And Paul’s.Poland Day Ten Krakow St. Peter's and Paul's -32

This time I found St Andrew’s to be open  and entered this church that dates back to the 11th century. Poland Day Ten Krakow St. Andrew's -3

The old stones walls sheltered families from sure death during a Mongol attack in 1241 when  churches served a dual purpose as a house of worship and a fortress. Poland Day Ten Krakow St. Francis -3

A nun allowed me to enter the altar and take photographs of the many icons, relics and holy images that have adorned the walls of this church for  centuries. . Here is a link to some more photographs of the  St. Andrew’s Church. https://www.keepyoureyespeeled.net/poland-photographs-april-2017/nggallery/poland-april-2017/Krakow-churches-St-Andrew-Poland Day Ten Krakow St. Andrew's -12

I left the peace and quiet of this church and walked a few yards to  it’s neighbor, the splendid church built in the Baroque style, Saints Peter and Paul. St Peter's and Pauls's Church Krakow -1

I entered this majestic church,  the construction of which began in the 16th century, and again was awed by it’s beauty. St Peter's and Pauls's Church Krakow -18

I  visited it’s many side chapels and again the numerous religious icons, paintings and sculptures.  Here is a link to some more photos of this splendid church  and it’s interior. https://www.keepyoureyespeeled.net/poland-photographs-april-2017/nggallery/poland-april-2017/Saints-Peter-and-Paul-Krakow-St Peter's and Pauls's Church Krakow -20

I continued my walk on  busy Grodska street and joined the many tourists, residents and others enjoying the  April sunshine.Poland Day Ten Krakow afternoon walk churches -9

I made my way to another church, the impressive Church of Saint Francis. Again I left the bright April sunshine and entered the dim light of this beautiful church. It’s construction was started in the 13th century although there were many alterations over the years. Poland Day Ten Krakow St. Francis -22

The altar was both impressive and beautiful. Poland Day Ten Krakow St. Francis -4

And there were many side chapels, again adorned with many precious and beautiful religious sculptures, paintings, and icons. I could spend hours in the old churches exploring and just taking in their beauty.  Here is a link to some more photographs of St Francis church. https://www.keepyoureyespeeled.net/poland-photographs-april-2017/nggallery/poland-april-2017/Poland-day-Ten-Krakow-St.-Francis-April-17-2017Poland Day Ten Krakow St. Francis -9

It was now near 3 p.m so I decided to return to the hotel to meet my sister and niece taking a different route outside of the old town. I crossed the wooded trails of the planty and onto the busy streets of down town Krakow. Poland Day Ten Krakow afternoon walk churches -20

 I walked through the traffic of the businesses districts just outside the tree lined boundary  of old town and returned to my hotel. Here is a link to some more photographs from my afternoon walk. https://www.keepyoureyespeeled.net/poland-photographs-april-2017/nggallery/poland-april-2017/Poland-Day-Ten-Krakow-afternoon-walk-churches-April-17-2017-Poland Day Ten Krakow afternoon walk churches -21

I was excited to see my sister Linda and niece Kelly  in Poland and after they got settled in, and we had   a cup of coffee or two, all three of us were off again exploring the streets of Krakow. Poland Day Ten Krakow evening walk -1

I served  as a somewhat limited guide, taking them to what I thought were some of the cities highlights, and, of course the first was nearby Wawel Castle.Poland Day Ten Krakow evening walk -7

We visited the dragon  below the castle and climbed the stairs to the castle grounds and the many overlooks of the Vistula River.Poland Day Ten Krakow evening walk -4

We walked through the grounds of the castle. and then made our way  back down  and to  the “Royal Route” or Grodska Street taking in the many famous churches and buildings which I have come to know and love. Poland Day Ten Krakow evening walk -10

We slowly walked the busy street filled with tourists and local residents shopping or having dinner at one of the many outdoor cafes. We walked onto the Main Market Square. and my sister and niece  enjoyed this remarkable place for the first time. Poland Day Ten Krakow evening walk -16

We quickly peeked in a few churches, knowing it was getting late and we had planned a walking tour of the city for the next day. So we continued on the “Royal Route” now walking past the two towers of St. Mary’s and onto Florianska Street and it’s many shops and cafes. Poland Day Ten Krakow evening walk -14

We stopped in and checked  out a piano bar, since my niece is a talented pianist. Poland Day Ten Krakow evening walk -22

We walked up to the Florian gate where we were entertained by a woman with a most beautiful voice singing in to the passing crowds. Poland Day Ten Krakow evening walk -31

It was now getting late and we were hungry so we found a nearby restaurant Pod Ziota Pipa where we had dinner. The found took some time to prepare but it was very good when it arrived. Of, course we tried the pierogi  and I  had a very good fish dish as my main course. IMG_8941

We left the restaurant in the April twilight and made our way back through the emptying streets of old town Krakow. It was a long day for all of us  and we looked forward to getting some sleep, and seeing more of this truly wonderful city in the morning. Here is a link to some more photographs of our evening walk. https://www.keepyoureyespeeled.net/poland-photographs-april-2017/nggallery/poland-april-2017/Poland-Day-Ten-Krakow-evening-walk-April-17-2017-

Poland Day Ten Krakow evening walk -36

“But that’s the wonderful thing about foreign travel, suddenly you are five years old again. You can’t read anything, you have only the most basic sense of how things work, you can’t even reliably cross the street without endangering your life. Your whole existence becomes a series of interesting guesses.”
Bill Bryan

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