Kicking it in Krakow

Krakow, Poland is not that far away from Frýdek-Místek.  Because it's fairly close, my parents took a day trip there while I stayed to play with Babi and the dogs.

My parents did little research for this trip.  They merely planned their route on Google maps and looked up a tour group, Free Walking Tour.

According to some, Krakow is only about two hours away from Frýdek.  With the route we selected, it was around 2 1/2 hours.  With traffic, it lasted closer to three (but the trip back was much faster).

Dad drove and did well.  Even Mom did a decent job of navigating (even though it wasn't needed, all you had to do was follow the signs for "Krakow").  

Dad drives a lot here in Europe.  

You know that scene in Casino Royale where James Bond is tearing through Montenegro in his Aston Martin and rolls it when he sees the Vespa tied up on the highway?

Well, that was really the Czech Republic, not Montenegro.  And that's what most highways are like here.  Except, instead of rolling around in an Aston Martin, Dad cruises in a Nissan Micra.

However, on this trip it was Uncle Petr's Daewoo stationwagon.

The only real excitement came on the way back from Krakow. 

It was raining and dark, and the highways aren't lit.

Well, Dad nearly locked-up the brakes when he nearly passed the Polish Police on the highway.  

Anyway, they easily found their way to a new underground parking garage (adjacent to the Sheraton) and quickly made their way to Rynek Glowny, the Main Market Square.

They took a few minutes to explore St. Mary's Basilica before meeting with their tour guide.

The hour is sounded by a trumpeter in the top-left tower.

The first tour they embarked upon was Royal Route.


There are plenty of Tourist Routes, but the ones Free Walking Tour offers for free are two of the most well-known.

After learning more about a few of the sites within the Main Market Square, the group walked through Krakow to see part of the remaining wall, Carpenters' Tower, and gardens.

They visited the Barbican

and St. Florian's Gate.

St. Florian's Gate opens to the "Fifth Avenue" of Krakow, or Floriańska Street.

The Golden Arches are also right behind the arch of the Gate.

No food was eaten there, although the free bathroom was utilized, and it should be noted:  Krakow's McDonald's is gorgeous!  The place is completely modern, but the walls are still the bare, original brick and stone from when the city was built - most of the dining area is downstairs in what must have been a massive hall or wine cellar... or dungeon.

The tour wrapped back around and into the square (to hear the trumpet sound) and also visit a few more sites on the other side of the 430,000 sq.ft. (almost 10 acres) Main Market Square.

Some places of note were the Old Town Tower 

and the giant head of Krakus, or Krak, the founder of Krakow.

Next came Wawel Hill,

Wawel Cathedral,

and the Wawel Castle Courtyard. 

The tour was timed perfectly for our visit to the Wawel Dragon as it breathed fire.  It was the last stop on the Royal Route.

With some time to kill between tours...

...my parents indulged in these awesome bagel/pretzel hybrids while looking at souvenirs.

The Jewish Heritage Route Tour had a larger tour group than the Royal Route.

While in Kazimierz, the Old Synagogue was seen.

The Izaak Synagogue and Remuh Synagogue (pictured) were also stops along the tour.

The Remuh is the only currently active synagogue in Krakow, and perhaps most of southern Poland.

Sometimes plaques were all that were left to photograph as the group moved through Kazimierz, through the ghetto and Bohaterow Square,

past remnants of the original ghetto wall,

and onto Schindler's Factory.

A display for the annual Jewish Cultural Festival held in Krakow at the end of June, early July.

Both tours were very informative.  Krakow is a beautiful city with an abundance of history, although most of it's recent history is unpleasant.  And, there were other sites that were passed and many, many stories along both tours' paths.
And, despite being a "Free Tour," my parents did tip each guide.  Both tours together were what one fare on a golf cart would have cost to be driven around the city and see the same sites.