Today was our second day in Krakow and it was a cold one! The chance of snow threatened us but it never came, unfortunately. Everyone (mostly) bundled up as we hit the streets for our city tour. Our first stop was the Jewish town of Kazimierz led by a local guide where we learned about the Jewish population in Poland and how they were all moved to this town during the war. The square we were standing in had 68 chairs in it, each one representing 1,000 Jewish people who lived in Poland before the war. The chairs are faced in the direction of which crematoriums the Jews from Krakow were taken to.
The second stop was the Wawel Royal Castle where we walked around the grounds and the Catholic chapel. The story of the castle was that there was a dragon who would wreak havoc and eat any pretty lady he came across. Many fought him and died but a cobbler decided to stuff a sheep with salt and leave it outside the cave. The dragon ate the salty sheep he became so thirsty that he went to the river and drank until he exploded. Then the city was free from fear and fair maiden could walk the streets again.
The last stop was in Grand Square showing the old textile market that is now local vendors. At this stop we were able to hear the hourly bugle call sounded off from the top of St Mary’s Church.
After the tour, the group went off and had lunch in different places. A few people used their free afternoon to get cupcakes from the cupcake corner that Eva highly recommended. Others did some last minute Krakow shopping and went to get souvenirs in the middle of Grand square where there were booths set up with local crafts. While some people went to a cool arcade bar to play some video games.
All in all was a good last day in Krakow. While the city has been enjoyable, it will be nice to go back to Prague where the rest of our luggage is and where the streets are more familiar. We are over halfway done with our trip and excited to see what the last half will be like.
PLU/PSY387 Transitions & Trauma 