This year, due to the pandemic, we will not meet at the Small Market Square to sing Christmas carols together and feel the atmosphere of Christmas. The carol singing lesson will be held in a changed format – on the Internet.
Where can we find the SongBook for this year?
For this occasion, the Polish Song Library has prepared a special virtual songbook. This way, all will be able to sing the most beautiful Christmas carols with their loved ones, at the Christmas table. The premiere of “The Polish Songbook, or Christmas Carols to Sing Around the House – Online” will take place on Sunday, December 20 at 5 pm. It will be available on the website: https://bibliotekapiosenki.pl/strona/
We are all in this together!
Traditionally, the Loch Camelot Theater will help in singing. They have recorded background songs for the most beautiful Christmas carols for this occasion. The repertoire includes the below songs:
“Silent night”, “When Christ is born”, “Today in Bethlehem”, “In the silence of the night”, “God is born”.
In addition, the director of the Polish Song Library – Waldemar Domański – will talk about singing lessons in December. The film will be a nice reminder of the meetings for some, and an explanation of the phenomenon. These events have brought together over half a million participants since 2002.
The Krakow Singing Lessons for one and all!
The Krakow Singing Lesson is already over 76 concerts. During the concerts, the audience learns to sing Polish songs, patriotic songs, and Christmas carols. So far, about 500,000 have been distributed free songbooks. The originator of the project is the director of the Polish Song Library, Waldemar Domański.
Polish language article on Gazeta Krakowska can be found here.
More on the purchase of plots of land for parks, additional funds at the disposal of districts, increased expenditure on the construction of pavements and subsidies for residents investing in Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and micro-retention – this is the shortest summary of the amendments by councilors from the Kraków club for residents to next year’s budget.
In our opinion, in this record-high budget, not enough money goes directly to the residents for things that are closest to them
Łukasz Gibała, leader of the KdM club
New Year – New Pavements!
According to KdM councilors, this type of expenditure includes construction of new pavements. According to the proposal of President Jacek Majchrowski, 5 million PLN is to be allocated for this purpose.
“It’s definitely not enough. Unfortunately, there are still plenty of places in our city, especially in the outskirts, where, for example, children on their way to school or to a stop have to go along the road. This is unacceptable in the 2nd largest city in Poland. Pedestrian safety should be a priority” – explains Gibała. Therefore, the KdM club wants to allocate an additional 3 million PLN to the construction of pavements.
A deep need for forests & parks
The KdM councilors also emphasize that the pandemic has clearly shown how much the inhabitants need forests and parks – which are the subject of another amendment. “The coronavirus highlighted the lack of green areas in our city, so we want to increase funds for the purchase of land for future parks and forests” – says councilor Łukasz Maślona from KdM.
A step towards renewable energy!
Councilors propose that this amount increase from PLN 1 million to PLN 11 million. Another change in the budget they propose is money that will go directly to the residents. “We believe that in a budget of more than seven billion, allocating only 3 million PLN to support residents who install renewable energy or capture rainwater is definitely not enough. That is why we have proposed three million for each subsidy system for Krakow citizens who will take actions that have a positive impact on the effects of climate change” – explains Maślona.
District councilors should distribute the money!
Councilor Jan Pietras, former chairman of the IX district council, is the initiator of the amendment increasing the funds in the special-purpose reserve that will be available to districts. “It is the district councilors that are closest to the inhabitants, they know local problems best. Our amendment aims to make it easier for them to deal with these problems. These are often small investments – lighting a pedestrian crossing or providing benches – for which, unfortunately, money is usually not enough” – argues councilor Pietras.
The original article, in the Polish language, from Gazeta Krakowska, can be found here.
The city pulse oximeter rental is starting! Every resident of Krakow will be able to rent the device and return it after an illness, informs councilor Łukasz Wantuch from the presidential club Przyjazny Krakow.
Anonymous donor!
Councilor Wantuch explains that one person who wants to remain anonymous gave him money to buy 25 pulse oximeters.
If there are others willing, this number will increase. The project supervisor is the district councilor Sebastian Piekarek and please write to him about the rental of pulse oximeters from next Wednesday – then the delivery will come.
Councilor Wantuch
What is a pulse oximeter?
A pulse oximeter is an electronic device used for the non-invasive measurement of blood saturation. The most common measurement of oxygen saturation in medical procedures is the measurement of blood oxygen saturation (arterial oxygen saturation) by pulse oximetry to counteract respiratory failure. Pulse oximeters are therefore a very useful device for research in the era of the coronavirus pandemic.
A monument to the dark Lord Darth Vader will be erected in Nowa Huta? In Krakow, there is an initiative to build a monument to Darth Vader on the Central Square in Nowa Huta, in the place where the Lenin monument once stood. Councilor Łukasz Wantuch from the presidential club Przyjazny Krakow has prepared an amendment to the city budget to reserve 10 thousand PLN for the preparation of this project. “It is enough to buy a statue of Lenin at the price of scrap metal and earn some extra head”.
Tourism will come back. The focus must go not only on Old Town but also on other locations: like Nowa Huta!
“At first glance, the idea seems completely pointless. But you only need to think a little to see its tremendous potential. And it’s not about Star Wars, monuments, or Darth Vader. Covid will end one day, maybe even before the summer of 2021 and tourists will start coming back to Krakow. In 2 or 3 years, we will again reach 13 million tourists a year. But 99% of them are concentrated in the Old Town area, which is the source of many problems”, informs councilor Łukasz Wantuch from the presidential club Przyjazny Kraków.
Divide & Conquer!
“It is in the interest of Krakow that these tourists are spread as evenly as possible, not only in the center but also on the outskirts. Nowa Huta can be such a pearl, it only needs a magnet that will attract tourists to this part of the city“ – he adds.
The idea is that next to the monument there will be a multimedia information office about the attractions of Nowa Huta, e.g. in the form of several interactive boards.
See more!
“The idea is this – a tourist comes to take a selfie at the monument, but right next to it he sees a board with the words “See more” He comes, clicks and gets info about the history of this place, people who created it and the offer of a tour around Nowa Huta” – he convinces Councilor Wantuch.
This is about the magnet. A way to draw tourists’ attention to a part of Krakow called Nowa Huta. And when he falls into the trap, when he arrives at Ronald Regan Central Square, we put an information leaflet up his nose. Darth Vader, Lenin, Ronald Reagan – it will be a hit! Free advertising time that we get on CNN, NBC, or articles in the New York Times will be worth millions. Every film crew, every journalist who comes to Krakow will have to “include” this attraction
Councilor Wantuch
Raising money should NOT be a problem!
According to the councilor, raising funds for the monument should not be a problem. “There are many military surplus monuments to Lenin, it is enough to buy it for the price of scrap metal and earn some extra head. The amount of 100,000 PLN is rather too small, but it can be increased. The problem will be the consent of the Nowa Huta district council (I cannot imagine such an action without their consent) and the conservatory, not to mention The Walt Disney Company, but the biggest problem may be the reaction of people. The first will be for sure: “Monument to Darth Vader? Anyone crazy here? There is a crisis and they are wasting money?” – comments councilor Wantuch.
Different reactions may appear
“In addition, there is a problem in the form of a possible reaction of people from the older generation, who may perceive it as a mockery of the victims of communism. I think few people will be able to reflect and imagine the potential benefits for Nowa Huta and Kraków. Each zloty spent on this monument will be returned not 10 times, but 100 times! Every person coming to Krakow will have to see this monument.
Public fundraiser or Sponsor
As for the costs, the amount of PLN 10,000 is for preparatory work. I am sure that the funds will be obtained in a public fundraiser, or maybe there will even be a sponsor, for example, a producer of an energy drink or a tourist company, who will sponsor the construction of the monument in exchange for advertising. Imagine George Lucas, Harrison Ford, and Mark Hamill coming to the unveiling of the monument. Especially for Krakow and Nowa Huta. In this way, the whole world will hear about this part of Krakow“ – he adds.
Other councilors react!
Other councilors have already started to react to the idea. “Łukasz Wantuch does not know Nowa Huta or its needs. The steelworks does not need funny greetings from councilors or the transformation of the Lenin monument into the Lord Vader monument, but municipal investments, pro-development projects, the fulfillment of promises, new jobs. The steelworks needs forward-thinking. And power is in Nowohuciany! – comments PiS councilor Stanisław Moryc.
The balance between the Dark & Light Side of the Force
Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker is a fictional character, one of the main characters of the Star Wars film saga. Father of Luke Skywalker and Lea. Initially, the Jedi Knight, under the influence of Darth Sidious, went to the dark side of the Force and assumed the title of “Darth Vader”. He destroyed the Jedi Order and helped transform the Republic into the Galactic Empire. At the end of his life, he returned to the light side of the force and pushed his master into the Death Star reactor, saving his son and thereby restoring the balance of power as prophesied by the power chosen.
The construction of the tram line from Krowodrza Górka to Górka Narodowa is in progress. The investment will take 2 years, and during this time the residents will have to take into account considerable nuisance and traffic difficulties. The latest photos & videos (check them out below) show how the construction is going.
Before the 5.5-kilometer-long track to the north of the city is built, a large area must be rebuilt on the section between the Krowodrza Górka terminus and the outskirts of the city on the national road No. 7. Officials from the Municipal Investments Board remind that the construction of the tram line to Górka Narodowa has begun July 8. The construction of the tram line from the Krowodrza Górka terminus to the Górka Narodowa is to take 2 years.
Cutting down trees and leveling the ground
“The first stage of works can hardly be called spectacular, but it is a necessary stage to be able to start the main works: detours are being built, demolition works and preliminary archaeological surveys are underway, underground utilities are being repositioned. Recently, excavations of foundations for segments of the concrete structure, the so-called bathtub, the line of which will run between Kuźnica Kołłątajowska and Banacha Streets. This solution is to reduce the nuisance for the inhabitants of the surrounding buildings” – emphasize in ZIM.
Greenery is gone! Trees replanting?
As part of the construction of the Krakow Fast Tram to the Górka Narodowa, only the greenery that collides with the planned road and tram system has been cleared and reduced to the necessary minimum. To implement the project, 3,477 pieces of woody plants (deciduous and coniferous) will be removed in total.
Due to the extensive infrastructure of the project and collisions with many technical networks, tree plantings in the investment area cannot be carried out in a 1: 1 ratio. Nevertheless, within the boundaries of the investment, 2,680 tree plantings were planned, and the missing 797 trees will be planted as replacement plantings on plots belonging to the Municipality of Krakow.
Where will the tracks lead?
From Krowodrza Górka (where the existing loop will be completely rebuilt), the tram will travel through the green area between the car showroom and the hospital.
At the intersection with ul. Opolska, a two-level intersection will be built. We will go down Opolska Street and the tram line will go higher.
Then the tram will go straight to ul. Pachoński. Before the crossing with Pachońskiego, Park & Ride parking is planned.
The line will run along ul. Pachońskiego, then slightly turn right, connecting the intersections of Pachońskiego and Zielińska streets, and Białoprądnicka and Bularnia streets.
Between the intersections with ul. Bularnia and Pleszowska, the tram will turn left and reach Górnickiego Street, and further, on the southern side of ul. Pachońskiego, to Siewna Street.
At Siewna, the track will be moved to the northern side of the road and between the buildings (behind the buildings at 30 and 32 Siewna Streets) it will reach ul. Bociana.
The tram will reach building No. 17 along Bociana Street, where it will turn north and through the area of the existing concrete plant, towards the railway tracks.
After passing under the railway tracks, the tram will cross ul. Kuźnicy Kołłątajowskiej and ul. Słomczyńskiego, and then behind the estate at ul. Banacha will go straight ahead for a while to turn right towards al. 29th of November. The loop is planned south of ul. Belwederczyk.
What does the investment include?
The route of the Krakow Fast Tram to Górka Narodowa also includes a two-chamber road tunnel with a length of approx. 100 m along ul. Opolska. This solution is to ensure a collision-free and problem-free passage of tram communication from northern housing estates to the city center.
The investment planned for implementation includes: • construction of a tram line with a length of approx. 5 km along with full road infrastructure, including the construction and reconstruction of communication routes, the construction of bicycle paths, the construction of sidewalks and the construction of lighting • reconstruction of the existing Krowodrza Górka tram terminus and construction a new tram and bus terminus in the area of Górka Narodowa • construction of 3 new traction substations and thorough modernization of 1 substation • construction of a multi-level intersection with a tunnel along ul. Opolska • construction of 3 parking lots in the Park & Ride system: – at the Krowodrza Górka tram and bus terminus with approximately 110 parking spaces – at ul. Pachońskiego in the area of ul. Szopkarzy with approx. 94 parking spaces – at the Górka Narodowa tram and bus terminus – a two-level car park with approx. 240 parking spaces • construction of seven engineering structures: – tunnel along ul. Opolska – road flyover over the Sudół valley – tramway overpass over the Sudół valley – footbridge at the level of Szopkarzy and Danka Streets – bridge over the Białucha river – culvert on the Bibiczanka stream – railway viaduct.
How much will it cost? Who will do it?
The task is carried out in the “design and build” mode. According to the contract signed on May 22, 2017, the contractor for the investment is a consortium of companies: Przedsiębiorstwo Usług Technicznych “INTERCOR” Sp. z o. o. and Przedsiębiorstwo Inżynieryjnych Robót Kolejowych “TOR-KRAK” Sp. z o. o. Before selecting the contractor, the City obtained decisions on environmental conditions (March 15, 2016).
The project is co-financed by the European Union from the Cohesion Fund under the Operational Program Infrastructure and Environment for 2014-2020.
The value of the project is in accordance with the financing agreement of 03/10/2017. Total project value: PLN 378,914,203.93 Eligible expenditure under the project: PLN 216,735 206.67 Co-financing from EU funds: PLN 151,233,429.65
More info can be found, in Polish language, on the ZIM KRAKOW page (Zarzad Inwestycji Miejskich w Krakowie).
There is an action in the network to support milk bars in Nowa Huta, which during the pandemic, like other eateries, are in crisis. “They fed us in the times before the pandemic. We saved them when the government tried to withdraw the subsidies. Now, another attempt” – writes Grzegorz Ziemiański, the initiator of the campaign on the Facebook newsgroup Nowohucianie. Check where you can order food in this article, just below!
Main customers are away and Bar Mleczny has no clients…
“Employees work remotely, students do not know when they will return to universities, older people prefer to stay at home, and these are the main customers of Nowa Huta milk bars. Milk bars are financed by our taxes, we earn less, so subsidies for milk bars will most likely be smaller” – says an employee of one of the milk bars in Nowa Huta.
He adds that only we, as clients, can help bars in Nowa Huta in this difficult period in a very simple way – by using their services. When ordering meals, we will keep the most remembered symbol of the communist era.
Nowa Huta – Home delivery orders
“NORTHERN” bar TEL. 12 644 40 87 Os.Teatralne 11
Bar “BIEŃCZYCE” TEL. 12 648 15 10 Os. Kazimierzowskie 22
“CENTRALNY” bar TEL. 12 644 14 95 Os. Centrum C1
“SCHOOL” bar TEL. 12 644 34 02 Os. Na Skarpie 24
Food delivery is possible from Monday to Friday. Up to 5 km is free, each subsequent km is 1 zloty. The minimum order value is 25 zlotych.
The article in Polish language can be found here, on Gazeta Krakowska site.
Stay safe! Buy local! Support the local economy! And… try and be merry, as Christmas is just around the corner 🙂
There will be no presentation at the Adam Mickiewicz monument on the Main Square, and no traditional march. This year, the coronavirus pandemic caused the 78th Krakow Nativity Scenes Competition to take place in a different form.
The History of the #Szopki Contest
The Krakow Nativity Scenes Competition has a rich history. It was initiated in 1937. Then, during the German occupation, it had to be interrupted, but right after the war, this tradition was returned. Since 1946, it has been organized by the Krakow Museum.
Stay true to tradition!
The Krakow nativity scene is the culmination of several months or even several years of work. The aim of the competition is to uphold the tradition of nativity scene crafts and to popularize this unique element of urban folklore.
The 78th Krakow Nativity Scene Competition during the epidemic will be organized in a completely different form.
Małgorzata Niechaj, curator of the Krakow Museum
The competition will go online!
The jury will be in session on the first Thursday of December. Since some of the jurors will not be able to see the nativity scenes directly, and we cannot accumulate so many people at the same time, from November 16 to 30, we started to host nativity scenes in Celestat – the curatorinformed.
The curator of the Krakow Museum presented the procedure for accepting and registering nativity scenes. “Each of them is photographed. In addition, we make videos of those with moving parts, lighting. The nativity scenes are then described and sent to the jurors. On this basis, the cribs will be scored with points, we will award prizes during a remote session” – says Małgorzata Niechaj.
Deadline & Winners Announcement
The deadline for announcing the results of the competition, which will take place on Sunday, December 6, has been kept. Punctually at 14, the director of the Krakow Museum, Niezabitowski (chairman of the jury) will officially announce the results of the nativity scene competition on-line, on the YouTube platform, and on social media. As the curator admitted, the interest in the competition exceeded the expectations of the organizers. The largest nativity scenes are to appear in Celestat on Monday.
Several categories = several prizes
The nativity scene competition is held in several categories, not only age categories: up to 8 years old, through family nativity scenes, youth nativity scenes, and seniors – over 18 years of age, and in terms of size: miniature nativity scenes, small, medium and large nativity scenes.
The so far sent cribs are dominated by the architecture of the Old Kraków, the Cathedral, Kraków churches, and the Wawel Castle, although an interesting crib is a crib containing a Curia building with a papal window and a popemobile, or a crib with elements of the Basilica of Divine Mercy.
Szopka with COVID19 masks!
Most of the sent nativity scenes also contain elements referring to the anniversary of the birth of St. John Paul II and the pandemic that has prevailed since the beginning of the year (dolls with masks). There is also a nativity scene probably of a sports club lover – Cracovia and Wisła, referring to their derby. There were also cribs containing a viewing balloon over the Vistula River.
In the nativity scene by the master of the Krakow nativity scene, Maciek Moszew, the author portrayed himself at the base with an inscription informing that he is participating in the Krakow Nativity Scene for the 75th time.
UNESCO Acknowledgment
For many years, the Museum of Krakow has not only been looking after the nativity scene and its promotion both at home and abroad, but also documents the phenomenon of Krakow nativity scenes, which in 2018 was entered on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Read the article in Polish language, on Gazeta Krakowska site.
Public and scientific libraries may make collections available on the condition that social distancing is ensured and the limit of people is maintained depending on the area of the premises – informed the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. On Monday (November 30), the Provincial Public Library in Krakow, the Jagiellonian Library, and most of the Krakow Library branches were reopened.
Theaters, philharmonics, operas, museums, cinemas, community centers, and art galleries remain closed to the public until December 27, 2020
Until then, libraries can make their collections available to readers again, they only have to meet the condition of ensuring social distancing and guaranteeing adequate space (1 person per 15 square meters, excluding librarians).
Lending rooms reopen in Krakow
The Ministry included the possibility of opening libraries in the regulation of November 26, but the decision on the date and conditions of the return of the library and the reading room was left to the directors of the institutions. As indicated, it is they who should take into account the conditions of the premises, the time spent in reading rooms, and the local epidemic situation. The directors of Krakow libraries decided to reopen the lending room from Monday, November 30.
The Public Library on Rajska 1 is OPEN!
Provincial Public Library in Krakow at ul. Rajska, together with the opening of the library, decided to additionally allow free access to the book collection. Returns of materials are again made on individual agendas, and they are again available to readers also legible. The largest of them, located on the third floor, has 30 spaces available. The management of the rental shop at Rajska also stipulates that only people with a body temperature below 38 degrees Celsius and no other symptoms of coronavirus infection may enter its premises.
Other branches open their doors as well
Most of the branches of the Krakow Library are also open to users. Due to renovation works, the branches at ul. Brodowicz, Radzikowski, Opolska, Żywiecka, Bohaterów Września and Zachodnia, but in the remaining ones, readers can borrow selected titles again. As Piotr Wasilewski, spokesman of the Krakow Library, emphasizes, it is recommended to order books by e-mail or by phone.
The current sanitary and epidemiological restrictions are still in force, i.e. no access to library shelves, closed reading rooms, inaccessible computer stations.
Piotr Wasilewski
From Monday, October 30, reading rooms and lending rooms of the Jagiellonian Library are also open to external users. After entering the building, temperature measurement and hand disinfection are required, and readers moving around Biblioteka Jagiellonska must wear a mask or a visor, also after taking a seat in the reading room.
Article in Polish language can be read here, in Gazeta Krakowska.
During the Second World War, Krakow was ruled by the Third Reich. What were the streets and squares like in 1939-1944? How was life in the city? See photos from the German album “Krakau” published in 1944.
For more photos of Krakow 1944, I suggest also looking up this article from Gazeta Krakowska (in the Polish language).
The increase in ticket prices for public transport in Krakow has become a fact. We will start paying more for tickets from February 2021. The councilors eventually lowered the rates proposed by President Jacek Majchrowski, but we will pay more. A single ticket will cost PLN 6, a 20-minute ticket PLN 4, and a monthly ticket for all lines for persons with a Krakow Card will cost PLN 80. The semi-annual ticket will be a novelty.
We knew this was coming…
The ticket price hike epic started during the summer holidays. The most important changes, after a few corrections, proposed by officials and Jacek Majchrowski, are a 20-minute ticket for PLN 4 (now PLN 3.40) and a one-way ticket for PLN 6.60 (now PLN 4.60). In addition, monthly tickets for one and two lines were to be canceled, and the monthly ticket for all lines was to go from PLN 69 to PLN 96.
What are the new rates for public transport in Krakow?
Such rates would not come into force. The councilors have submitted their proposals as amendments and these will eventually come into force. The decision was made at a city council session during a nightly vote on November 18-19. From February 1, 2021, the following rates will apply:
monthly ticket for one line (on the Krakow Card) – PLN 54 (discounted PLN 27), the ticket now costs PLN 45,
monthly ticket for all lines (on the Krakow Card) – PLN 80 (discount PLN 40)
monthly ticket for all lines (without the Krakow Card) – PLN 148
half-year ticket for all lines (on the Krakow Card) – PLN 420 (PLN 210).
Amendments done by Civic Coalition and Friendly Krakow
Amendments lowering the rates proposed by officials were submitted by councilors from the Civic Coalition and Friendly Krakow (they practically did not differ from each other). 24 councilors from these two clubs voted for. The PiS councilors and 2 councilors from the Kraków dla Mieszkańców club were against. Two councilors abstained.
New tickets available
The novelty is a six-month ticket, which requires the resident to buy a ticket for six months every month, without a day off, and then the ticket for the sixth month will cost PLN 20. Thus, the price of one ticket per month is PLN 70, which is one PLN more than before the increase. The resident will be able to connect his payment card to the city system, and the fee will be automatically charged every month – first PLN 80, and in the sixth month PLN 20.
The councilors also decided to keep a monthly ticket for one line. Its liquidation assumed the original plan of the officials.
Ticket price increases and a change in the entire tariff in Krakow
The pay rise officials explain the crisis caused by the coronavirus epidemic. We are faced with a dramatic decision regarding the further fate of public transport. Annual public transport maintenance is PLN 650 million. Each decrease from this amount will automatically mean decisions of a different nature – a change in the length of the line, frequency of driving, and at a certain threshold will have to have consequences for employment in both transport companies – vice-president Andrzej Kulig argued in October councilors.
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