Today I just wanted to share with you a piece of history about Krakow.
Did You Know that on this very day, 764 years ago, on the 5th of June 1257, Krakow was established officially as a city and acquired the Magdeburg Laws? Did You Know that Krakow still holds the record for the longest time of serving as the capital city of Poland – it would perform the function 3 times in its history, loosely between 1040 and 1609.
However, Krakow was marked in history as an important town, and frequently visited trading center, as early as the 9th century! Archeologists date the oldest material evidence of human settlements excavated in the city to circa 200,000 BC. In the year 1038 Krakow became the capital of Poland.
Duke Bolesław V the Chaste proclaimed the establishment on the 5th of June 1257
The establishment of a new town under Magdeburg law, proclaimed on 5 June 1257 by Duke Bolesław V the Chaste (whose reign spanned 1243–1279), was a foundational event for Kraków/Cracow in the true sense of the word. Notwithstanding the primarily legal and planning-based character of the endeavor, the city’s foundation generated significant momentum for societal change. Within a relatively short space of time, Kraków, originally consisting of a ducal castle and a settlement at its foot, grew into a European metropolis, one of the contemporary continent‘s premier mercantile centers and the seat of a noteworthy political self-administration.
Krakow was not built in a day!
Like Rome, Kraków was not built in a day; preparations for the city’s establishment had begun many years before it became a reality. The plan for the city came into being at the court of Bolesław V’s father, Duke Leszek the White (d. 1227), and it continued under the auspices of Henry the Bearded (d. 1238) and of his son. These dukes, whose reign occurred in the turbulent period of the struggle for ducal ascendancy at Wawel Castle, perceived Kraków as possessing the capacity to secure their position throughout Poland. Isolated, yet unambiguous sources bear witness to the emergence between 1220 and 1241 of Kraków’s first, short-lived civic community, whose demise is associated with the political catastrophe that befell the Silesian Piast dynasty with the Mongol invasion of Poland in 1241.
Wawel Cathedral records from 1257
The annals kept by the Kraków chapter of what was known as the Wawel cathedral record that in 1257, ‘Cracoviensis civitas iuri Theutonico traditur et situs fori per advocatos et domorum et curiarum immutatur’ (The city of Kraków was placed under German law and the reeves altered the positions of squares, houses, and lordly residences). The chronicler, installed upon the Wawel Hill as the symbol representing the Kraków chapter’s seat, had clearly deemed these events worthy of recording for posterity. What he could not have known, and we know from our temporal vantage point of several centuries, is the extent of the changes, in terms of urban planning, demography, the economic and political sphere, and indeed of society, which were emerging in Kraków.
The Road Authority of the City of Krakow presented the immediate plans for the construction of city parking lots. The construction of park & ride car parks in Bronowice and at the Hutnik hall in Nowa Huta is to begin this year. Tenders for the design of another 6 park & ride parking lots, including the extension of the existing facility in Ruczaj, are also to be announced. There are also plans for smaller neighborhood car parks.
This year, the Roads Authority of the City of Krakow plans to start the construction of 2 park & ride parking lots. The first of them, for about 200 places, is to be built as part of the construction of the transfer junction in Bronowice.
Parking park and ride Bronowice
The contract for the construction of the node in Bronowice has been signed, we have concepts, now the contractor will start design works, then construction works – we plan that they will start at the end of the year
ZDMK
As part of the investment, a public transport bus station will be designed, equipped with the infrastructure necessary for passenger service, in particular: bus parking spaces, stops, ticket sales points, waiting rooms, information systems, and toilets.
The station will be located inside the connector of the road junction at ul. Balicka and the Home Army. The roofing bus station is to be the first tier multi-level parking for cars where the driver and leaving your vehicle will be able to change for the tram, bus, or train (park and ride systems). The investment is to be carried out by Budimex, which submitted a tender for PLN 51.6 million.
“Suche Stawy” park and ride parking at the Hutnika Kraków hall
In the case of the park & ride car park “Suche Stawy” Suche Stawy, ZDMK plans to announce a tender so that the first works will start this year. The car park is to be built in the vicinity of the tram stop “Suche Stawy”, the Sports and Entertainment Hall “Suche Stawy”, the City Stadium Hutnik Kraków (Suche Stawy), the Sports and Recreation Center Com-Com Zone Nowa Huta.
This parking lot for approx. 90 vehicles has been planned for several years. The idea for this investment is to renovate the damaged surface of the existing above-ground car park in front of the Hutnik hall made of concrete slabs. The lighting will also be recreated with the electricity supply system.
In order to adapt the car park for the needs of the “park and ride” system, devices with the parking system software will be installed. Among them, there will be terminals, barriers, automatic cash register, monitoring, and a visual information system – boards informing about the car park filling status.
More park & ride car parks in Krakow are planned
In addition, it is planned to announce a tender for the development of design documentation along with obtaining construction permits for the following tasks:
extension (superstructure) of the P&R Czerwone Maki car park in Ruczaj;
P&R “Mydlniki SKA” (SKA – fast agglomeration railway) car park, next to the railway stop (ul. Balicka-Gradowa);
P&R “Bieżanów-Drożdżownia SKA” car park at the Kraków Drożdżownia railway stop (area at the intersection of Rakuś – Zamłynie – Lipowskiego Streets);
P&R “Olszanica” car park at the railway stop, Powstania Styczeńowego street;
P&R “Księcia Józefa” car park (Wodociągowa Street);
parking in the vicinity of the Kraków – Opatkowice SKA railway stop.
Additional parking spaces for cars
As part of other investment tasks, ZDMK also plans the:
construction of a car park on the estate At Arka 5, on an area of approximately 300 sq m (design documentation is to be developed in 2021);
construction of parking bays on the estate 2 Pułku Lotniczego in the area of block 46 on the area of approx. 260 square meters (design documentation is to be developed in 2021)
construction of parking spaces on the estate Green, bl. 15-16 (in 2021, the development of design documentation is to be completed and the construction of parking spaces on an area of approx. 115 sq m is planned to start);
construction of parking spaces on the estate Spółdzielczy, bl. 8 (in 2021, the development of design documentation is to be completed and the construction of parking spaces on an area of approximately 400 sq m is to be started);
reconstruction and extension of the car park in front of the Jordanian garden at ul. Kielecka 9 (in 2021, the development of design documentation is to be completed and the investment will be completed, parking spaces will be built on a total area of approx. 290 sq m).
Housing estate car parks
As part of the parking space construction program, this year the following car parks are to be built:
on os. Metallurgical – a contract was signed for the development of design documentation (deadline June 2021),
at ul. Zuchów – a contract for the development of design documentation was signed (deadline June 2021).
The Rząska-Mydlniki-Wapiennik park and ride car park is being completed
The construction of the Rząska-Mydlniki-Wapiennik transfer junction with a park & ride car park for 87 cars is near the end. “The contractual completion date for the investment is April 2021. There are, among others, terminal equipment, technical building, installation of lighting poles, transformer station, target road marking” – informs the ZDMK.
Currently, works related to the construction of parking spaces at ul. Czerwieński.
Original article, in Polish language, can be found in Gazeta Krakowska.
The coronavirus pandemic has had a drastic impact on Krakow’s tourism industry. Will Krakow ever return to the pre-pandemic level of tourism? The city authorities prepared the document “Krakow’s sustainable tourism policy for 2021-2028”, which is to answer this question and what will the tourism policy look like in the coming years.
Pandemic = collapse of tourism
Due to the pandemic, there was a collapse in tourist traffic in Krakow. Foreign tourism has practically died down, and the Krakow airport is recording drastic drops in the number of passengers. Pre-pandemic tourism and the idea for the future are described in over a hundred-page document on tourism policy for 2021-2028. It was prepared by the Tourism Department of the Krakow City Hall. The document is ready and the councilors will take care of it soon. If adopted, it will become the basis of the city’s official tourism policy.
What is the document all about?
“The program was ready before the pandemic, but it had to be verified and adapted to the current situation. We hope that after the pandemic is over, we will start rebuilding tourism in our city, so as to regain its important role in the socio-economic life, not to overgrow the tourist function in the future, while increasing the quality of services and the quality of life of the inhabitants” – emphasized Elżbieta Kantor in the autumn, director of the Faculty of Tourism.
Like many documents of this type, it is full of clerical phrases and specific language. What is striking is the fact that it was only the shock in the form of a pandemic that forced Krakow’s authorities to look at the problems that residents have been reporting for years, such as depopulation of the center, which has been appropriated by tourists, or loud, drunken night-time “tourism“.
Krakow tourist statistics were on the rise (pre-pandemic times)
Krakow has always boasted about growing tourist statistics. In 2019, the city was visited by approximately 14 million people, including over 3 million foreign guests. At that time, tourists left PLN 7.5 billion in the city (compared to PLN 6.48 billion in 2018). Tourism in Krakow was primarily about quantity, not quality. What officials pay attention to in their study.
“The structure and development trends in the tourism market until 2019 and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic indicate the need to change the approach to the development of tourism from quantitative to qualitative, without throwing inhabitants and space (especially cultural heritage) from a state of relative balance” – reads Krakow’s sustainable tourism for the years 2021-2028 ”.
The situation was analyzed before the pandemic. The authors point out that tourism is an important part of the city’s GDP, but not the dominant one. In 2016, tourism was responsible for 8% of the city’s entire GDP. It is estimated that tourism creates 29,000 jobs in Kraków permanent jobs, and at the peak it generates over 40 thousand. The share of the tourism economy in employment in the entire economy of Kraków exceeds 10%.
Mainly foreign tourists spend the night in Krakow
Mainly foreign tourists use the accommodation base in Krakow. In 2019, as much as 95.5% of them stayed in Krakow for at least one night. In the case of domestic tourists, it was 66.9%.
Rooms and apartments for rent offered as part of the global Booking or Airbnb portals, are very present in Krakow. The problem is that many of these short-term rental places are not officially reported anywhere. Which doesn’t mean they’re not reported. Nevertheless, it is difficult to determine their total number. However, in 2020, in the database of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in the records of facilities providing accommodation services, other than hotels and camping sites, in Krakow there were 1,646 facilities offering 32,181 beds, which is over 50% all accommodations in the city.
Short term rentals were also on the rise (pre-pandemic times)
A survey among residents from 2019 was also cited regarding their attitude to the increase in the number of short-term rental premises. Almost 80% agree with the opinion that short-term tourist rental allows residents to earn, and approx. 65% believes that it broadens the city’s accommodation offer. On the other hand, 50% agree that the development of such a lease is conflicting, and almost 60% state that it causes depopulation of districts and should be subject to interference by city authorities.
The growing role of business/congress tourism
The officials’ study also drew attention to the growing role of business and congress tourism. In 2019, the Krakow meetings industry took 48th place in the world and 29th in Europe. In 2019, 8,400 business meetings were held in Kraków, 78% of which were domestic. The largest share (over 2/3) was constituted by congresses and conferences, which were over 5.6 thousand. Corporate and incentive events were ranked second (over 2.6 thousand).
Krakow’s tourist offer, which enjoyed the greatest popularity until the pandemic, is the so-called city break (short weekend stay), congresses and conferences, religious tourism. The most competitive area of Krakow tourism is gastronomy, and the most attractive is medical tourism.
Types of tourists visiting Krakow
The program includes an interesting analysis of the “type” of tourists coming to Krakow, indicating which tourist is the most desirable. So far, three groups have been the most numerous: the purist of culture and art, the weekend conformist, and the banal hooligan. The last tourist is most often noticed by the resident – loud, often drunk, focused on cheap entertainment, not exploring the city.
Looking for Homo Consumens
From the city’s point of view, the most desirable tourist is the creative homo consumens. As we read in the study: He is not only a passive addressee of the offer created by the city but also acts as an active participant in the market and acts as its reviewer. Until now, however, this type of tourist was poorly present in Krakow.
The study focuses on the so-called night economy, where it was emphasized that the most desirable attractions should be sophisticated and advanced entertainment, which, based on the traditions of the city and its cultural potential, may generate significant income for municipal institutions. However, the dominant element of Krakow’s city nightlife is the so-called simple entertainment.
On this occasion, there is also a statement that “looking at the administrative decisions of the authorities as the only means of fighting the pathologies of nightlife is a naive approach”.
The study highlights the process of gentrification that affects the Old Town most acutely. It was emphasized that this process began there after 1989, but that it was not directly caused by tourism.
Recommendations for Krakow’s tourism policy
The plan for Krakow’s tourism for 2021-2028 contains a total of 9 recommendations for its implementation. Reconstruction of inbound tourism to the city is to take place, among others through:
increase in management efficiency,
integrated marketing communication,
support for the commercialization of the offer of local entrepreneurs,
mitigating conflicts of interest and values.
As we read in the study, “the challenge for Krakow in the process of rebuilding tourism is the management of the place, taking into account the commercialization of the offer, integrated marketing communication, mitigating conflicts between residents and visitors (or between various groups of competing service providers), regulation of access to selected zones considered to be tourism, and tools for acquiring financial resources, organizational structures, as well as skillful involvement of residents in the provision of services for visitors ”.
Restoring the tourism will take several years!
The tourism plan for 2021-2028 explicitly states that the collapse of tourist traffic due to Covid-19 is a huge risk for entrepreneurs in the form of a lack of revenues, costs, and debts. The study states that the process of restoring tourism will take several years.
Among the many recommended activities are:
Initiating and creating innovative package services based on the cultural and sports offer and events, taking into account all attractions and values of Krakow and Małopolska as well as premium products, including in cooperation with the Małopolska Tourist Organization.
Support for the development of public and private investments with a potential for the reception of tourist traffic and the ability to diversify.
Partnership of the local government with the tourism sector in the implementation of promotional activities on emission markets.
Cooperation with global booking portals in the field of knowledge exchange, promotion and respect for the city’s identity as a historical center.
Management of special areas and cultural parks in the spirit of sustainable spaces and services.
Supporting solutions that improve the quality of guide services, including in special areas.
Development of legislative solutions for the protection of the urban landscape with the participation of the tourism sector.
Jointly building a competitive congress offer of the city, its promotion and lobbying with the use of the most effective marketing tools, e.g. a congress package, the Polish Congress Ambassadors program.
Concentration and commercialization of unique events (including exhibitions, festivals, etc.) with a prestigious national and international rank.
Creation of a platform for information and commercialization of the offer of cultural institutions and events.
Engaging creative industries and non-tourism services.
Increasing the integration of tasks of other municipal institutions (Krakow Film Commission, Krakow Festival Office) with the tourism economy.
The preparation of the document was preceded by diagnostic analyzes. Research was also carried out on the attitudes and expectations of residents, and during the pandemic, an interview with entrepreneurs regarding their economic condition and proposals for measures to rebuild tourism in Krakow.
“We are winning the Friend of Krakow Badge” – is a campaign organized by the Grodzkie PTTK Society in Krakow. Currently, the 49th season of this campaign is underway – this time, however, unusual, because due to the epidemic, it takes the form of free, open online meetings, broadcast live on YouTube.
Who wants to earn a “Friend of Krakow” badge?
The general principles of the campaign are such that the Friend of Krakow badge can be obtained by anyone who participates in a certain number of lectures and walks around Krakow. Depending on the number of such meetings, a person can count on a bronze, silver, gold, or peacock badge.
Currently, due to restrictions related to the epidemic, walks are suspended, and meetings are only held online. They started in November and are planned until March, and are run by licensed city guides of PTTK in Krakow and museum staff.
What can you learn during these walks/sessions?
So far, several dozen online meetings have been held as part of the PTTK campaign “We are winning the Friend of Krakow Badge”. Their participants had the opportunity to listen to stories, for example, about the literary Krakow, the secrets of Długa Street, the Rakowicki cemetery, the defense of Krakow in the past centuries, about famous Krakow families, monasteries and monasteries, about lost churches or about old and modern Krakow libraries, city villas and palaces, theaters and cabarets, the Planty Park in Krakow, and the history and monuments of Podgórze.
The sessions on February 6th and 7th
This weekend, PTTK meetings also promise to be very interesting, so it’s worth making a reservation to take part in them. On Saturday, February 6, lectures on “Secrets of Krupnicza Street” (9:30) and “Krakow Synagogues” (11:30) are scheduled. However, on Sunday, February 7 at At 9:30 am there will be a meeting “Non-obvious Krakow. On the trail of Krakow artists’, and at 11:30 – lecture by the Society of Krakow History and Monuments Lovers “Krakow at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries” – for people who receive the “Pawim Piór” badge (the Peacock Badge).
Practical Information for the meetings
To take part in the walks as part of the campaign, it is enough to report to the meeting point specified in the program. Participation in the walks is free.
In the case of topics described under the slogan ” seat reservation “, you should contact the Grodzki PTTK Society in advance to download the “seat reservation ” – with the given time of entry. Seats result from the limitation of the number and size of groups in some visited facilities. Seats are issued against payment – the price includes an admission ticket to the visited facility and the VAT due.
Closed borders, including Norway and Great Britain, restrictions on flights to most countries – all this had an impact on the January result of the Balice airport near Krakow. Throughout the month, only 54,353 passengers used Kraków Airport services, i.e. 91% less than in January 2020. At that time, despite the disturbing news about Covid-19 coming from China and the first steps to increase security taken by the authorities of the largest Polish regional airport, it was still on a rising wave. Everything collapsed in mid-March 2020, and to this day a significant part of the old movement has not been rebuilt. The main reason is the restrictions imposed by the governments of most countries in response to the second wave of the pandemic, much more severe than the first.
Adjusting to a new normality
In previous years, in January, Kraków Airport passengers were very eager to use air services when going for a winter break. This year everything has changed. Passengers are required to follow sanitary rules in the countries they travel to, and airports are adjusting the infrastructure to the new guidelines
Radosław Włoszek, president of Kraków Airport
He assures that the priority for the Krakow airport has always been and will always be the passenger, his comfort and safety.
“It is also very important to react quickly to changing travel rules to individual countries, which is why we introduced the possibility of performing antigen tests at such a rapid pace in front of the Kraków Airport terminal, when such tests began to be required on flights to the Netherlands, due to the decision of the authorities of the Kingdom of the Netherlands” – adds Radosław Włoszek.
Black trend: airports are in the grip of restrictions and bans
The January collapse is a continuation of the black trend that started after last year’s relatively successful (for a pandemic) summer vacation. Successive governments introduced numerous restrictions in October in response to a repeated attack of the coronavirus, a significant increase in morbidity and mortality, and then also due to new mutations (including in the UK). As a result, the airport in Krakow-Balice in December 2020 handled only 76,469 passengers, i.e. by as much as 89 percent. less than in pre-pandemic December 2019.
How did 2020 look for Krakow Airport?
Throughout 2020, Kraków Airport handled 2,592,972 passengers, i.e. over 5.8 million less than in the record-breaking 2019. By far the highest was traffic in January, February and until mid-March (i.e. before the first wave of the pandemic and the introduction of restrictions), and also in summer. The end of the year was clearly spoiled by the ban on flights from Great Britain introduced by the Polish government – about 3rd of all passengers fly to the Islands at the Krakow airport. However, the key airlines did not completely suspend connections in this direction: from Great Britain, planes arrive empty, return full of Lesser Poland, returning to their British homes, and/or work.
Moderate optimism: vaccinations will unlock airports in the second half of the year?
According to analyzes of the aviation market, in 2021 we can expect 4,250,645 passengers at Kraków Airport, i.e. almost two times less than in the record-breaking year 2019, but 2 million more than in the pandemic 2020.“Independent research by aviation organizations such as IATA whether the ACI confirm that passengers will want to travel by air after the pandemic has calmed down. Common international policy and regulations in the field of opening borders for air travel are to guarantee this forecast” – says Radosław Włoszek, president of Kraków Airport, hopefully.
Coronavirus does not stop Polish investments
The activities of the entire industry ensuring travel safety, including sanitation, are aimed at developing uniform standards that will allow the reconstruction of the air transport market and tourism after the pandemic period. A prerequisite, however, is the full or partial opening of the tourism industry, as well as the effective dissemination of the vaccine
Andrzej Adamczyk, Minister of Infrastructure, during the January meeting summarizing 2020
“Coronavirus does not stop Polish investments – this applies to roads, railways, and airports. Kraków Airport presents ambitious plans for the future. This is an opportunity for a further dynamic development of this airport, and with it of the entire region“, added the minister.
2021 will be a time of even greater challenges: rebuilding confidence in air travel and rebuilding the airport’s potential. The consistent implementation of the Investment Plan for the coming years will also help in this, said Radosław Włoszek, president of Kraków Airport.
Even higher safety standards at the Krakow airport
Kraków Airport has introduced another modern solution to increase travel safety during a pandemic. The containers used by passengers during security checks and also placed at check-in desks have been coated with TitanSolid, which destroys the human coronavirus and other viruses and bacteria. The Krakow airport is another entity in the transport industry that uses this sanitary method.
TitanSolid is a disinfecting coating that activates when exposed to natural or artificial light. It was developed by the Polish company Lumichem in cooperation with university scientists. The coating in a continuous system removes all microorganisms, thanks to which the surface covered with it becomes microbiologically clean. Its effectiveness is confirmed by certificates and research, including the latest – towards the removal of the human coronavirus.
Original article, in Polish language, can be found in Gazeta Krakowska.
Inhabitants are worried about one of the most famous attractions of Krakow: the Wawel Dragon, who … stopped breathing fire. This time of year, the flames should appear every few minutes, but they don’t. What happened? Has there been any major failure? It turns out not. The gas installation is not working properly due to a power cut caused by the renovation of the dragon’s lair.
The Wawel Dragon is a landmark of Krakow, as well as a tourist attraction. His bronze sculpture was made by Bronisław Chromy in 1969. According to the original concept, the dragon was to be partially submerged in the waters of the Vistula. However, it was found that the rubbish carried by the river current would settle on the sculpture. Finally, he stood on a stone boulder at the entrance to the Dragon’s Den.
It was its renovation that – as reported by rmf24.pl – that the dragon stopped breathing fire in recent days.
This renovation means that the wardrobe that controls the dragon is not supplied with electricity. When there is no electricity, the entire gas system does not work
explains Michał Pyclik from the Krakow City Road Authority
I’ve said this before, but Krakow is a magical city that can be visited at any time in the year. You will always find events to join, museums to visit, cafe’s/bars/restaurants to test. So without any further ado, let me tell you 5 Things You Should Know About Krakow:
1. Poland’s currency is not Euro, it’s zloty!
Even though Poland is part of the EU they keep their own currency strong. Zloty (with the small denomination of groszy) can be used to buy products in Poland. Or you can just use a credit card. If you are looking for exchange houses, they are named Kantor. I suggest you don’t go to Market Square to find one as they will have bad rates. The one in the Galeria Krakowska, top floor, though is always decent. They also speak English there. Unlike in Romania, you will not be asked to present an ID/passport to change the money.
2. Public transport (or walking) is the way to go!
Everything important is within walking distance. It would be a shame not to walk down the cobbled stone paths and enjoy the local vibes. Public transport is highly developed and highly recommended – especially the trams! The tickets can be bought according to the time spent in transit. You need also to pay attention to the zone in which you are going (strefa I and II or I +II). For example, if you take a bus to Wieliczka Salt Mine from the station next to Galeria Krakowska, you would have to buy a strefa I+II ticket valid for 60 min (a 40 min one might not be enough).
3. Polish breakfasts are a must!
There are so many nice places in the Old Town or Kazimierz or Podgorze region. Places where you can have a nice and quiet breakfast. You just need to pick and choose. From the English breakfast that everyone praises at Milkbar Tomasza, to the French option in Charlotte (plac Szczepanski). From the typical polish breakfast with bread & butter + jam or ham or cheese or tomatoes or pickles… to all at the same time!
4. Krakow Free Walking Tour
If you really wanna get under Krakow’s skin, I really recommend you take a tour with a local. Or someone who lived in Krakow for a long while and loves this magical city. All you need to do is follow the yellow umbrellas of the Free Walking Tour Krakow team. I absolutely love them! They put so much passion and knowledge and fun in what they are doing. They are contagious and even after one tour with them, you will love them! #FreeWalkingTourKrakow offers the best walking tours in town, so check out their offer:
FreeWalkingTourKrakow – StreetArt – FreeWalkingTourKrakow provides city tours in Polish, English & Spanish.You can find them on Facebook or on their website or you can just call them at +48 513 875 814. I joined them in a StreetArt Tour and it was amazing!
FreeWalkingTourKrakow – Macabre Krakow – stories about ghost and real vampires… Methods of torture, bodies under the Main Market Square with their hands and legs tied, stories of impaling living people… dark and twisted and perfect for a rainy Saturday evening 🙂
FreeWalkingTourKrakow – Her Story – there is a saying that if the men are considered to be the head of the family than the heart belongs to the woman.
FreeWalkingTourKrakow – Pagan Krakow – do you wish to know about the old beliefs of Polish people but also about interesting facts like: “Did you know that General Hans Frank along with other members of the Nazi party celebrated the Yule holiday when they were living inside the Wawel Castle?” – join this tour once you see it up and running 😉 (Beginning of March)
FreeWalkingTourKrakow – Foods Of Krakow – traditional foods and drinks from Krakow. Lasts around 2 to 3 hours and takes one around Old Town and Kazimierz (a lovely Sunday afternoon in August 2015)
FreeWalkingTourKrakow – Centre of the World – learn why Krakow can compete with other grand(er) cities, for being the possible center of the world (28th of November 2015 – around 2 hours (and a bit))
5. Authentic homemade food at any bar mleczny
The bar mleczny is a reminiscence of the communist times. They are basically places where local food is cooked in large amounts, that can be bought at a really low price. It’s a “push the tray” environment, very unpretentious. They are still somehow funded by the state and can be found in every city in Poland. You will hear the local radio playing, sit with a stranger on the same table, sharing salt and pepper… And at the end taking your tray back to the special racks – no service, no waiter, no fuss. Don’t you dare miss out on the traditional pierogi – be it fried or boiled – or some homemade serniczek (cheesecake).
Yours very much truly,
The Twisted Red Ladybug That Loves Krakow
*** This article was first published on my old blog, back on 5th March 2018 – this one here is slightly updated 😉 ***
Excuse me?! Indeed we live in 2020, but truth be told the world has gone haywire and nothing is as it used to be. We will never get back to that kind of “normal” and we will have to learn this. There is a need to change our mentalities, the way we think, and the way we work. We have to unlearn and teach ourselves the new “normal”.
What does IPS Teodosie think?!
On that thought, I’ve recently read an article in a Romanian news site about the IPS Teodosie who said (and you can see the video here – in RO language) that going to a Catholic Church, if no Orthodox Church is around, is wrong. It’s a sin!
What did the Roman Catholics back home say?
The Archbishop of the Roman Catholics in Bucharest replied that they were unpleasantly surprised by what IPS Teodosie said. Well… you and me both, brother… and we are not the only ones surprised and mortified about this public opinion.
Where do I stand? Romania & Poland
Let’s set the facts straight for my particular case, so you don’t think I am biased or… something…
1. According to the 2002 census, 86.7 percent of Romania‘s total population was Orthodox, 4.7 percent Roman Catholic, 3.2 percent Reformed, 1.5 percent Pentecostal, 0.9 percent Greek Catholic, and 0.6 percent Baptist.
2. According to 2015 demographics, 92.9% of Poland‘s population is Roman Catholic.
I was born in Romania, in Iasi (the equivalent of cultural Krakow). The region is called Moldova and not once have I been confused by fellows from abroad, asking me if I speak Russian – confusing the region in Romania called Moldova with the country Moldova, once part of Romania.
Ștefan cel Mare and the churches
Well, Romania had once a fantastic one of a kind ruler called: Stefan cel Mare (aka Stephen the Great). He also fought the Polish people 😉 Fun fact: The Battle of the Cosmin Forest (1497) (Romanian: bătălia de la Codrii Cosminului; Polish: bitwa pod Koźminem) was fought between the Moldavian Prince, Ștefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great), and King John I of Poland (John I Albert) of the Kingdom of Poland. Guess what? It was a huge victory for Moldova!
Romanian people and Sobieski
Besides that, one of my favorite citadels back home is the Neamt Citadel. Rumored to have been built in the 13th century by Teutonic Knights, Jan 3rd Sobieski tried to take it over. 25,000 men-strong army of Polish king John III Sobieski came across Cetatea Neamţului (Neamt Citadel), defended by less than 20 men. The Poles attacked the stronghold, believing that it contained necessary provisions. After over a week of siege, the small Moldavian garrison surrendered. Legend has it that, moved by the determined opposition from such a minuscule force, the Polish monarch granted life and free passage to the Moldavians in the garrison and gave them ranks in the Polish army.
Making it up to the Motherland
Anyway…back to my main story: Stephen the Great was a small person but strong essences do come in small bottles… he loved to fight for his country and he liked women. So he had a beautiful lady waiting for him always, besides his dutiful wife.
How did he make it up in front of God and Motherland? By fighting the Turks, the infidels, and by building churches. For each battle, he took part in, even if he won – lost – or if there was a draw, he would raise a Church nearby. This was a way to show the common folk his connection to God, which invested him to take care of Moldova.
The Church and its clean hands
Church has always run hand in hand with the political issues, no matter how much they deny it or try to disguise that. And that happened (and still happens) inside both the Orthodox and Catholic Church. They always try and have the upper hand, they always try and reach for the supremacy.
Which Church do I belong to?!
I’ve been raised in an Orthodox environment. Went often to Church and I’ve always liked that. The feeling of peace and quiet and… joy when you enter a church. Of the odd feeling of your skin getting goosebumps when one listens to the choir. The separation of women on one side and men on the other. It was boring/tedious to do it all standing… as the ceremony tends to be quite long. But you get to observe the people, focus on the icons, catch the Sundays slowly entering the church… sometimes it is magical!
In my second year of University I’ve been baptised again to the Protestant branch – the names are not important… denominations as well… at the time I did not see the point of having old priests mumbling about sermons and not understanding a word. Or worse, listening to the priest from the Orthodox parish we were under, constantly asking for money each Sunday instead of saying words of wisdom for the next week…
I believed (and still believe) that there is no need for a middleman – the priest in this case. You can pray directly to God, rather than asking the Saints (like Saint Paraschiva) to pray for you. Talk to Him directly! He listens, he takes note – he just answers in different ways.
Orthodox & Catholics in Krakow
I moved to Poland, to Krakow, in the summer of 2011. Poland is very similar to Romania – a country filled with believers ( even if only by name). There are as many churches in Krakow as there are in Iasi – possibly even more… they sprout at each corner and they are all very old and very Catholic. But guess what? They have open doors for everyone to come and join in the Mass.
There is one “prawosławny” Church in Krakow – that’s Greek Catholic, the closest branch one would have to the Orthodox Church. The service is held in the Polish language and in Russian. The church is quite small but I’ve never stayed during a service there… yet people tell me it gets packed.
Inside the parish of St. Mary’s Church (PL: Kosciol Mariacki) we have a Romanian priest, that does every 2 weeks the Mass for us in the Romanian language. It is a blessing and I find this comforting. I’m married to a Polish lad, that studied to be a Catholic priest. I’m married to a Catholic family, so I get to experience double Easters, for example.
Do we not believe in the same God?!
The video of IPS Teodosie got me baffled completely… we are in the age and time where we should have more compassion and be more open minded than that. How could he say that if a man, during his stay in London, cannot find an Orthodox Church, he should not go to the Catholic one, as this is a sin?! Are we not all reading the same Bible? Do we not believe in the same God and the Holy Trinity? Do we not all ( Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic) preach that LOVE is the most important of all???
When I saw the video in question I felt as if someone threw a rock at my head… Does the Bible not say:
Romans 5:8but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 3:1See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
1 Peter 1:22Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
And last but not least… Mark 12:28-30 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
Dearest travelers that think of choosing Poland as a country for their next trip: Do so without a doubt or worry in the world!
22nd Safest Country in the World
#DidYouKnow that Poland was voted as the 22nd safest country – on a worldwide safety report provided by OECD for mid-2016. Poland is one of the 3 European countries that was not affected by organised crime attacks in the 21st century. Also, when it comes to the crime level (same period stated above) it continues dropping, especially in Krakow.
Women’s safety is highly rated!
According to the analysis made by New World Wealth in its 2018 Global Wealth Migration Review, looking at the movement of high net worth individuals across the world, we can see Poland listed in the top 10 safest countries for women. “Woman safety is one of the best ways to gauge a country’s long-term wealth growth potential, with a correlation of 92% between historic wealth growth and woman safety levels”, the report says. Wealth growth is boosted by strong levels of woman safety inside a country. The top 10 safest countries for women in 2017 were:
Australia
Malta
Iceland
New Zealand
Canada
Poland
Monaco
Israel
USA
South Korea
The ranking was based upon the percentage of each country’s female population that has been a victim of serious crime over the past years. “Most of the countries in our top 10 arealso popular destinations for migrating High Net Worth Individuals”, says the report.
The safest countries for each region were:
Europe: Malta, Poland, Monaco, Iceland
APAC: Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Japan, South Korea
Middle East: Israel, UAE
Africa: Mauritius, Botswana, Namibia
Americas: USA, Canada
Violent crime and petty crime in Poland
The rate of violent crime (e.g. mugging and carjacking) in Poland is generally really low. However, petty crime (e.g. pickpocketing) is common in larger cities. Though to be noted, I have been living in Poland (in Krakow) for more than 9 years now, and never have I once had a problem or seen anyone having these kinds of issues.
It is true though that on expat communities, on the Facebook groups, I have heard that youth gangs cab be a threat – especially during the football season when the 2 main teams: Cracovia and Wistula are playing. Also, some individuals have been harassed for reasons of the race (when they were darker-skinned), sexual orientation (towards gay couples), or people of foreign-looking appearance.
How about demonstrations?
When it comes to demonstrations, they do occur frequently but they have a peaceful way and the polish people demonstrate their beliefs in an orderly fashion. The demonstrations though can lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation.
Generally, the areas with the highest crime rate in Poland are the West Pomeranian, Lubusz, Lower Silesian, and Silesian region. Though the crime rate is relatively high, that does not mean that these regions are not safe, it means just that you should be extra careful – have some precautions.
Beware of people that try to trick you!
One thing you should actually be careful of is overcharging and scamming. If you do not know the language you are a sitting duck, you are a foreigner, and if the price is not visible that means when you will ask for one, the shopkeeper might give you a different price than he might say to a local.
You are safe when it comes to restaurants that have menus in English with the correct prices but in the smaller cities, off the beaten track, you are on your own 😉 so learning a word or two might come in handy.
My 2 pennies
Poland is a safe country – no doubt about that! It becomes more incendiary though if you will touch one of these topics:
Polish Art – You’ll need permits to take out artworks created before 1955. Art created after 1955 could still be banned from export, especially if the artist has died.
Polish Alcohol – It is illegal to drink in public! Drinking an alcoholic beverage – be it a cheap beer or a bottle of fine wine – in a park or while walking to the pub will earn you a fine from the police. You are allowed, however, in the Main Market Square to sit at a pub/restaurant and drink alcohol within the premises. The only exception: New Year’s Eve!
A Polish Person is a white person – discrimination on the base of sex, sexual orientation, and color of the skin will happen! Racism in Poland is not an individual phenomenon, but rather an ideology. I have seen and I know many inter-racial couples – daily I see darker-skinned children in the street with their fairer-skinned mothers – yet there are plenty of people that I know, that feel that Poland is and should remain a white country. To be fair, even President Andrzej Duda did a controversial joke on the subject during the 100th anniversary of AGH, on the topic of Equatorial African cannibalism… Funny fact: #DidYouKnow that Africa provided refuge to thousands of Poles during the Second World War?
Conclusion?
So don’t be afraid to come to visit Poland! It has so many beautiful things to offer: amazing unique places, great food, yummy sweets, and good beer/vodka, and warm people that love their country dearly! Come visit Poland and let it win your heart!
*** This article is the redone of the original article that can be found here, on my previous blog page***
Yours very much truly,
Twisted Red Ladybug That Loves Poland, A Safe Heaven
A while back I was writing an article on my former blog page about the fact that we should not use the wording “Polish Death Camps”. I still stand by this idea and I firmly believe that the people referring to concentration camps run by Nazis should refer to them as “German Death Camps in Poland”.
Warsaw VS Krakow – Whom to spare?
When the German Occupation hit Poland and the Nazis were searching for places to build their Death Camps they choose Poland, as Poland is the heart of Europe – DEAD CENTER on the map. Back when the occupation started in 1939, the borders of Poland were very different than they are now and the closest city to the border with Germany was actually Krakow, a couple of hours away.
When the Polish Government looked upon what could be spared and whatnot, they agreed that they should first allow the Nazi to take over Krakow, so the city and its inhabitants would be safe – not as much can be said about Warsaw, that put up a great fight and was torn to the ground approximately 90%, no stone being unturned.
Polish Army barracks turned into slaughtering houses…
Krakow manages to maintain its old-time beauty, though it also faced horrible horrors in its wake. When the Nazis build Auschwitz – the most well known Death Camp of the Holocaust – they chose Oswiecim. Oswiecim was a remote village, so they would do their horrible deeds without being watched. It was previously a Polish Army barracks but nowadays nobody mentions that anymore…
Nazi Germany wanted to destroy Poland
The purpose of the Nazis was to destroy Poland, enslave it’s people and take the land – make Germany bigger and stronger in the process. They did not plan the same as they did in France or Norway where they created governments that would collaborate with the German one.
By the end of World War II, 6 million Polish people have been murdered, including 3 million Jews (almost half of the Jews killed during the Holocaust). In February 2018, the president of Poland signed legislation making it a crime to suggest that Poland bore any responsibility for the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany. This has infuriated certain historians and the Israeli government.
The law has 2 parts:
1) outlaws the phrase “Polish Death Camps” – even scholars agree the term is very misleading, considering the fact that the camps were built and controlled by Nazi Germany;
2) it is a crime – punishable by a fine of up to 3 years in prison – to accuse “the Polish nation” of complicity in the Holocaust and other Nazi atrocities.
What do Israeli people think of the law?
Naftali Bennett, Israel’s education minister, criticized the law: “The blood of Polish Jews cries from the ground, and no law will silence it”.
On another hand, Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, formally recognized more than 6700 gentiles in Poland as “righteous among the nations” because they risked their lives to save the Jews – more so than ANY other country in Europe! The estimates suggest that up to 35000 Polish Jews may have been saved through their efforts. The Center made an official statement saying that the term “Polish Death Camps” was without a doubt a historical misinterpretation, but they cannot agree with the second part of the law, erasing all blame from Poland.
What do I believe?
I believe that the Polish state was not complicit to the horrors of the Holocaust, yet that many Polish people are to blame for the acts that they carried out. Each story has its light and dark side, it’s heroes and it’s foes. We do have righteous people who have saved many Jews, yet we also have Polish people that blew covers, picked on Jewish people out of the darkness of their heart, or simply by trying to protect their lives, family, or their assets. They chose themselves over others, but whom are we to judge – would we have done the same, given the situation? You can’t know for a fact, can’t you?!
#DidYouKnow that Poland was the only country where if you would have hidden a Jews and you would be found out, both the Jews, yourself, and your family would be immediately executed? Also, Poland has sustained the heaviest losses during the Second World War with up to 17% of its entire population vs. Russia – 14% and Germany – 10%. Not to mention Poland bring the only occupied country that had it’s government immediately liquidated, it’s army disbanded and schools and universities closed (their professors and “grey minds” being the first ones taken away and locked up/executed).
If you will blame the individuals, the Polish people that acted against the Jews, than why would you not blame the Jews that acted against the Jews? You would then be implicitly blaming the Jewish community for the Holocaust. I know that sounds horrible and absurd, but is it not what people are doing when they say Poland is to blame?
*** This article is the redone of the original article that can be found here, on my previous blog page***
Yours very much truly, The Twisted Red Ladybug That Loves Poland
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