My Russian Life: A Weekend in Krakow

I'm FINALLY getting around to posting these pictures from the 1st weekend in December. The end of the year is just crazy.......

So I was in Krakow by myself a few weeks ago, for work and play. Pat was in the US (Disney!!!). If you ask me, I got the better end of that deal

Florianska or St. Florian's Gate, which takes you into Stare Miasto (the Old Town). It was built in the 14th Century, to guard the city against the Turks. And it's one of the few surviving parts of the ancient defense walls that once circled the city

One of the things I notice when I'm in Poland is 1.) the vast number of churches, and 2.) that many people go to church for prayer and worship. Poland is approximately 90% Roman Catholic, and somewhere from 45-65% of people reportedly attend mass at least once/week.

Wawel Cathedral, also know as St. Wencelas & St. Stanislas Cathedral

Holy Cross Church, located near the outside of the demolished city walls.

Church of St Peter & Paul in the background, the main Jesuit church in the city. Built in the 1600's, the statues along the fence are of the 12 disciples.

Cloth Hall, gearing up for the holidays. Cloth Hall or "Sukiennice", is one of the world's oldest merchant trading stalls still in use. The original market building was built in the mid-13th century, with a roof added over the stalls around 1300.

Cloth Hall was originally focused on textiles. Today, it's souvenirs

Town Hall Tower, also in the main square. This is the only thing remaining from the original 14th Century Town Hall building

Interesting sculpture in the market square, by the Polish artist Igor Mitoaj. It's called Eros Bendato, or "the head".

Yeah! A Christmas Market

Soup stand, before the crowds.

Hot mulled wine. There is nothing better on a cold winter day

Wow! The Polish like meat

I'm not exactly sure what this was, but they were slicing those amazingly large loaves of bread and making sandwiches with the meat spreads. It smelled wonderful.

Yes, I smuggled some of this home for my Polish husband in my luggage.

Pretty tree outside my hotel

It was cold!!!!

I don't remember what this is! How annoying is that?

St. Mary's Basilica (or Church of our Lady Assumed into Heaven) on the right and in the next photo, which is located adjacent to the main square. Each hour, a trumpet is played from the top of the highest tower and is stopped mid-tune, to commemorate a famous 13th century trumpeter who was shot in the throat while sounding the alarm before the Mongol attack on the city.

Holy Trinity Basilica, a Dominican church originally built in 1250 by the friars from Bologna. A massive fire destroyed the original, and it was replaced in the 1870's