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

 

It was a nice & quiet place to rest, reflect, and warm up

 



St. Mary's Basilica, and me looking all fuzzy & soft :)

 

More to come..........

Venice - Part 2

It is the city of mirrors, the city of mirages, at once solid and liquid, at once air and stone.
~ Erica Jong

Someone recently asked me about Venice - if I would recommend it to visit, how do I compare it to other cities in Italy. 

Venice is unique.  "Hauntingly Beautiful" was the description I used.  Nothing else in Italy compares.  You won't get the best food of Italy (although if you know where to look, true Venetian cuisine is very good).  There are too many tourists.  And it can get a little smelly (all that water, with relatively no movement).  But it's one of my favorite places to just walk and reflect, and think about Venice's place in history.

Chiesa de San Moise, right next to our hotel.  Initially built in the 8th Century, the current façade is from the 1600's

Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square).  This is the North side of the square - these buildings are known as the Procuratie Vecchie, or "old procuracies". They were formerly the homes and offices of the Procurators of St. Mark, who were high officers of state in the days of the republic of Venice. Built in the early 16th century, they are now primarily shops and restaurants at the ground level, with offices above.

The Clock Tower (built in 1499) and the South side of the square.  The buildings on this side are known as the Procuratie Nuove, or "new procuracies".  Built in the mid 17th Century.

St. Mark's Basilica.  Under indefinite construction.

So many interesting alleys and hidden corners.

A quick lunch, near St. Mark's square.  I love how they made a simple sandwich (and afternoon cocktail) look so elegant.

Cocktail of choice for a warm afternoon?  An Aperol Spritz

A quiet morning..... My favorite time. 

I love that nothing looks (or is) new.  No mishmash of architectural styles. 

Near Rialto Bridge and market

 

Checking out the goods!

 

Rialto Market is primarily a fish market, and they are open until everything is sold, which is usually by 1PM.  So you need to get there early!

Finally, a few very blurry nighttime shots.  Pat on the left, our friend Dave on the right

 

Dave and Marie...........