Below are some snapshots of our trip to Krakow. It was the first time either of us had been to Poland and it didn’t disappoint. It’s as cold as it looks and far busier than the pictures would suggest. Although there is a dark vibe throughout the city, some kind of sadness I just can’t put my finger on. Perhaps it’s down to the weather, or the close proximity to Auschwitz, or just the lack of tinsel and sparkle at a time when the whole of Scotland is covered in glitter, but there was no festive spirit in this city.
We planned this trip to celebrate our anniversary. We’ve been together for four years and counting and are newlyweds, having gotten married in July this year. Partying wasn’t high on our agenda. All we wanted was a picturesque city, some cold beer and a comfortable bed. So, our Ryanair flight and inexplicably cheap hotel room were both adequate. The city was indeed picturesque, if a little light on the picture-postcard snowy scenes I had hoped for. The beer was good – a little too good actually and I had to be carried to that comfortable bed in the middle of the afternoon on our second day.
A few things will stay with me from this trip. The food was cheap and the locals were polite and all spoke excellent English. Even a little girl, who must have been no more than ten, who we met in a restaurant, spoke perfect English. We managed to accidentally tip more than we paid for our lunch on the last day, thanks to a miscalculation but the lunch was only £7 for three courses for both of us, so we didn’t mind too much.
I’ll always remember two things. Firstly, the street food stalls which sell snacks made from ewes milk cheese. Alex loved them but I could happily live my whole life never having them again. Secondly, the basement cafe we accidentally ended up in, clouded in smoke which smelled suspiciously bacon-ish. I only went in to pee and had to buy a hot chocolate so I could use the facilities. Unfortunately, when they say hot chocolate, they literally mean hot chocolate. It’s not a drink. It’s melted down from the bar and served in a cup.
I may never return to Krakow, but if I do, I’ll come in spring.
