Today post is the first part of the throwback that is all about the trip to Kraków that took place in May 2020, so two months after the official hit of the pandemic. I made this reservation a long before it all and happily it was possible to travel then, so I went for this trip. But it’s mainly about walks around the city and parks… Because museums were closed!

At first let 22-year-old me tell you hello!

So, this is Ojców National Park and the most popular part of it – Pieskowa Skała castle and Maczuga Herkulesa limestone stack. To get there, you need to leave the car at the parking lot and walk through the forest for about 2 km. But it goes rather fast and it’s really pleasant… Just look at all these photos!

The castle was closed then because of pandemic but I’m happy that I could be there anyway and honestly, I would love to come back there one day… There is an exposition about European paintings but I also would love to see just the castle. It’s a Renaissance style building that was bought by Poles (private money!) from Austrians before gaining the independence right with the Royal Castle on Wawel hill in Kraków. So, I guess it shows how important it is!

You know… Many different perspectives…

There is such a little pond too.

When you walk around the pond and look up… This is what you can see!

The only open part of the castle was this pretty courtyard with the view at the castle garden.

And me again but from the hotel bathroom this time…

Now some pics from the Old Town in Cracow.

Barbican. I like this one better than Warsaw… One of two upcoming posts will show you how it looks like inside.

Florian Gate is the place where I recommend to enter the Old Town the most because this is there the Florian Street starts and it leads to the St. Mary’s Church. Probably the most popular legendary church in Poland with the Wit Stwosz’s altar. This is a place that you MUST see when you’re in Kraków.

This is the part of defensive walls. The only part that got left and you can walk on them. I mean there is a museum. I highly recommend it for historical purposes and the view is amazing! And that white palace is a Czartoryski’s Library. There is a museum next to this building that you also have to see when you visit Kraków.

This is Jan Matejsko’s house. That’s a very popular Polish historical painter that lived in 19th century.

Sukiennice.

St. Mary’s Church.

The oldest church in Kraków.

Let’s look closer at the Sukiennice. The market.

Just look at all these details!

And this way the first day of this trip ended. I loved the sunset out there and I hope you liked these photos too!

The next day brought seeing the Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec. It’s the part of Kraków now but it used to be a seperate place and I love the way to it. River on one side and woods on another. It’s also really old because from 11th century.

The last thing to show you today is The Kościuszko Mound. Tadeusz Kościuszko is a Polish hero who started the very first uprising in Kraków just before the final partition of the country. He also decided to help Americans to become independent and then he came back to Poland to help his country in need. So, he’s a hero not only for Poles!

This is not only a mound with the pretty view for the city but it’s also a museum that was unfortunately closed back then in 2020. I’d like to go back there in September and see what I haven’t seen three years ago… And I will let you know how it was, you can be sure!

Also, I heard it’s good to get there on the top and make a wish and I heard that these wishes always come true… Mine hasn’t come true yet but I think it may happen one day…

I was hot and tired so I had to have some iced coffee. I feel like it may be one more reason why it turned out to be one of my fav places in Kraków…

What I love about these photos is the gentle shape of Tatra Mountains. I really really wanted to see them one day and it really happened last year so maybe this mound really makes dreams come true… Especially those silent whispered by our hearts…

This mound is a museum and fortress at the same time and it shows…

This is the end of pt. 1. The next part will appear soon and the post about Riverdale will come out on Thursday… We’ll see what will be faster then!

Greetings!

A.A.