Poland is of the few places that was not physically damaged by WWII. In Krakow, it’s as if time has stood still. Compared to other cities, Krakow’s architecture is old school, but the activities and people are far from being old. Krakow is party town, especially when I was there. Euro Cup 2012, a soccer/football championship, is being hosted for the first time in Poland.
In front of Krakow Galeria/train station, there was a football festival. I was lucky enough to see this football player do some great tricks with his *ahem* ball.
The hardest thing to see is all the great detail that each building had. I could probably stare at this particular building for years and still find new things about it. The great detailed for something this is at least 10 stories high always astounds me. Common sense will tell you to not put such great detail on something that people can’t see, but an artist will tell you otherwise.
Krakow, hands down, had the best food, wodka, and beers. If you never had wodka from Russia, Poland’s one is right up there. In my eyes, everyone else is doing wodkas all wrong. Poland wodka doesn’t have that harsh wodka smell and has little to no taste whatsoever. Because there is no taste, the wodka goes down so smoothly and warms you up from the inside out.
Pod Wawelem restaurant had the best homemade lemon flavored wodka. It was slightly sweet and super smooth. I had two or was three shots that night. I could’ve drank that all night long. Pod Wawelem is known for two things, huge portions and pork. If I could recommend one place to eat dinner, it’s this place.
I’m not a huge whole fish fan. Sushi is different, but cooked fish I’m not a huge fan. At the same time, I have one rule in travel (food and life), I need to try it at least once. Guess what, this was awesome. There was a salty sourness on the fish and when eaten with the sweet onions, it’s the perfect balance. I couldn’t stop eating it.
I forgot what this was called, but it was a rack of ribs in a sweet honey sauce. This place came with two different sauerkraut, fried potatoes, and rice. It was a huge meal that required two hands to pick up the plate.
Even their beers are super sized. Granted, it’s not as big as the Hofbrauhaus, but it was pretty darn close. In the end, my whole meal cost a little under $15 (including my shots of wodka). The nice thing about this restaurant is they give free shots at the end of your meal. Granted, it’s cherry schnapps, but free liquor is free liquor.
Krakow tid bits:
- Cheap. Super cheap. I believe the rate exchange was 1 Polish Zloty to $0.25 US dollar.
- Pork is a huge thing in Krakow. That and potato dumplings, which I’m obsessed about.
- Wodka, not vodka.
- Huge party town, which I didn’t get to part taken in.
Day 1 was filled with death, art, and liquor. All in all, a good day. Stay tuned for part 2, which will feature monk beer and more food!
That’s hilarious and fabulous. I love all the detail you can find in old buildings like this. I find it awe inspiring that someone at some point had this kind of vision, skill, and tenacity to create something of such profound beauty. I find it even more awe inspiring that it was done without the technological advances we have today, and that it often took multiple generations to complete. I would be AMAZED to see people today work generation after generation to create 1 person’s detailed artistic vision given the tools we have available today. Your tip looks totally ah-maze-balls. And I have to share that football demonstration with my son! He’s been going to soccer camp all week. He’ll get a total kick out of it.
I totally agree. Here in Hawai’i, we don’t have that much detail on the buildings. I feel like we are lacking in the creativity department here. I’m sure the UK is a tad different, right?
Are you excited for the Olympics?
My son’s comment about your football video? “That almost made my eyes pop out of my head!” hehehehe
OMG! I was wondering who commented on my YouTube video. He is too nice and cute! LOL I hoped he liked it. It hard balancing a ball around, so I am so amazed by it.
Cool vid with you screaming like a fan girl and Ron giggling too the side. Love it. Wodka with no burn awesome! Glad you had a great time and that building would probably keep anyone busy with all it had going on. Thanks for sharing.
HAHA. The crowd was so weird, like no one showed any emotions. Well, except for the cheerleaders. So, I thought it would be a good idea to scream a little. I really wanted to “cheee hooo”, but no one would get that shit. And Ron’s girl laughs just makes me laugh every time I watch the video.
I was wondering if you went vodka instead of wodka. So what’s the difference?
You must have got totally caught up in the Euro!
Krakow calls their vodka as wodka, I guess they don’t have a “v” in their language. Anyway, so I’m calling really good vodka as wodka, because (in my opinion) Krakow got it right in that department. LOL It sounds stupid, but I’m known for being a little crazy/stupid like that. LOL
The vodka sounds wonderful and it is wonderful how the architecture tells a story. I’m the same about fish. Sushi and sashimi, thumbs up. Also like the occasional Pacific Rim ono with da fancy sauce drizzle but just cooked fish like the whole Chinese/Japanese fish, no thanks. But, I’m also like you that I try (it is the single most important lesson from my grandma, do not refuse, must try). I’m glad you enjoyed it. Great pics!
We are some weird locals, uh? LOL Raw fish taste so much better, but when it’s cooked, it taste all weird. I especially hate dry fish.
Wow – I want some Wodka!
Me, too! We should go, James! Let’s live Louieville adventures again. If you are interested, we should plan somewhere to go….like, Dominic Republic or something crazy like that. OH, Tahiti….think about it.
Sounds like you had a great time. I’ve never been to Krakow, thanks for taking me there!
You are very welcome. LOL Krakow was so lively and cheap. I think the two best qualities you can have in a travel destination.
Hi dear! It’s so great to read about all the many different places you visited!! I’m glad you throw out your food preferences and try food on your journeys! That fish doesn’t look that appetizing in photos, but your description makes it sound so yummy.
I totally agree, the fish photo doesn’t look too great. Honestly, in person, it didn’t look too great either, but the taste was AH-mazing.
So, how’s your break off? What have you been up to? I feel like I haven’t heard from you in a long time, even tho, I heard from you all the time on instagram. LOL
Hi Jen! It has been a while! I’m almost back to blogging. Prolly launching new site this week or next, fingers crossed. Nothing monumental happened since then. Everything you see in instagram is my ilfe
. It’s nice to connect there 
I’m so glad that you are enjoying your time off. I saw your site…OMG, it’s wonderful. So modern and clean. I love it. So, you switched over to wordpress. How are you liking it so far?