Poland's deep history shows through in everyday life
In Krakow, we went on a free walking tour! We saw the medieval town square in the old town, Rynek Główny. It holds the famous Cloth Hall, St. Mary's Basilica, and Church of St. Wojciech. There were so many items on sale in the bustling cloth hall! My American consumerism tendencies kicked in and I bought a doll keychain and Amber ring, since so much amber comes from the Baltic region. There were so many street performers and cafes packed with people enjoying drinks.
Potato pancakes and venison and an impressive craft beer
the best ice cream of my life
I had at least 20 ice cream cones when I was in Poland - I still get withdrawals from the LODY
Wandering around Kazimierz
Kazimierz is Krakow’s Old Jewish Quarter. The neighborhood was mostly destroyed during the Second World War. Today, the streets are covered in art and its streets are lined with bars, restaurants, galleries, and boutique shops.
Krakow’s crowning jewel is Wawel Castle, which for centuries, was the residence of the kings of Poland. This is one of the largest castles in Poland (though not quite as large as Malbork Castle, which takes the title of largest castle in the world by land area!), and it’s hard to miss given its size.
Walking the Royal Route, which was the historic coronation path of Polish kings. The route starts in the north end of the Old Town at St. Florian’s Church, goes past the Barbican and through St. Florian’s Gate, straight down Florianska, past the Main Square and St. Mary’s Basilica, down Grodzka, and up Wawel Castle
Wieliczka Salt Mine
The Wieliczka Salt Mine tour began by descending flight after flight of stairs, 800 steps below the ground to a depth of 135 meters. Then, we were led through a 3 kilometer maze of cool tunnels, seeing saline lakes, timber constructions, and learning about the history and various stories about the mine along the way. The rock salt was naturally in varying shades of grey, though the purest salt was white and crystalline. The tour ended at a magnificent underground salt cathedral, where dozens of statues, artwork, and chandeliers were carved out of salt.
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The Dollhouse Museum in Warsaw
MUZEUM DOMKÓW DLA LALEK
I stumbled upon this museum by a lucky accident. Located in the city center in the Palace of Culture and Science, it is an enchanting collection of over 130 tiny houses, shops, and rooms for dolls, tiny snapshots of cultural and historical reality. A doorman welcomed me into this museum through a small dollhouse door. It was like walking into a fairytale. I was stunned by the level of artistry and intricate detail behind the creation of these mini worlds. Some were handmade by parents and others by skilled craftsmen or mass-produced by toy factories. I observed a collection of tiny Polish post offices, schoolhouses, a butcher's stall, hospitals equipped with minuscule operation tools, and regular houses with everything you would find in your own home, but smaller. These displays came from all over Europe and represented life in various countries and times, including the Communist era. In a small wing to the side, there was a collection full of religious houses from southern Europe. These toys were meant to accustom children to church rituals while playing in hopes of kindling a stronger connection with God. I also absolutely loved the wing of the legends and myths of Warsaw, from models of the Basilisk's lair, the mermaid of Warsaw, and the Wawel Dragon's Den. This is a mysterious and enchanting place to go to for both young and old.
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Teatro Cubano Warsaw
The Royal Route, Warsaw
We saw the Royal Castle, King Sigismund's Column, St. Anne's Church, Chopin Point, Copernicus Monument, St. Alexander's Church, and Lazienki Park. Back in the Second World War, Warsaw's Old Town was bombed during the German Invasion of Poland in 1939. The Old Town was an incredible collection of buildings that showcased the city's history, with hints of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. During 1944, the Polish resistance fought against Nazi occupiers in the Warsaw Uprising. In retaliation, the Nazis stormed through Old Town, burning buildings with flamethrowers and systematically destroyed buildings for months, in attempts not to only destroy the physical city but also Polish culture, history, and identity. The battle of 1944 left almost nothing of the old Warsaw. The fate of Warsaw reduced to rubble epitomizes the disaster of World War II. Sadly, Germany's eventual defeat in the war did not mark the Poles' liberation but another occupation by the Soviet communists.The city was meticulously reconstructed almost identically to how it had been previously and overall became a symbol of national pride.
