thank you for reminding me about Nowa huta. We didn't take a tour, but walked through the area, ending at the famous modern church called the Ark where Pope John Paul ll worked for a while I seem to remember. The stained glass there and in another church in the area was lovely.

After that we explored the local market and had a snack in a cafe - I can't remember what we had but it was more luck than judgement that we got anything at all, due to our lack of polish and the waiter's lack of english. walking through the market [and Nowa Huta] was interesting - we felt pretty conspicuous. There were kiosks selling everything from cigarettes to potatoes, and shops with votive lamps in their windows.

we also went to a concert at the Philharmonia - a modern first half programme followed by a more tradition 2nd half. interestingly the tickets were half the price of those at the faux Mozart programme performed by people in so-called period costume.

We were very taken by Krakow, like you were.

Thanks Annhig.
Appreciate your feedback!

Thanks brookums, I enjoyed your report and appreciated all of the links you included.

I enjoyed your report and blog and pictures. Those pancakes with the mushroom sauce looked really yummy, as did many of your other meals (although I admit that I might have given a couple of passes).

I loved Krakow! I don't remember all the guards at "The Girl with the Ermine", but it was nearly ten years ago when I was there and I guess security has been beefed up. However, seeing that picture was a special moment and a highlight of that trip!

I am sorry that you missed Auschwitz. It wasn't fun; it was overwhelmingly sad. I was so moved that I couldn't even take pictures. It had a large impact on me (as did other concentration camps I have visited), and I am glad that I went. "Glad" is probably not the right word in this context; maybe grateful?

Anyway, thank you for sharing and helping me relive a fabulous visit to a city to which I would love to return.

Thanks everyone for your input. I loved the trip & appreciated the feedback. See ya all soon.......

Planning trip to krakow, this report is great!

I do have a question, is Krakow/Poland as cheap as it really seems? I'm doing my research & I'm amazed by the hotel, food & entrance fees!

I keep redoing the exchange calculations because I can't believe how inexpensive it seems.

Just read your Krakow report with photos bringing back memories or our visit a few years ago. I did enjoy this old city...Wawel Castle, Cloth Hall, St. Mary's Church with wonderful altar, Czartoryski Museum with da Vinci portrait, Jagiellonian Univ. for a lecture, Kazimierz area at cafe and cemetery. We had arrived from Warsaw with a meaningful stop off enroute at Czestochowa.

We did visit Auschwitz (on my birthday) which was so moving. And have long studied and pondered about this death camp and the Nazi era. But a chuckle about your aborted trip there. Also we enjoyed a day trip to Zakopane in the mountains.

And by the way we were ourselves in Portugal in October though mostly in Spain (Spain and Portugal in Depth).

Compared to major Western European countries like UK, France and Germany, Poland is very reasonable. Not being part of euro has something to do with it, but also wages are low (most people only earn about £7,000 or $10,000 a year). Major UK supermarket chain Tesco has a big operation in Poland and you can look at some of their prices at http://www.tesco.pl/

Lyb, yes Krakow was a major bargain. I loved it!!!I am in Milan right now. Read along my adventures!

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...march-2015.cfm

Wow, very substantial and nice. I'm looking forward for a trip report from a Polish sea. I love Tricity.