WELCOME TO MALOPOLSKA
The Salt Mine in Wieliczka
The Auschwitz – Birkenau Concentration Camp of Nazi
Why me?
Because I understand the soul of tourist. They come to see, to get known, to taste but first of all to take a rest from every days duty and enjoy themselves. I present my city on the background of the Europe – it was always cosmopolitan, European city, Krakow went through all trends in culture. Today you can see them still in architecture, picture. You can hear it in music of the past times. You can hear it in my story about my fascinating Krakow.
The special routes
To get some l orientation, feel the climate of a cosmopolitan city, listen to the music somewhere in a middle ages cellar, take a bier, eat something polish (bigos? żurek? Pierogi, mushroom soup served in a bread?), meet someone new discus ideas? That is what most of the tourists would like to do. That’s why people were always traveling – to get new ideas, tastes, feeling, with one word- discover something new.
For the general orientation, I would recommend just to walk down the streets of Cracow, listen to its half legendary the story, see the traces of the splendid past, Find out why some people say, that Cracow is absolutely unique.
We stop in several places which played a special role in the life of more than 750 years old city. They are still alive and they telling us fascinating history sometimes funny sometimes shocking- but all of them really true.
Market place with St. Mary church, Town Hall, Cloth Hall, The old university from 1364, Wawel Hill- these are standards on the tourist route but actually going down the streets every place can tell us a very long story. General information you can find in the guidebooks, but interpretation, why exactly like that, what was the reason official and this one in which you will not find information about - can only a guide tell you...
Follow the UNESCO list?
You have click here to open – it means that you are very experienced tourist, you know exactly wat you want and you go directly to get it. Probably you know that Poland has 10 objects on the UNESCO five of them you will find in our MaÅ‚opolska Region.
1. Cracow - old city complex
2. The Salt Mine in Wieliczka, 15 km from Cracow, you must reserve a half day
3. The Auschwitz – Birkenau Concentration Camp of Nazi - you need one day
4. The Kalwaria cloister in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska - one day
5. Five wooden churches in de area of Podhale - one or two days
In every object are available professional guides – specialized only in that area – that give you guarantee that all your questions will be properly answered. English guides are available almost everywhere can reserve them for you if you wish.
You have chosen this item, it means that you have more time available or that is not your first time in Cracow. What I can recommend - is only examples taken from my own experience, but maybe you can have any other?
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Middle ages Cracow - how people lived in this dark period? Was it really so bad or it is only our point of view? The story and traces of the oldest Cracovians
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*History of Judes from the first inhabitants to the time of the Holocaust. Today we can visit the special area – former judish quarter which we can hardly meet a real Jude...Why?
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The Schindler List. We can follow the traces of Oskar Schindler who rescued 1100 Judes from the Holocaust, was he the only one Righteous in Cracow? Let’s think a bit about the people who are gone and lets be happy that we can live here and now.
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The communistic city Nowa Huta – specially interested for people who never experienced the communistic terror, never lived in fear, listen to the story of indoctrination, spying, killing free thinking, look at the architecture of real socialism - it says for itself over the life in de former epoqe. I am sure you will be shock to hear some stories. Looks like a comedy – but it was real life. Maybe you will find out why Poles used to drink so much alcohol...
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Cracow under the Habsburgers – fortress Cracow – we have here 200 object – to fascinate the lovers of history of XIX and begin of XX century. There is not much to see in Europe these days – that’s why we guest a lot of tourists interested only to see the system of the XX cent city protection.
I don’t mean meet them on the street - that most probably of course. But some people come to Cracow regularly or... they have here temporary or even permanent address. They have a special places where they meet to discuss Cracow matters. Do you want to join them? Write me what kind of company you would like to have?
Meet Polish?
It is very easy – Most of the young speak English, certainly in the cafe’s shops, they are happy if they can speak English. Please don’t exaggerate with tempo. Speak slowly and distinctly don’t use slang - it is not taught at school. If you want to cover special subject – please write me an e-mail - I can check what is possible...
Shopping?
Cracow has a few brand new shopping galleries, some people love to shop under the roof, specially when weather doesn’t permit to enjoy a fresh air. You can easily shop all day but also eat and drink there, give a rest to your foot in a cinema (also 3D)
Some people love to go to the free market. It is possible every Sunday in the judish area Kazimierz. Among all kind of rare things, you can find a real pearl for little money, why not to take a look?
Business opportunities
Some people buy apartments – still for reasonable price and rent through specializes agencies, opens café’s restaurants, clubs, bookshops, schools, some work in Cracow as a native speaker, guides, intermediaries.
Actually nothing new... Since the middle ages Cracow always been cosmopolites city.