Originally Posted by
Fanjet
SFO777,
I'm glad you were able to walk along the Planty at night. I think it looks prettier at night with the lamp posts illuminated. Always a nice stroll (it reminds me of the Burgring in Vienna). I was there once, and someone had tied a horse to a tree on the grass area next to street. At first it looked fake, being at night, then someone went up to it and gave it an apple.
When you were on the hotel rooftop bar, and you look up the river to where that hot air balloon was. You'll see a building next to the river that is draped in a banner. That used to be the "premier" hotel in the communist era. But it is the ugliest concrete monstrosity. I normally stay at the HI Garden Inn across the street from it. And it is such an eyesore from what would otherwise be a wonderful hotel window view.
Yeah, our friends had pointed it out. Looks better from a mile away and covered in the big sign.
Originally Posted by
Fanjet
What did you think of the cathedral? And yes, you got the name correct
. I really love the colors inside of it. They're quite the un-norm for the typical cathedral. I make an effort to visit there each time I'm in Krakow.
We thought it was beautiful. The dark marble is really different. And the 5 Zloty photo fee was a good deal. A lot better than some places where they don't let you take pics.
Originally Posted by
Fanjet
And how did you like the "snack food carousel" in Kazimierz? I still haven't visited each snack window yet. You can get a plate of about a dozen pierogis for $2. And the Zapiekanki choices are quite extensive. And it gets quite crowded there late at night when the partygoers start getting the munchies. But one thing I've noticed, is that the native population likes to squirt "sos" on top of them. Which is either mayonaise or ketchup. I always decline. They do the same thing in Wroclaw. However, they tend to call them tostinis more than zapiekanki. Regardless of the name, they're still a great, and cheap, snack.
The Zapiekanki was good not great. Probably would have been a lot better if I had been with someone who knew which window to go to and what to order. I may as well have thrown a dart.
Originally Posted by
Fanjet
And Lufthansa is also my favorite airline. It's run with precision. When I flew IAD-FRA, I would always try to book them over UA. Even if it was LH Y versus UA Y+. I don't like to guess what the onboard service is going to be like.
I'm going to disagree on the LH Y vs. UA Y thing. I vote neither and think I'd just stay home.
Originally Posted by
FlyIgglesFly
Ha, that is the EXACT place for zapiekanki that I was hoping you'd go and where I ended up in '11. I have no idea what I got (Polish friends ordered it) but it was delicious.
Yeah, it looked like the right place, but the choices were overwhelming.
Originally Posted by
SFflyer123
What a phenomenal report, SFO! I really enjoyed this. It was almost like being there on vacation with you. I've never been to Poland, but this makes me want to go. The food looked delicious, and the sites looked excellent. The places you visited seemed so clean and colorful! Thanks for posting this.
Thanks very much
SFflyer. We really enjoyed Poland. People were friendly, Wroclaw and Krakow were attractive and clean. And the prices for everything are incredibly inexpensive... easily 50-60% less than Germany or Austria.
Originally Posted by
Polomarc
Lovely TR, amazing photos and that you are trying out the local food etc
Nice reminder about Zapiekanki, brings back memories when I used to visit Poland as a kid, dirt cheap and western music blasting from the speakers
Is Poland becoming a popular destinations for Americans and is the connection such as family or friends the main reason?
Thanks
Polomarc. I'm sure visiting friends and family is a big draw, but I have to think low prices for food, hotels, etc... have been a big boost for the tourism industry.
Originally Posted by
DJ Bitterbarn
Despite the weather, you seem to have picked just the right combination of indoor activities to stay out of it. Good you found the underground museum, too. I quite like it as an intro to the city history.
And Wieliczka. Obviously a good choice! But I'm really surprised at the nice new lifts. Those seem a very big improvement (in comfort) over the old miner-vintage lifts where you all had to cram in to just get the door closed.
We also happened to wander up to the Sheraton rooftop bar this weekend after seeing your pictures, just on the off chance it was open to non-guests (which it is). Beer choices aside, the views are that spectacular, although your photos do make them look even better.
The salt mine was fascinating. Yes about the lift. Apparently its very new. The only downside is that it's about a mile walk from the after tour visitors center. And you arrive in the center of town, about 1/2 mile from the main entrance. Glad you made it to the Sheraton rooftop bar. Agree on the view. The views of the wait staff up there are also nice.
Originally Posted by
DJ Bitterbarn
True, Okocim > Tyskwiec (credit to Jamie Stokes for the term)
LOL. I even got that one.
Originally Posted by
DJ Bitterbarn
Glad you got a chance to check out Kazimierz. And exactly the right place for Zapiekanki (Plac Nowy, I mean. I don't really have a favourite Zapiekanki place lately). But that building is well-known by the locals to have the best Zapiekanki in town... apparently the best in all of Poland. Re: "sos", though, I'm quite a bit biased toward garlic myself, which means I don't even know how any of the others are!
And the Beer Gallery on Warszauera! Too bad we couldn't sort that out, but there's always another time, I'm sure.
Eagerly awaiting your return flight report now, but I'm glad you managed to hit the main sights in Kraków and seems like you enjoyed yourselves!.
Thanks
DJ. We had a great time. Too bad we couldn't meet for a beer.
Originally Posted by
olybeast
Great TR, great photos, great holiday I'm sure. Lufty F looks unbelievable.
Thanks
olybeast. Yeah, LH is tough to beat, even in old F.
Originally Posted by
flyhen
I think LH should "pay" you a visit, if you know what I mean. They are getting lots of free publicity.
LOL. If they want to throw in a couple of free RTs, I wouldn't object.
Originally Posted by
tiramisufan
Or get in touch with ministry of tourism of the visited country. Or write a guide how to travel in style
I'd love to fly around the world and write about it. Just have to figure out how to monetize that one. Oh, that and getting rid of my day job.
Originally Posted by
deniah
Many of them in Chicago.
So much that so OS opens a route in the spring VIE-ORD for the many Polish who live in Austria
Suspect there are lots of Poles all over the world. Not sure if it's still true, but I read that there were/are more Poles living in Chicago that any other city including Warsaw.