~Poland 2013~

Aloha guys, before i get into this blog post, which I'm very exited about, i firstly would like to say congratulations to Zoe and Alfie (Zoella and PointlessBlog, to all of those you tube fans out there) on the start of their relationship together. I think it is safe to say that i am quite happy for them, just like when i found out the Jim proposed to Tanya last year (Jim Chapman and Tanya Burr) I understand that everyone is scared to share things with other, and if i was as well know as them around the world, id be petrified, so i thought it took some balls to announce that! although it was done over her blog, which is really good by the way, * http://www.zoella.co.uk *, i fell that it was enough. She even managed to add in her trademark blogging humour! >.<

But sorry to burst the bubble, but this is my blog here and now its my time to shine, metaphorically of course!

Poland

           So recently, well July, i got back from a short trip to the city of Krakow Poland. The city of Krakow is situated in the south of the country. I was lucky to get to go here as a trip, because the History curriculum includes World War 2, and how it affected people all over Europe and the world. Also, because we looked at the persecution of the Jewish population throughout Europe, we visited this city in particular as it is the setting for the most part of the 1997 film 'Schindler's List'. The city has been updated, but still has many of the classic medieval features with in the city, including the main square, Rynek Glowny, and the Cathedral.

Main City Square

Inside the Jagiellonian university building

Church in the main square, where on the hour, after the clock tower has struck, a Bugle player plays four notes to the four corners of the "Kingdom" a tradition that still continues to this day.

The Clock tower in the square.

Entrance to Medieval Krakow

The dragon Statue the the City takes it's Name from

Wawel Cathedral

Within the square, I found that there was plenty to do, either day or night. During the day, there is the big indoor market, with stalls for gifts, toys, clothing items,etc. also there are smaller stalls outside in the main square, with souvenirs, flower stalls, and stands with polish pretzels. Around the perimeter of the square, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants, including a Hard Rock Cafe. Also along side streets, leading away from the square, there are shops, such as Benetton, Sephora, Pandora, Accessorize, etc, so there is something for everyone. On a night, the market stalls are not open, however, the square is just as lively , with street performers in all shapes and sizes, dancers, magicians, human statues. There are also carriages drawn by horses, available to hire, which take you out of the square and around the close area to the square, available to hire both day and night. Polish ice cream, in my opinion, is some of the nicest ice cream i have tasted from around the world, and i have tried, English, Scottish, Italian, Americana, Spanish, and Turkish. And at 3 zloty a scoop, which is about 75p, who's to say no!

Also, within Krakow, you are close to tourist hotspots, such as the factory Oskar Schindler used to save the Jewish people he employed to work there, you can visit Kazimierz, which is a historical district of Krakow best known for being home to a significant Jewish Community from the 14th century on until the Holocaust.Within walking distance from Kazimierz, is the Galicia Jewish Museum, which exists to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and to celebrate the Jewish culture of Polish Galicia, presenting Jewish history from a new perspective. Also, you can get a guided tour in and around of Auschwitz and Birkenau, two of the concentration / death camps used by the Nazi party in the Holocaust.