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National Museum This Festive Season
/2010-12-07/ On Christmas Eve, December
24th, all branches of National Museum in
Krakow close at 1 a.m. and stay closed next day. On December
26th their opening hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On December 31st, New
Year’s Eve, every branch of the Krakow National Museum opens at 10
a.m. and closes at 1 p.m. to stay shut on January 1st, 2011.
Mark
Hot
Chocolate Recipe
/2010-11-29/ I recently spent a wonderful week in Krakow, and in
several cafes had delicios, thick hot chocolate - the best I've ever
drunk. Is there anyone who can give me a recipe for this? The hot
chocolate in UK is nowhere near the Krakovian standard. Many thanks
Roger Manning (UK)
Xmas Trading
/2010-11-29/ Christmas market in
Krakow has started on the Rynek Glowny central square. It’ll
last through December 26. Traditionally its stalls sell Christmas
decorations, sweets and foodstuffs, handicrafts, etc. Other
attractions include live performances and craftsmen showing their
skills.
Kasia
Holiday Making in Progress
/2010-11-20/ Poland has just got yet another national holiday. At
long last Epiphany on January 6th is to be sanctioned as a public
festival from 2011 on. Visitors to Krakow should expect shops and
attractions closed on that day.
Mark
Contemporary Via Temporary
/2010-11-15/ Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow – MoCAK opens
tomorrow at Schindler’s Factory, 4
Lipowa street, to exist back to back alongside the popular museum of
the WW 2 opened last June. The minimalist architecture of the new
museum
will contain the collection of mostly Polish modern art but
temporary shows are supposed to become its hallmark. The first
exhibition of contemporary art is expected sometime next spring.
Kasia
Black Horse Demystified
/2010-11-08/ Jackie, you mean a very popular picture entitled
‘Ecstasy’ in English. It was painted by Wladyslaw Podkowinski in
1894. Now property of the National Museum in
Krakow and exhibited in its Gallery of the 19th-century Polish
Art in the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) on the central square.
Mark
Black Horse
/2010-11-08/ I loved Krakow when I was there recently. I have a copy
of a painting of a nude blonde lady on a rearing black horse but am
unable to find out title of it or who painted it. Please can you
give me this info? Thanks very much.
Jackie
Set
to Vote
/2010-11-04/ On Sunday, November 21st the citizens of Krakow will
vote in the local elections together with the rest of Poland. They
are to choose their mayor as well as the city council and the
councils of Krakow’s 18 boroughs. In the mayoral race the two-term
incumbent, Professor Jacek Majchrowski, runs as an independent
backed by the left against candidates of the country’s two biggest
parties, the centrist PO and the populist right-wing PiS.
Kasia
In
a Word
/2010-11-02/ Was to Krakow last week. Enjoyable.
Cheerio
Online Booking Trap
/2010-10-17/ Newly opened historical museum underneath
Rynek Glowny central square of Krakow has proved an instant
box-office success. And it’s natural that people take advantage of
an online ticket sale to avoid long queuing. Yet make sure that
you’ll be able to turn up to collect the tickets on time. Otherwise
your credit card can be charged with a fine to the tune of 150
zloties, i.e. an equivalent of about forty euro. Also remember that
the tickets booked online aren’t transferable to anyone else.
Mark
Museum Both Traditional and Modern
/2010-10-08/ Gallery of the 19th-century Polish art on the upper
floors the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), in
the middle of the Old Town’s central square, has recently reopened
after a refurbishment. Fortunately, that branch of the
National Museum in Krakow and its cradle retains the
nineteen-century atmosphere despite modern equipment and amenities.
Also, it still exhibits the best paintings of Poland’s top artists
from the late 18th century and throughout the next: from the
enlightenment to the romanticism to realism to impressionism and
symbolism. The museum has got a coffee shop
with a large roof terrace providing the best view of the central
square’s eastern half and St. Mary’s church.
Kasia
Down and Up
/2010-09-22/ Was in Krakow three days, made a day trip to
Kalwaria Sanctuary and Wadowice, the
birthplace of Pope John Paul II. Disappointed the Pope’s museum
in Wadowice closed but the sanctuary very rewarding.
Mario
A
High-Flyer
/2010-09-17/ Polish Aviation Museum in
Krakow
has just reopened in a brand-new, purpose-built, state-of-the-art
building on its old premises at the historical Rakowice-Czyzyny
airport now sitting in the middle of the city. The futuristic
construction of concrete, steel, and glass, fitted with multimedia
equipment, contains part of the museum’s impressive collection of
aircraft as well as a flight simulator, a cinema, and spaces for
temporary exhibitions and special events.
Kasia
Missing Balloon
/2010-09-12/ Where is the balloon that used to take people above the
Old Town? It operated next to the
Royal Castle but it’s gone now. I went up in it last year on my
trip to Krakow and I’d like to take kids this time.
Sebastian
Way
Up
/2010-08-27/ In Zakopane we planned to go
for a ride to the top of Kasprowy mountain in a cable car. I knew
it’s one of the place’s main attractions but nobody had told us that
one needs to wait for hours in a mile-long queue to get in. As the
two of us hated queueing we temporarily parted company with the
other couple and decided we’d rather climb the mountain. The trail
signpost read three hours but we reached the top in two and half.
The track is easy, very scenic, and well kept, with many people of
every age climbing up it. And only the last, steep part of the trail
turned out somewhat demanding. The view of the jagged
Tatry Mountains from the top is really stunning. Soon our
friends arrived in the cable car so we had a meal together in a
crowded mountaintop cafeteria. As it turned out we easily get
tickets back down for half-price what the round trip costs.
Jean
Taxed in Krakow
/2010-08-11/ We took taxi from the station to our
hotel in central Krakow. A couple of hours later I needed to get
back and I had another taxi from the hotel to the station. On the
first occasion I paid the double fare it cost on my way back. The
same day, the same short distance, two different cab drivers, and
100 percent difference in the fare. I inquired and the hotel staff
told me the taxi tariffs in Krakow are regulated. So I wonder how
many cabbies in Krakow cheat.
Magnus
Sunday Mountaineering Galore
/2010-08-07/ Babia Gora national park
close to Krakow is a great summer getaway for hikers. Situated
just one hour’s drive from the city, it’s easily accessible in
contrast to overcrowded destinations in the
Tatry Mountains such as Zakopane. The
1725-meter-high Babia Gora mountain boasts Poland’s greatest
elevation beyond the Tatras and it features all vegetation belts
from forests to dwarf-pine to alpine meadows to bare rock at the
top. Splendid views stretch far towards both
Poland
and Slovakia. A number of trails lead to the peak of Babia Gora so
all kinds of mountaineers can enjoy climbing it, from schoolchildren
to ambitious climbers. The easiest track (red signs) runs from
Krowiarki / Lipnicka Przelecz (a spacious car park and a bus stop).
The most demanding trail (yellow marks) starts near Markowe
Szczawiny mountain hotel. Climbing to the peak and back takes under
six hours. But don’t expect much solitude as the Babia Gora National
Park is a popular weekend destination.
Mark
Nice Stuff
/2010-07-28/ We stayed recently in a wonderful downtown
hostel in Krakow just a block away from the main market. Nice
staff, clean bathrooms, comfortable double bedrooms.
Marianne
English Deficiency
/2010-07-16/ Just got back from Krakow and loved my time in this
beautiful city.... full of life, energy and colour. May I
respectfully suggest that some thought be given to the greater use
of English and perhaps other languages when the significance of
landmarks, statues etc are being described. The same could be
applied to signs in shop windows. May I say that it was a pleasure
to go into restaurants where the menu always gave an English version
and indeed the Polish people are wonderful in their command of
English. Please do not be offended by these suggestions... I only
make them with all respect.
Dorothy
In
Short.
/2010-07-08/ Fine weather. Splendid city.
Ronald
Minor Downside
/2010-06-18/ We’ve brought our two kids, 3 and 5, to Krakow with us
for a three-day break. Not many attractions for children in the
city. Otherwise fine place to visit.
Mary
Schindler’s Factor
/2010-06-16/ Historical Museum of the City of Krakow has recently
opened its new branch in the former Emalia Plant a.k.a.
Schindler’s Factory featuring an exhibition entitled “Krakow
Under Nazi Occupation (1939-1945).” It tries to expose the city’s
wartime grim realities through photography and documents as well as
interactive installations and multimedia.
Kasia
Open Space
/2010-06-07/ Krakow’s municipality has completed the refurbishment
of the Old Town’s Plac Szczepanski
square, one block from Rynek Glowny central
square. After two years and 13 million PLN spent the former car
park has been turned into a pleasant public space with a
computer-controlled fountain “dancing” to varied musical scores.
Mark
Small Beer
/2010-05-11/ They don’t know real beer! Have visited plenty of
watering holes in Krakow and all they had were all sorts of
lager plus Guinness and a few local stouts.
Kent
of Kent
Festival of Jewish Culture and Tradition
/2010-05-05/ This year Jewish Festival in
Krakow starts on Friday, June 25th to last through Sunday, July
4th. Apart from two concerts every night in Tempel Synagogue at 24
Miodowa street, the festival consists of other musical events as
well as several series of workshops, lectures, and tours of areas
associated with history and tradition of the city’s Jews. Workshops
range from Jewish cooking to Hasidic singing to Hebrew.
Kasia
Auschwitz Accessibility
/2010-05-01/ I’m a disabled person and I want to visit
Auschwitz
but they don’t provide any wheelchairs there I was said. Is this
place for the able-bodied only?
Mick
Wheele
The
Taxing Thing
/2010-04-30/ I’m an American Citizen. While in Krakow I made many
purchases and spent lots of money on items I have now taken back to
America. I was unaware of the VAT tax in Poland
and that I did not have to pay it. I had to leave Poland in a hurry
due to the volcanic ash over Europe and had to take a flight back to
America from Berlin.
BZ
No-go Sunday
/2010-04-14/ President Kaczynski’s funeral
takes place in Krakow this Sunday, April 18. This solemn ceremony
brings an impressive line-up of world leaders to the city. At the
same time major disruptions are inevitable. Expect cancellations,
shorter opening hours and even closed stores and sites. The entire
Wawel Hill and St. Mary’s church will be off limits for the whole
weekend. Cars will be removed from many streets to make way for VIP
cavalcades and the public transport may halt for hours.
Mark
The
Sorrow
/2010-04-13/ Our hearts are with the people of Poland in this time
of sorrow.
Barbara Capuano
Up
To Read
/2010-04-07/ I have to say, every time I come to
www.krakow-info.com
you have another interesting post up to read. A friend of mine was
talking to me about this topic a few weeks ago. I think I'll e-mail
my friend the link here and see what they say.
Louie Bags
Walking Holiday
/2010-04-05/ Was for Easter in Krakow. All
tourist sites closed on Sunday but enjoyed the break anyway. Nice
sunny day so we strolled around the old town, saw its ancient
churches (all available though a few happened to hold a service
going on), and had an alfresco meal on the central square. The
restaurant opposite St. Mary’s church serves Polish food: good
quality, generous portions. The day before we managed to see the
Krakow salt mine.
Sam
Easter Market in Krakow
/2010-03-27/ Easter market takes place on Krakow’s Rynek Glowny
central square from March 27th through April 5th. Besides stands
with food products, crafts, and other wares visitors may enjoy
tastings of traditional dishes March 26-29 and performances March 28
and April 3rd, at noon.
Kasia
Keep Penning
/2010-03-21/ I absolutely love all your writing choice, very
exciting, don't quit and also keep penning seeing that it simply
just good worth to look through it. Impatient to look into a lot
more of your content pieces, thanks!
codagoody
List of Krakow Events in 2010
/2010-03-18/ Now you may see the city's major festivals and other
top events in Krakow in 2010 listed at
http://www.krakow-info.com/07events.htm
Kasia
Forgo Taxi, Take a Tram
/2010-03-04/ Start of a year-long overhaul of a key intersection
paralyzed transportation system in Krakow
over the entire southeast quarter of the downtown. In daytime it may
take a couple of hours to get through. As no detour is a viable
option trams turn out to be the fastest means of transport in the
area.
Mark
So
Long So Good
/2010-02-21/ Do you have copy writer for so good articles? If so
please give me contacts, because this really rocks! :)
Asa
Ward
Fresh from Krakow
/2010-02-20/ We are just back home from
Cracow. I most enjoyed the royal castle
and the salt mine. Also, we loved to
simply stroll the streets of the Old Town.
Except on the last day temperature rose and the snow melted so one
had to paddle in shallow water in many places. We stayed in a decent
downtown hotel and found several good
restaurants in Krakow. One evening we were to a concert of
classical music in a richly decorated baroque church, very
satisfying.
Betty
Food in Krakow
/2010-02-12/ Polish food isn’t what people
think back in the States. We dined out in various
restaurants in Krakow looking for local cuisine. The food proved
original and often pretty refined.
Julie
Good Enough
/2010-02-09/ Best hotels in Krakow match
the quality of good hotels in London or Berlin.
Ed
Museum Transfers
/2010-02-03/ Renowned Princes Czartoryski
Museum is now closed for remodeling but part of its collections
has been transferred to the castle in Niepolomice, a town on the
eastern outskirts of Krakow. Their exhibition there is scheduled for
opening in mid April or so. But the crown jewel of the Czartoryski
Museum, Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Lady with an Ermine, is said to
be shown in the newly refurbished Cloth Hall Gallery from next June
till the reopening of museum’s seat at 19 Sw. Jana street sometime
in 2012.
Kasia
'Lady with an Ermine' by Leonardo da Vinci in Krakow's Czartoryskich
Museum
The
Hotel Blues
/2010-01-24/ Hotels in Krakow. I keep
visiting the city from time to time: first as a
business visitor, now mostly because of my Polish wife who wants
to “stay in touch”. So over those many years I’ve become familiar
with nearly all hotels in Krakow and to be
honest the service sometimes disappoints. I noticed vast improvement
in the “hardware”: hotel facilities in Krakow are much better than
ten years ago. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about “software”.
Yes, personnel speak better English now but in the past they seemed
to care more about the satisfaction of their guests.
John
Son
Missing
/2010-01-20/ Have you seen our son Emil Petrov, age 20 from Finland?
He was travelling from Warsaw to Berlin on the 1st of October 2009.
But he never returned home. Would you like to help us to find him?
Please join our group in Facebook or follow the blog written by
Emilīs big sister Emma, 21 who is now in Poland looking for her
brother! Thank you very much!
Emilīs mother, FINLAND
Krakow Takes on Cannes
/2010-01-14/ Krakow’s Sinfonietta Cracovia chamber orchestra will
play at the main gala evening of Midem Classic festival in Cannes,
the world’s top music event. It will
accompany such outstanding soloists and ensembles as mezzo-soprano
Elina Garanca, the UK’s King's Singers, and Canada’s counter-alto
Marie Nicole Lemieux. The Polish pavilion at 2010 Midem fair will
present festivals of classical music in Krakow.
Kasia
Icy
Journey
/2010-01-12/ Travel to Krakow was a
nightmare. Last Sunday in Warsaw I got on an express
train bound for Krakow. Normally, the journey should take under
three hours. Instead, we got stuck someplace midway in the middle of
woods. We spent there the whole night, almost, in the bitter cold.
The reason? An ice storm turned off the electric power grid and
caused havoc with the country’s rail transport.
Josh
Kosh
Cheer Nativity
/2010-01-08/ We visited an exhibition of Krakow
nativity theaters in the Museum of Krakow History at the central
square. They are ones of their kind. Colorful, funny, cheerful.
Marie
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