[ˈkrakuf]

Krakow is the least part of Poland that I wanted to visit before. I have many friends from Poland, and Marcellina is keeping inviting me to her place, Little Sweden in Poland and to visit Torun. These are my first intentional destination.


However, during planning our Eastern Europe tour, my husband insisting to go to Krakow as according to the map, it is reachable from Budapest. As for me, I wanted to have Budapest-Bratislava-Vienna-Prague. He insisted on adding one destination, Krakow. And I said, no it is either Budapest-Bratislava-Vienna-Prague or Budapest-Krakow-Prague. Finally we agreed on Budapest-Bratislava-Vienna-Krakow-Prague. (And he kept asking how about Geneva? Duh..)

I don´t know what to expect about Krakow the town itself. What I know was, if visiting Krakow do not forget Auschwitz. Luckily we have Polish friends whom visiting Krakow at the same time. And our dearest friends, thank you for assisting us and being a great host. (Sorry, we could not keep up with you guys as travelling with baby really slow us down.)

From left to right: Laura, Ivo, Bartek, Paulina, me, little princess, my hubby Zul and sitting Marcin.

Krakow is full of beautiful building, different from what I have seen in the previous 3 cities I have been. Recognize as the oldest city in Europe, no wonder it was once the capital city of Poland before they moved it to Warsaw.

We had to stop as Maira was crying. She really enjoying this street musician

I am also glad that we made this visit before they changed their currency to Euro. (The expected year is 2012, when they will host Euro Cup, but my friends told me the possibility is reducing now as their are also in crisis).

If you asked me about the expenses in Krakow, my answer is simple - damn cheap! But I know Bartek will totally oppose this. He told us Krakow is expensive, wait till we set our foot in Torun, it is even better. Furthermore, the currency Zloty is more or less like RM. We never convert any amount in Euro to RM before, but in Krakow we feel like home. Instead of Zloty, we change it to RM. (Hahaha- so called missing home).

So, we took advantage by pampering ourselves, like eating at this stylish sidewalk cafe at the Old Market square, feeling posh. Never did this in Barcelona, for we are afraid to expect what will be printed on the check.

We ordered salmon, trout, chef salad complete with a whole bottle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and croutons, soda, tea and coffee. And the price €17! We were more than delighted!

We really love the environment in Krakow, it is stylish, but not so congest like Barcelona. everything is almost there, really a good place for relaxing and rejuvenating. Some people might say, "hey, Budapest is full of spas for that". Want to listen to my answer? "who cares? This is my way. If I want to be in water, I prefer being naked in my own tub without anybody see me. And I can add anything from flower petals to dead sea salt, just name it, but that is not me, okay". (Sorry for being harsh).

From the cafe we sat, we have a good zoom in view of this clock tower....

the sidewalks that squaring the square....

other stylish cafes....

and the big laying head. My baby loves this head, she kept walking to it, got inside and tried to make friends with other kids. But I guessed her vocab in Polish is still not enough after 6 months living with Marcellina, so she kept coming back to me.

See how happy she was when she took picture with Bartek and Paula.."Daddy, make sure the head is in".

It is summer but when we were at Krakow, the temperature dropped. It was cool and windy. Luckily I had my jumper with me, but we had to buy one for Zara. (Ladies, what do you expect? Shopping is the best activity ever!) As for my significant half, he is the one with thick skin and never bother much about the weather unless it is snowing.

I like the transportation system, cheap, reliable. It still astonishing why they build tram line in the middle of the road, and how the traffic lights turn red so that nobody will be knocked down by cars to get into the tram..

This is the heart of Krakow where the local bus station, train station and intercity bus station meet. My "cameraman" able to get a snap during daylight....

and at night.

And Krakow also rich with theater for opera and ballet...

The signboards for tourists are in Polish and English..Thank God...

An opera house

At one of the streets to Old Market Square

A tower near Barbican

A majestic view, never been tired of looking at this

And this

And this

And this

During this tour, I did not get to Warsaw, but I have picture in front of Warsaw Hotel...

And Poland hotel...hahaha

My love one with his self potrait in front of Krakow Glowny

And just by walking, we had a lot of things to read like this one, telling that the street (if I am not mistaken) as one of the earliest being established in the town.

I have a lot of pictures at the castle, dragon slayer dungeon, beside the river, but at this particular momment I have no energy to upload it. I am still mesmerised by the visit to Krakow - sincerely I had not enough of Krakow. I felt sad leaving the place that night. Don´t know why, fell like home (only the weather distinguish the different - what a lame excuse!). But truly, I want to come again and I will. One day, I will....

Schilndler´s List

Besides Auschwitz, we went to Schindler´s factory, the same old one during WWII and the movie Schindler´s List. However, during the visit, nothing much can be seen as the factory cum museum was in its refurbishment and renovation.

In front of the factory entrance, at our back there is a gate with a huge iron casted wording, Schindler´s Factory. However, it had been taken down, waiting for the grand opening perhaps. The expected grand opening will be in this coming fall. (So Zarina, you have to come and look at the famous gate entrance).

The museum tells about the historic contribution of Oscar Schindler during the holocaust, saving Jews and they called themselves, Schindler´s Jews.

These Jews were producing metal products like these. There is also a documentary shown how these people worked and the operation process.

Whatever it was, the thing that really concerned me is "WHOEVER SAVES ONE LIFE, SAVES THE WORLD ENTIRE".

It was a quick visit to this museum, less than an hour for a museum lover like me. But I learnt a lot about humanity. Still at the end, we were like young mischievous kids. Now, it even make me sadder when I watch Schindler´s list. (Yes, it is true that Spielberg did exaggerate in the movie, the original Schindler´s list was only 800++ but Spielberg made it 1000++. This is not my word, but there at the museum.)

And I just realize, I love learning about WWII. No wonder my significant half keeps his reruns of Band of Brothers, Schindler´s list, Saving Private Ryan and I don´t know what else. He is this type of movie man....

" Yes dear? Movie time? Wait for me!"

Story from the past

I never imagine that war can be so harsh, beyond what I figured out from the stories from my grandparents during the Japs time. For me what have been shown in television is exaggerating, how come these (films) people know when they never been involved in wars (especially the Americans when they filmed WWII).


After visited Auschwitz, I realized that wars is worst than the films. The films only show minute part of the reality of wars. I am more than heartbroken.

A map showing the area from where the people´s origin in Auschwitz concentration camp

Fighting for territories is nothing compared to elimination of human race, regardless who are they. At this point, I cry inside for what happened in Bosnia and Palestine. The cruelness never identify sex or age. Everybody is a victim even a newborn.

There, I read about a real experience of a Gypsy girl, they named her Sinti. On the day the Nazi took her family, her father was already been taken about a year ago. They never heard of him since. On that day, when the soldiers knocked the door, her mother was just about to breastfeed her little sister. Her mother never did, and her sister was snatched away, thrown to the corner of the caravan. Her other two brothers tried to fight, but who were they. Being kid, they invited more pain to themselves.

The whole family was taken out and lead to the nearest camp, leaving her little sister crying helplessly.

At the camp, they were told that they were going to be transported to another camp early next morning. Worried about the left behind girl, her mother bribed the officer to fetch her. Her request was only granted with condition - her brother had to do the job. So that night her brother sneaked home.

In the morning, Sinti, her mother and her other brother (younger) waited impatiently. At last they saw him - alone. No baby. Her brother said, he found nothing except showing a note. The note said the baby was taken away by an auntie and given to a Dutch family for a safe care. At least, a relief.

Later, they were taken to an area, where the soldiers were supposed to shave her mom´s hair. Her mom was crying. (Hair was shaved and sold to German factory to produce cloth)


Sinti, got angry attacked the soldiers, kicking, grunting with all her might. But what the little girl done lead to nothing. Instead she was punched and everything went black.

When she woke up, they were already in a train, crammed among many other. It was hot and stuffy. They had a journey of a day long, with no food, no water and far from what people say as comfort. They arrived at Auschwitz.

At the camp, they were segregate, man, women and children. Her older brother was taken away to be with men. Later her mother. Before they were separated, her mother took off her socks and gave each to her and her brother. The last thing that she remembered was her mother´s words to be brave.

The news later she heard was her brother was shot dead at this wall. Her mom was dead at the electric fence when she tried to run away.

Sinti and her brother were sent to a furniture factory. They were force to work without pay. Food? It was amazing when they can eat.

No later after the Germans surrendered, her little brother died due to perish. There was no news about her litlle sister who was before taken by the Dutch family. Sinti was the only surviving person of her family.

This is only a little particle of cruelness done by the Nazis. I could not imagine how if such thing happen again, medical experiment, torture, death, horror. A true horror! God forbid, please do not let this happen again.

Cyclone - used to gas death

On the day, it was raining just like my other visit to Burmese POW´s museum. I may not be crying there, but I feel that the weather knows what is inside.