R elative spontaneously we decided to go to Krakow for several days . As we arrived the two-for-one offer of the airline Air Berlin very well. I am a great friend of culturally and historically important cities, the more so if they could be largely preserved in its buildings. The southern Polish city of Krakow has been spared in the last world war, air raids and destruction of war, and therefore such a visit is like always a journey through time. But "the jewel of Poland" was more than just eye candy, especially the Poles have done it to us. Granted, for the German tourists just do not like Poland to be the number one tourist destination, and before departure We were then confronted with the one or the other classical prejudice against our Polish neighbors: "rob
not let you
", "Take good care of your things on
" etc. About the detour Berlin with a propeller-engine arrived in Krakow, we noticed that the first information in our guide to reality not quite match. The announced bus routes not traveled to Krakow, but only about 100 yards to a train station - (follow the airport exit on the right side of the road) this range can safely go on foot, you do not want to wait half an hour in the stationary bus. The kiosk in the airport bus tickets purchased or acquired for the equivalent of 20 cents were therefore unnecessary, and you could even post-dissolution problems the train ticket from the conductor on the train (16 PLN). The tickets we have purchased back to the airport, were strangely expensive 4 PLN. The profession is in Poland Schaffner still be found on all trains - here in Germany there are almost only inspectors. Although the Poles their car really do not like for us here is the German original charm of this means of transport awake again. Trains, where you can still open the window, with little curtains at the window side, also is the good old train compartment here is not yet fully given way to the saloons. The train into the city, however, was of modern design, more of a suburban train, and strolled over many unguarded railway crossings about 15 minutes through the countryside before we arrived in Krakow. The first few minutes in an unknown city in a foreign country, and it feels like the first man - all his skills in the areas of orientation and communication robbed. This phase gives way then a fast-hearted interventions, which in our case was then crowned a rather quick with the finding of our hotel with success. The center is a beautiful green belt ("
Planty
") environment in which one runs the risk of walking, pissed of birds sitting on the trees to be - I also happened, but that is well known for good luck. The point at which everything comes together is the main square of Krakow. Near the train station to get from the shopping center (yes, unfortunately, has also
ECE allocated to project management
and put this ugly glass palace from the train station) about the remarkable Mateijki
-space to a military round tower ( Barbican
, the largest Gothic tower in Europe), avoids this and crossed behind
Florian
. The street on which you can even get that Florianska
flows, directly in the market place, Europe's largest with 200 x 200 meters. Steffen Moller writes in "Viva Polonia" that you have right here is the best way to see the poles. Numerous cafes invite one to linger, the best coffee we drank in the Art Café. Voh you can set out the busy bustle of the employees, the strolling tourists, horse, pigeons - which are the Sage
to actually Ritter, watch jugglers and vendors, professors and students - and in the middle of the Cloth Hall, displayed in their stores, art crafts is offered and where the famous Café Noworoslki
is at home. The square is lined by impressive civic buildings fries with ornate facades. I spare you now all the details about sights of the city - that you can read all about in the guidebook. In short, with such a guidebook in hand, and if reasonably well is on foot, we can all comfortably on foot and without the costly "Tourist Guide", of whom await hordes at the end of
Florianska
to their clientele, within one week scour easily. K
Rakau offers Mediterranean flair, an abundance of absolutely remarkable cultural and historical highlights (5,000 historic buildings and cultural monuments), excellent and reasonably priced restaurants with stunning interior, and countless clubs and bars that are set up no less appealing. The hygiene of the toilets but can be desired - mostly to the toilets for men and women equally used. If only it is a distinction, then it is marked with a triangle (for men) and a circle (for women). Of this way, there was nothing in the guidebook - but the triangle seemed to be obvious. With English and German to get great deal in the tourist city. A remarkable number of Englishmen and Irishmen are found in Krakow - but this is not as intimidating as it may sound, perhaps.
So many churches in this city to me yet in any other noticed. The interior of these temples is absolutely worth seeing, but you must apply a little patience, you do not want to burst into one of the many trade fairs. The most impressive is St. Mary's Church on the square and the cathedral in the castle on the Wawel
. The museums are closed Mondays, but then flow legions of Polish school children by the city. The longer one stays in Krakow, the more you discover - it is worthwhile to even off the beaten track einzubiegen in side streets. Security - I felt well away from the crowded streets late at night and nowhere unsafe or even threatened. We are not even mentioned by any of homeless or have been begging. Nothing like that.
scenes as they unfold from dusk on the rings or in Cologne Cologne U-Bahn stations nil,! The city was remarkably clean, as well as public transport. Police were present but not overly abundant on the road. In short, in Cologne, I feel far less secure and keep the atmosphere in the Rhine metropolis for aggressive - nothing like this was felt in Krakow. The Poles are polite, although she is getting is not necessarily on the sidewalk out of the way - you have to prevail before, you will not be jostled. On most striking for me was the fact that we no stupid beglotzt has - what ever happens here in Germany (M. 1.87 large - that is striking!). The author Steffen Möller mentioned in "Viva Polonia," as he was walking around disguised as a Wehrmacht soldier in Warsaw, without having large took notice of him. Reminded me of this anecdote to my surprise at the lack Glotzerei. If you deal kindly with the poles, you get this kindness back twice, but that's probably the case everywhere in the world.
Polish girls and women are mostly very elegant and tastefully dressed - with mass, they are also slim, despite the Polish but high fat food. Sunday dress is still in style before the Road goes. In Germany there are not any more. Even the many Polish school children were all very well-behaved impression - unthinkable in Germany in 2009. Groups for this scale of German teachers could no longer be tamed. I have the impression that the Poles do anything right, or we German something very wrong.
The partly dilapidated building facades Krakow may deter the Germans accurate, perhaps, for me they add to the charm of this ancient city. In some ways it take to Poland just not as accurate - even the more of a charming trait, I think. Our view from the hotel was way dominated by the remarkable investment ruin the unfinished high-rise
Szkieletor
, which is now served by countless pigeons and swallows.
is parked, how it fits, even if one stands with half the car on the road. Will you cross the zebra crossing as a pedestrian, you have to leave. Standing still loses - the cars will just continue.
A visit to Krakow is also an encounter with art. Musicians, painters, writers inhabit the city. Countless bars and clubs offer live music. A beautiful gift is one of the images of art students, offered at St. Florian's
. Otherwise one finds everywhere the usual kitsch and tosh, the one tourists just the way offers. For us German Krakow also an encounter with our own history. The Governor's office after the German occupation of Poland, Krakow, and close to the city are the former camp Auschwitz I and II (Birkenau). A walk through the Jewish Quarter and the former Krakow Ghetto evokes strange feelings - not only as a German, but as a person. Here, incidentally, was also filmed Schindler's List Spielberg
, near the factory of Oskar Schindler's . Of course, the sky is not blue about Krakow as the local, but still I have fallen far much better than it is the case with us. It has some of the good old days
that you miss in Germany today. But I'm not at all certain that the Poles really appreciate it. One must remember that this very old city has an extremely young population - the proportion of young people is relatively high (60% are younger than 45 years), and the city is home to tens of thousands of students. Also interesting are the remains of communist, like the tiny cigarette kiosks offered in hotels or coffee powder. Otherwise you will of course in Krakow McDonald's & Co. D
he city on the Vistula is absolutely worth seeing and clean sens. We can not guarantee my last have been visiting there. A few days are enough, and we have seen a lot. One week vacation spot I think is the optimal time window. Apart from that you can spend in Krakow very cheap holiday. 25 euros per head per day, with plenty of drinks and two hot dishes, plus entry fees and money for souvenirs, ranging from absolute. Not to be missed is the traditional Polish cuisine ( Bigos
and Pirogi
!). Actually I wanted to print some of the more than 100 photos taken - but none of the pictures survived. This is bitter. Now I have to just to take pictures again to Krakow.
literature tip about Poland and the Poles:
Viva Polonia , Steffen Möller, Fischer Verlag.
Must-sees in Krakow: Old Town, Market Square, Cloth Hall, St. Mary's Church, Grunwald Monument, Peter and Paul Church, Royal Castle with cathedral, Kazimierz district, St. Catherine's Church, St. Bernard Church, Planty Walking, Adam Mickiewicz statue, Town Hall, St Anne's Church, St. Florian's Gate, Barbican, Slowacki Theatre, Dominican Church, Vistula river.
Wolfgang has invited his brother Hubert, so the garage is growing faster! 
Setting up the first brick was a long time, but the distances fit perfect now ;-) 
must now be watered diligently so that we now the first green Grass seedlings to see ... 
