Day 1
After a few days in Lithuania, I arrived in Kraków – the last stop of my trip.
I started by exploring the historic centre. I walked around Rynek Główny, Kraków’s famous Main Market Square, passed the Sukiennice and St. Mary’s Basilica and eventually made my way towards Wawel Castle, one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.
But, as with the rest of my trip, I wasn’t only interested in seeing the famous sights. I also wanted to find out where I could meet some younger locals and get a glimpse of everyday life in Kraków. So I stopped by the tourist information centre and asked if they could recommend places where I might meet young people who actually live in the city. And, of course, I had another very important question: where could I find the best ice cream in Kraków? They recommended Good Lood, so naturally I had to give it a try.
The weather was absolutely perfect. After spending so many days wearing sweaters and long trousers, it felt amazing to finally put on a dress and enjoy one of the last truly sunny days of the summer.
In the evening, I walked towards the Vistula River. The beautiful weather had brought everyone outside, and there were people everywhere – sitting by the water, talking with friends or simply enjoying the evening. I had already spotted a group of young people sitting on the grass near Wawel, playing cards, so I decided to approach them and ask if they would be willing to talk to me. Now, I decided to do the same by the Vistula.
It was such a nice way to spend the evening 🌅
Day 2
The next day, I started by exploring Kazimierz, Kraków’s historic Jewish quarter. I spent some time walking around the neighbourhood and taking in its atmosphere before heading to meet Natalia Zachwieja, who works with at the City Architect’s Office of Kraków.
We talked about how the city is developing and how Kraków tries to balance preserving its historic character with the needs of the people who live there. We also discussed some of the challenges the city faces, including graffiti in the Jewish quarter and Nowa Huta, a district I had first heard about from the young people I met the evening before. It was interesting to hear more about Kraków from a new perspective.
After our conversation, I continued exploring the city. I walked around Wawel and along the Vistula, and of course, I also had to try some traditional pierogi. In the afternoon, I took a train back home to the Czech Republic.
