This place certainly is touristy. The main square is like a massive Leicester Square (but much prettier) and all 10 acres of it covered with the usual mix of fire-breathers, clowns and break-dancers, all surrounded by more places to eat and drink than you can shake a stick at. Being a very large old town, there are a couple of options for the lazy tourist: the carriage drawn by two horses - there was a particularly fairy-tail one, which I'm sure Jordan pitched up to her wedding in - which tout for business in the main square; or the golf buggies which lines the surrounding streets.Drinking and cheap flights from the UK inevitably leads to stag parties, and there was some evidence of this on the first day (Thursday), but despite there being a stag group in our guest house, on Friday the streets weren't clogged with pissed-up assholes, as can happen at weekends in Prague (I assume there's some nice strip clubs that they all hide in) . Edit: Saturday night was horrific with 'em.
Wawel hill with its castle/royal palace and cathedral are the big in-town draw, although they lack a real "wow factor" - Kirsten: "I've seen better castles and better palaces".
Our second morning was spent in the salt mine of Wieliczka. An interesting place (and another massive tourist draw), where the miners have carved out chapels and cathedrals deep underground, along with relief carvings and statues all from the rock salt. The underground cafe, which seemed like a great place for lunch, in fact smelt like a greasy-spoon, and drove us back to the surface.
Tomorrow (Sunday) we visit the Krakow area's other major tourist destination - Auschwitz.
On our final night we decided to sample some traditional Jewish food in Kazimerz (Krakow's Jewish quarter). Now traditional food does not necessarily equate with tasty food, and Kirsten - never one to offend a waiter by leaving a full plate - made a couple of trips to the toilets to dispose of the fried potato pancakes. My vegetables were boiled to death, and then boiled some more. On the plus side, it was the most expensive meal we've had in Poland so far.
Now we move on to Warsaw.
Kirsten's Flashpacker Review:
Globtroter, Krakow (http://www.cracow-life.com/globtroter/) - This guest house is very well located in the old town. Our room was a good size, simply decorated and spotless. Rooms in the main building also have small balconies. There is a common area with a computer terminal and free WiFi access, which is also available in some rooms, although not ours. Staff were very friendly and helpful and will provide assistance in arranging tours etc. I would highly recommend this as a base for exploring Krakow.
On our final night we decided to sample some traditional Jewish food in Kazimerz (Krakow's Jewish quarter). Now traditional food does not necessarily equate with tasty food, and Kirsten - never one to offend a waiter by leaving a full plate - made a couple of trips to the toilets to dispose of the fried potato pancakes. My vegetables were boiled to death, and then boiled some more. On the plus side, it was the most expensive meal we've had in Poland so far.
Now we move on to Warsaw.
Kirsten's Flashpacker Review:
Globtroter, Krakow (http://www.cracow-life.com/globtroter/) - This guest house is very well located in the old town. Our room was a good size, simply decorated and spotless. Rooms in the main building also have small balconies. There is a common area with a computer terminal and free WiFi access, which is also available in some rooms, although not ours. Staff were very friendly and helpful and will provide assistance in arranging tours etc. I would highly recommend this as a base for exploring Krakow.
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