June 19, 2007 at 6:28 am (Culture, Events, Krakow, Poland, Tourism)
Krakow seems to be a typical university city where most of what is happening is connected to student life. That is basically true. But, fortunately summer time brings lots of attractions for general public and for local people as well. That is why the city, unlike other university cities, don’t die in the summer time.
There is nothing as nice and soothing as walking by the Vistula boulevard in the summer time. One thing to remember is that public drinking if strictly forbidden, so in opposition to other countries you can not enjoy a beer under a clear blue sky.
Another thing to do is to attain cultural events. There are any of them – Street Theatre Festival, famous The Jewish Culture Festival, European Jazz Night, Summer Jazz Festival, 5th Dumplings Festival, and many others.
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June 11, 2007 at 8:08 pm (Culture, Krakow, Poland, Tourism)
Galicia Jewish Museum is an institution one in it’s kind. Founded and run by an English photographer Chris Schwarz in 2005 serves both as a cultural institution and a gallery of photographs. Permanent exhibition presents a selection of over 80 photographs taken by Schwarz in his 10 years photo research in Galicia, a part of pre-war Poland which now belongs partly to Poland and partly to Ukraina. All the pictures have academic captions written by Oxford professor and jewish cultue specialist Jonathan Webber.
Temporary exhibitions feature jewish culture, polish photographs and art in general. Also the Museum provides wide range of events, from lectures and meetings with prominent people to dance classes and language courses. Very often one can attend a truly unique concert or cultural event. Vital and always helpful staff consists of young poles who speak English and always try to help as much as they can.
To put it simple – a must see to all the foreigners visiting Krakow. A drawback is poor advertising, so sometimes it’s hard to get information of what exactly is going on in the Museum, even if it’s something really worth seeing.
Map of Krakow with Galicia Jewish Museum on it can be found here.
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June 3, 2007 at 9:17 pm (Krakow, Krakow - the city, Restaurants, Tourism)
With this post i begin a series of recommendation of Krakow’s restaurants. To come clean – I will not recommend ‘good’, or ‘best, rather interesting for somebody coming to Krakow.
First one would be a Chinese restaurant. There are many Chinese restaurants in Krakow nowadays. They started with the beginning of ’90s and develop into cheap and reliable food source. One of my favourite is located in Starowislna Street. Food has always been fresh there, and prices are so incredible low that even a student can afford eating there from time to time. I strongly recommend all poultry dishes and delicious fish in Chinese sauce.
Do you agree? Disagree? Want to sue me? Well … start with commenting this post.
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June 1, 2007 at 5:56 pm (Events, Krakow, Krakow - the city, Poland, Tourism)
Gatherings of thousands of people on the banks of the Vistula on Midsummer Night for a festival called Wianki have become a tradition and a yearly event in the programme of cultural events in Krakow. Wianek is a ring of flowers, garland to wear on your head. Also having it is a symbolic expression of being ‘untouched’, being a virgin. According to a rural tradition on 23rd of July in the night time young virgins would put wianek with a lit candle on a river. If fished out by a guy, it would be a prediction of getting married soon.
Not the whole tradition remained untouched. You don’t have to be a virgin nowadays to get married. The wianek, along with other traditions, stayed though as a festival and a good opportunity for gatherings, laughs and dancing. Each year, thousands of Kracovians and visitors from around the world gather at the foot of Wawel to participate in remains of this old Polish tradition of garland-throwing. The atmosphere of Midsummer Night is unique, and there is no other night like it. The city council organize concerts and other events. Last year’s star was Marillion, coldly receipted by Krakovians.
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