Central Europe 2019

Krakow

Thought it time I appeared – this was yesterday in the Jagiellonian University Collegium Maius. The site of a Nazi round up of academics to blunt dissension.

Jewish Quarter Main Square

Today was a day more of experience than photos. We visited Schindler’s Factory Museum and began our journey into the history of the holocaust and the once large Jewish community of Krakow. It’s thought provoking. It’s beyond comprehension and yet real beyond my ability to believe. It also reveals to me again how little I know of Jewish religion and culture.

Then we spent time getting turned around in the small historic Jewish quarter, wandering street to street. We found we enjoyed the klezmer music floating across the square and the quiet, prayerful Old Jewish Cemetery (1552-1800) and intimate Remu’h Synagogue.

Each rock represents a prayer.

Our evening was spent in the company of other travelers with Camilla (Delicious Poland) on an extensive walking Polish food tour! Even after a walk home we’re satiated!! Between the new flavors (Rye Grass Vodka, Easter Sour Soup, Christmas Eve Beet Root Soup, Potato pancakes/latkes with Goulash, variations of their beloved pork lard spread which I’ve tried several times now and can live without) and the portions and courses we may not need to eat for days………

Zapiekanka – a yummy bread, cheese and mushroom bread.

• Two shots Polish vodka
• Four appetizers
• Two soups with rustic bread
• Zapiekanki
• 3 entrees (Potato Latke w/goulash, sauerkraut stew, cabbage roll, beet root salad, and two kinds of pierogi
• Apple dessert w/fruit sour cream
• Two craft beers

We nearly escaped two major downpours today! Thunder and lightning – the whole shabang !! And each time the sun burst out afterwards.

Walked home to work off some of the gluttony and plotted how to end our stay in Krakow without having leftover zlotney’s in our wallets when we leave Wednesday morning. This city has been more interesting than I’d expected. It’s much more than the city to make the pilgrimage to Auschwitz from.

Nostrovia!!!

(That’s what we wished each other as we downed shots of vodka – pronounced wodka here).