Poland

A Cable Car Ride up the Tatra Mountain

We decided to take a cable car ride to the top of Tatra mountain near Zakapone. The mountain range forms a natural border between Slovakia and Poland. The tatra mountain Rysy peak is the highest point in Poland at 2,503 m or (8200 ft).

The cable car ride took about 15 minutes to reach the top. The views on the way up were stunning. The following video is shortened and fast speed to give you an idea of the trip up the mountain.

We arrived at the top of the cable car landing and exited to a spectacular view of the mountain range.

Shelley and Ray on the top landing of the cable car ride to Tatra mountain in Poland.

There are trails in the area and many people use the trails to explore the mountain. We walked up the trail that leads to the weather station on the Rysy peak.

Shelley and Ray on the Rysy Pea on Tatra mountain in Poland.

At the Rysy peak area, we could see 360 degrees. The views were stunning in every direction and we took our time to enjoy the views.

View from the Rysy peak of Tatra mountain
Ray on Rysy peak
A view from Rysy peak
Shelley on the Rysy peak

We stayed on the Rysy peak for about a half an hour and then some dark clouds began to appear. It changed the looks of the mountains and made it look somewhat ominous.

Dark clouds rolling into Rysy peak
View from Rysy peak with heavy clouds

We decided to head down the mountain before the weather changed. We took the cable car ride down enjoying the views along the way.

“Do widzenia i dobry dzień”

Poland

Zakapone Poland

We decided to take the bus to a resort style town called Zakapone at the base of the Tatras mountains in Poland. The town is known for turn of the century wooden chalets, outdoor activities and excellent skiing slopes.

The bus ride to Zakapone was through the countryside and took about 2 hours. We enjoyed looking at the scenery along the way, which reminded us a bit like Canada.

View from the bus along the route to Zakapone, Poland.

As we got closer to Zakapone, the landscape became more mountainous and lush green.

View of a chalet from the bus close to Zakapone, Poland

We arrived at the Zakapone Bus station and then took a taxi to our hotel. After getting settled in we went to a restaurant called Watra to meet up with our friends.

This was a traditional polish restaurant with some unique features. There was an open flame grill, with baked potatoes cooking.

Wood fired grill with baked potatoes and assorted foods

There were homemade polish sausages hanging from the ceiling.

Homemade Polish sausage hanging in the restaurant

We walked around the restaurant and checked it out before seating down to eat.

Mark and Ray checking out the restaurant

The tables had real sheep skin on the seats.

Sheep skins on the back of the benches in the restaurant

There was also a micro brewery in the restaurant.

Micro brewery inside the restaurant

It made for an interesting meeting point for lunch.  We enjoyed a great meal and planned our next adventure.

“Do widzenia i dobry dzień”

Poland

Our Gastronomy Adventures in Poland

We enjoyed traditional Polish food throughout our visit to Poland. Each day was a gastronomic adventure, we tried to go to different Polish restaurants and try different Polish foods.

We enjoyed trying the lard which was served with bread as an appetizer before the main meal. The lard was mixed with some spices and was tasty.

Lard mixed with spices and served with bread as an appetizer.

We ordered a mixed platter of Polish foods, which included numerous different traditional Polish foods.

Ray, Michel, Barbara and Shelley at a Polish Restaurant in Krakow
Platter of mixed Polish foods including Polish sausage, cabbage rolls, potato pancakes,, ham hock, perogies, Polish kiszona kapusta (A form of Polish Sauerkraut) and beet salad.

It was a very tasty selection and more food than the four of us could eat. Throughout the week we enjoyed the different soups, including Borscht and bean soups.

Borscht Soup in Krakow, Poland

There was a Polish goulash stew which was quite tasty and enjoyable. It came in a homemade breaded bowl which added to the meal. We even tried different Polish beers, which were very tasty and rival any beer.

Polish beer served in Krakow

They had a major selection of different infused Vodkas. It is a popular drink in Poland.

Liquor display with numerous infused Vodkas

We couldn’t resist trying at least one of the infused vodkas. There was a honey vodka which was quite tasty. Shelley tried a lemon infused Vodka which was also very good.

Shelley trying one of the infused Vodkas in Poland

Over the week we encountered different foods and desserts that were unique to us.

Vicki, Shelley, Ray and Mark enjoying the gastronomy of Poland

There were Bagel stands throughout Krakow that sold fresh bagels and pretzels. These bagels were very good and we even tried some “pączki,” which is similar to a centre filled donut.

Barbara buying a pretzel for everyone to try.

The gastronomic taste and adventures were very enjoyable. Below are a few examples of the food.

Lentil and bean soup
Potato pancakes with goulash

One of the joys of visiting Krakow and Poland was the Polish restaurants and traditional foods.

“Do widzenia i dobry dzień”

Poland

Tour of the Oskar Schindler’s Factory Museum

We went to the Schindler Factory museum, which is located in the former administrative building of the Schindler factory.

Entrance into the Oskar Schindler Factory Museum

We entered through the main entrance and began walking through the museum. The exhibit began about the initial invasion of Poland by the Germans.

Map of the invasion forces progress of Germany into Poland

As we went through the museum there was more information about Krakow and how the occupation impacted the Polish and Jewish people.

Photo of the Nazi occupation in Krakow, Poland

The exhibit was more about the occupation of the Nazis in Krakow and how the people were treated. As we went through the exhibit we saw different exhibits about the life in Krakow and how the people were persecuted and forced into labour camps or worse.

The band forced to be worn by Jews in Krakow
The Nazis rename the square to Adolf Hitler Platz
One of the many exhibits of WW2

We came across some of the exhibits of Oskar Schindler Factory.

Office desk from the Oskar Schindler Factory
Pots and pans from Oskar Schindler Factory

The Schindler museum was interesting but also disappointing. There were very little information and exhibits directly concerning  Oskar Schindler and the events that took place at the factory.

“Do widzenia i dobry dzień”

Poland

Saint Mary’s Basilica

St Mary’s Basilica is located on the corner of the large main square in Krakow. We decided to take a self-guided tour of the Church of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven also known as Saint Mary’s Basilica.

St Mary Basilica with twin towers in Krakow

The basilica was built-in the 14th century and unique with a very interesting past.  There are two towers in the church and the northern tower was designed to serve as the watch tower for the entire city.

Northern tower of St Mary Basilica in Krakow

The northern watchtower has a trumpeter who plays a tune at the top of every hour.

This tune is called the Hejnał mariacki and is played every hour of every day of the year. The tune stops in mid note, to commemorate the famous 13th century trumpeter, who was shot in the throat while sounding the alarm before the Mongol attack on the city.

Hejnał player in Kraków, photo from guide “Ulicami Krakowa”, 1968 Source: Polish wikipedia (upload by Topory)

We went inside the church and we were amazed at the brightness of the ornate designs of the walls and ceiling.

View of the walls and ceiling in St Mary’s Church.

It was very colourful and bright in the church and everywhere we looked there were ornate features.

Ceiling and columns in St Mary’s Basilica

We came across an interesting head in an arch framing a doorway.

Life like head carved in arch in St Mary’s Basilica

We went through the church looking at the feature of the different areas.

One of the many ornate feautes of St Mary’s Basilica
Interior Pulpit in St Mary’s Basilica

The Gothic main altar piece of the church was very stunning and interesting. It was carved in wood by Veit Stoss a German sculptor in 1489, and was the largest triptych (3 wooden panels hinged together) at the time.

The high altar in St Mary’s Basilica

The details of the altar were incredible but what was more incredible was the history of the altar.

The wooden carved Alter in St Mary’s Basilica created by Veit Stoss

In 1941, during the German occupation, the dismantled altarpiece was shipped to the Third Reich. It was recovered after the war in 1946 in Bavaria, hidden in the basement of the heavily bombed Nuremberg Castle. The altar was put back in its place at the Basilica 10 years later.

The tour of St Mary’s Basilica was quite enjoyable and interesting.  We discovered that the Main square in the Krakow was a former cemetery. At the beginning of the 19th century, the cemetery was shut down and replaced with the main square.

“Do widzenia i dobry dzień”

Life is too short to wait for adventure!