Visiting churches and a Polish Folk Show

Basilica of the Virgin Mary

headed back to Krakow Old Town to visit some of the churches and also to get a ticket to go to a Polish Folk Show in the evening. 

The Basilica of the Virgin Mary (Kosciol Mariacki) is located in the Grand Square in Old Town and is the most famous of Krakow Churches. After the Tartar raids in the 13th century the original church was left in ruins and the church was rebuilt Gothic style and consecrated in 1832. There were tours available and the lines were long and since I was not up to standing in line I decided to skip.  By going in to pray I was able to walk inside the door and sit and look around some and snap some photos.  I was only able to view a small area close because I was not part of a tour. I do not think I was suppose to but .....never stopped me before. 

inside St Mary

fountain outside

outside

I walked for awhile and came across Church of the Holy Trinity, the Dominican church and I went into explore. The  I came across a very interesting room, not sure just what is was because the signs were in Polish but it had a very colorful display and then I decided to head back to my room to rest up before the Polish Folk show  rest up before the Polish Folk show that evening and took my time and went down some different streets on the way back to my hotel.

Church of the Holy Trinity

colorful display

  I later went to Jama Michalika to have dinner and watch the show. I was early so I had a seat right by the "stage".  The dinner was okay actually not much food, and did not include even a glass of water. The show however was very good and I enjoyed the dancing and singing even though it was in Polish. I was asked to dance but declined with my bad knee. It was a good performance at one point they had a group of people come up from the audience and participate in a dance and it was fun to watch. I wish I could have joined in. Once it finished and I headed back to my room and got an ice cream as I was a bit hungry. 

Never found out what this colorful building was

 

I loved this girls smile she made the show 

Kazimierz district of Krakow

Corpus Christi Church

After a nice breakfast I set off to explore other parts of Krakow.  I decided to walk down to the river and and it was just nice to be walking. When I reached the River I noticed dark clouds coming in.  I walked down a set of stairs so that I could walk along the river but then I could see forks of lightening on the other side and decided it was not a good idea to continue.  I walked up some stairs further along as the rain started coming down and managed to find shelter at the entrance of an apartment building as it really got heavy and stood there for about 20 minutes and then it let up enough for me to move on. 

Floating Pig in River 

I decided to set off to the Jewish area of Krakow known as the Karimierz district I saw a tram coming that was headed there and made an attempt to climb on the steps were really high and my legs froze and I was petrified as to how I would get on when suddenly two people on the tram saw me and both ran forward and dragged me on board. I had to get a ticket and I found what  I thought was the box and struggled to put money in. It was not the right place and I did not see any other place to pay my fare.

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I got off in the area and started down the street. I could see a church and decided to check it out Corpus Christi Church which was founded by King Casimir the Great in 1335 is an example of Cracow Gothic.

Corpus Christi 

Our Lady of Grace

After visiting the church I walked some more and came across some Synagogues decided to go in one and they said half price admission because the women section was undergoing work what they forgot to tell you was being a female I was only allowed in the women area and not the men but I peered in and took some photos. There was a cemetery outside it and it was sad to see all the monuments to people who died during at the hands of Nazis.

Men only section

Kazimierz Town Hall

After that I felt a bit peckish so I went into a bakery and had a nice cheese danish and a cup of tea and then explored some more.  I could see the towers of a church in the distance and headed towards it. It was the church if St Michael the Archangel at Skalka.   "Skalka" means "a slight rock" in Polish. It was a beautiful baroque church and monastery of Pauline Fathers  The grounds were beautiful I walked up the stairs but you had to get a ticket which was downstairs and after walking down , my knees were beginning to hurt and I knew I had quite a ways to go to just get back to the tram.  I headed back to the trams and this time I was able to find the box to put the money into. I also had to wait a little while longer to get a tram with a handicap symbol so it was easier to get on to the tram.

Church of St Michael the Archangel and St Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr at Skalka

on the grounds of the church

watching the world go by her window

The Walking Tour that ran away and Wawel Castle Krakow

I wanted to take a walking tour of Krakow. I found a free walking tour that left St Mary's Church, at 11 am. I signed up for the tour and the guide was interesting and I followed along a bit slow because of my leg but I was able to catch up at each spot. However as we reached the Barbican area the guide was explaining that and then headed away and stopped at another spot and then continued on at a quick space I thought I knew where he went but I just could not locate the tour. I kept walking and looking to see where they disappeared, I was very disappointed to say the least.

last place I saw tour group

I decided to head off in the search of Wawel Castle  which is a Gothic Castle built by Casimir III the Great who reigned from 1333 to 1370. It was quite a nice walk to the Castle and I walked up the Hill to the grounds of the Castle. I walked around the grounds and then decide to buy a ticket to go in the Royal Archcathedral Basilica of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslaus, There were quite a number of steps up to the Cathedral but I just took my time.

Memorial to the Jagiellonian Kings

up to the Castle

Wawel Cathedral

Pope John Paul II Statue

I then discovered because it was Monday most of the buildings were closed, as a result I was unable to visit most of the buildings on the Castle grounds.  I walked around the courtyard of the Renaissance and ran into the man who I had met on the flight over he was waiting for his wife. We discussed how much we loved Krakow and also how inexpensive it was. I asked him to take a photo of me. His wife finally came along and we talked a little bit more.  I decided to go back into the Cathedral because looking at my booklet I realized I had missed some areas. To do this I had to walk into the exit to get back in. I walked down to the Crypt of the National Poets, it was a bit of a challenge getting down there.  The famous Polish Poet Adam Mickiewicz is buried in the Crypt. I climbed part way up the bell tower and then when I came out I discovered a the John Paul II Cathedral Museum I did a quick look around before it closed.

Renaissance Courtyard

 John Paul II Cathedral Museum

chalice in John Paul Museum

Sigismund Chapel Dome

the dome ceiling

Poet Crypt 

Adam Mickiewicz tomb