Gin Dobry from Krakow

Another day, another country…

Poland is an incredible place; the people are very generous, welcoming and hilarious. To our surprise, Krakow was quite lush as well.  Flowers and an abundance of greenery surrounded our hotel. Honestly, it felt like we were in some part of British Columbia.

We checked out the city on foot.  One of our favourite and most impressive sites we encountered was Wawel Castle and cathedral.

Located in Krakow and built in the 13th century the Wawel Royal Castle was the center of Poland’s culture and politics until the 16th century. Today it’s one of Poland’s most renowned art museums.

As we explored this quaint, European city we also made the walk a culinary experience. We enjoyed the most delicious,  fragrant, and locally grown strawberries. I’m not trying to make you envious (well, maybe a little) but they were so sweet and they tasted like jam!

Among other typical Polish food that we nibbled on our walk were fresh bagels that we found on almost every corner. They were crunchy on the outside, soft in the middle and featured cameos from our friends the poppy-seeds!

Since all of that wasn’t enough, we decided to indulge in “lody” (Polish for “ice cream” as well). It’s unique in that it is soft-serve ice cream, but a bit harder (a huge win because they melt slowly).

We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring in the the Old Town. Some of us hit the local market in the center of the square, that sells authentic Polish goods from all over the country and the rest of the group gallivanted from shops to restaurants and cafes.

It feels like we do a lot of eating on the trip because we meandered over to our dinner spot shortly there after.

Poland wouldn’t be Poland without pierogies, so we obviously had to enjoy some. We took it to the next level though by not only eating them, but by making them. Clearly we were both hungry AND kneady!

The Horseman of Krakow

The wonderful Anya Guinzbourg wrote this great short story in Krakow and we felt is was worth sharing. Thank you Anya! 🙂

The Horseman of Krakow by Anya Guinzbourg

Once upon a time, there was a man named Henry, and he lived in a Zara department store, which was a part of the famous Krakow marketplace. He spent his days roaming the empty aisles of the trendy department store, hoping that one day, he could afford a shirt. The shirt was a beautiful piece, made of the finest pure white silk, polished by the Polish themselves. The shirt was special, for it was covered in blue pigeons, and represented freedom and power. However, Henry was a poor man, as his family spent their inheritance and savings on alcohol.

One day, Henry was making his rounds through Zara, sniffing past the women’s section in search for loose change, all the while humming his favourite Jewish folk music. As he strutted past the baggy pants that were considered “cool”, an old man walked by him, and complimented him on his singing. He told Henry that his singing was so good, he could land a record deal with the most polished musicians in all of Poland, he only had to come with the old man.

The man was wearing a striped shirt, brown khakis and a beret, and he seemed like a man to be trusted. So, Henry decided to follow the man outside of the Zara department store, and onto the streets of Krakow. They walked and walked, and kept on walking until Henry’s legs finally gave out. As he fell to the ground, he felt something mushy cushion his fall. As he turned his head, he saw that he had in fact, tripped over a pile of horse fecal matter. At that moment, Henry knew his life had really hit its lowest point.

As he lifted his head to cry out to the heavens, he noticed a bright twinkle in the corner of his eye. He looked up, and saw a majestic stallion. It was brown with a pure white stripe, and a nose as black as night. It trotted towards Henry, and he held his breath, captivated by the beauty of the horse. As it got closer, he heard a voice in his head, a deep voice which sounded like it could be the horse’s. It told him that he had no chance in ever succeeding as an artist in Poland, that he would end up poor on the streets like his parents. But, if the man decided to trade his head, he would end up a god, and rule over all the lands, playing music for all and spreading love and equality.

Henry pondered long and hard on his decision, and he decided that he did not want to spend his life on the streets of Poland, no matter how many beautiful pigeons passed him by. As well, if he became a god, he could finally afford the beautiful shirt from Zara that was probably made in China anyways. He walked up to the horse, and it placed its hoof upon his head. Henry felt dizzy, as if his head was stuck in a tornado. After spinning around for a few seconds, Henry passed out.

When he came to, he saw that he was back in his pile of clothes which he used as a bed in the Zara department store. He tried to lift his head, but it was much heavier than he was used to. He stood up and walked to the nearest washroom to brush his teeth, but almost fainted again at the sight that was in front of him. Below his neck, everything was the same, however instead of seeing his regular face, he saw the head of the stallion that he met the day before. He was shocked, and he came to realize that the horse had tricked him. It had in fact cursed him to be stuck as half-human and half-horse for the rest of his life, with no way of reversing the curse.

As people began to enter Zara, they were horrified by the sight that beheld them, and Henry was forced to leave his home in the department store. He sold the rest of his savings and bought an electric piano, and found an empty spot by an alcohol shop in an alleyway in Krakow. Everyday, he played his favourite Jewish folk songs on the electric piano, hoping that one day he’d have enough cash to buy a house, and maybe even the wonderful silky shirt from Zara. But he knew one thing, and it was to never trust a horse that could talk.

The End

A Closer Look at Berlin…

Our second day in Berlin began with a lecture at Checkpoint Charlie its museum. During the Cold War was the most well-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin.

Our lecturer and guide, Jacobi, painted a detailed picture of what the situation was like for those crossing at the junction in the Friedrichstadt neighborhood. It was the designated crossing point for foreigners and members of the Allied forces.

The museum featured many interesting items including escape apparatus like hot-air balloons and even getaway cars.

Next on our itinerary was Gendarmenmarkt; an idyllic backdrop for architecture enthusiasts. It is a famous square in Berlin, lined with the Konzerthaus, and two picturesque churches; one French and one German.

After marveling at these beautiful buildings and taking advantage of several photo opps, we made our way to the book burning memorial at Bebelplatz.This memorial was conceptualized by Micha Ullman, an Israeli artist, to remind us of the tragic book burning bonfire held by the Nazis in that exact location on May 10, 1933. Some of the works burnt at the site including those written my Sigmund Freud, Karl Marx, Rosa Luxembourg and many others. This  event led to Jewish segregation and expulsion from academic circles and even the German society.

Upon perusing through the vibrant city for several hours, we certainly worked-up our appetites and stopped for lunch along the river at Hackescher Markt. What was on the menu for lunch? Many of us enjoyed currywurst, pretzels and if we’re honest, pizza and shawarmas too. 😁

Happy and full, we cruised towards the famous East Side Gallery, which consists of a series of murals painted on the remnants of the Berlin Wall. Most of the works on the wall are quite political in nature and make for great discussions and learning.

Over 1 km later, we found ourselves in the neighbourhood of Kreuzberg,  known for vintage shops, cafes and restaurants.

On that note, we headed to dinner. It was delish!

Danke schön, Germany! Next stop…POLAND!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The countdown is on!

Guten tag! Thanks for joining me! My name is Christina and I am super excited to be participating in this program with you. I will be posting many photos and trip highlights here. Feel free to share the blog with your friends and family.

Next stop, Berlin!

Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport. — Unknown