Auschwitz, Wieliczka, the Old Town, the ancient city of Kraków, December 2023【104】
2023/12/25 Wrocław → Kraków
Woke up at 8 am and had a breakfast buffet at the hotel.
There were some dishes I had never seen before; perhaps they were Polish cuisine?
After the meal, I enjoyed dessert and coffee, a very satisfying buffet.
Since there was time before checkout, I took a stroll in the morning drizzle around the Old Town.
I hadn't noticed it last night, but the city is full of little dwarfs.
The Old Town Hall
The Salt Square
There were Christmas items for sale among the flower shops.
Checked out of the hotel and walked to the Wrocław station.
As I walked, the skies began to clear up a bit.
Once at the station, I checked the platform and waited for the train.
The station was decorated for Christmas.
The train journey to Kraków took about 3 hours, and I passed the time watching Netflix.
The train stopped at several stations along the way.
Upon arrival in Kraków, the first stop was the hotel for check-in.
A Christmas service at the hotel?
After dropping off my bags, I went for a walk in the evening Old Town.
The Christmas market was full of tourists, despite the rain.
Feeling hungry, I ate some delicious pork.
It came with bread, potatoes, and pickles.
After dinner, I bought water and snacks at a convenience store and returned to the hotel.
2023/12/26 Kraków
Woke up at 7 am.
Headed to the bus terminal at Kraków Central Station.
Purchased a ticket to Oświęcim at the counter.
The bus arrived at Auschwitz in 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Participated in a Japanese-language guided tour by Mr. Nakatani, which I had reserved before the trip.
From 10:30 am for about 3 hours, I thoroughly visited Auschwitz and Birkenau. It was the day after Christmas, so there were about ten times fewer tourists than usual.
The temperature was relatively high for the season, around 10 degrees Celsius, but it felt cold due to the strong wind.
The guide included timely topics about COVID and conflicts, making it a very thought-provoking tour.
Returned to Kraków city center by bus from Auschwitz.
Met up with people I got to know during the tour for dinner and first went back to the hotel.
Since I had some time, I bought a Ponchik and protein at a convenience store.
Did a light workout at the hotel before heading out to dinner.
Enjoyed Polish cuisine at a stylish restaurant.
Everything, like Pierogi and Żurek, was delicious, but the beer was exceptional.
Enjoyed after-dinner drinks, and before I knew it, three hours had passed.
The staff wore traditional costumes and were very friendly, creating a wonderful atmosphere in the restaurant.
The bill was already taken care of by a senior without my knowledge – thank you very much!
2023/12/27 Kraków
Woke up just before 8 am.
It was a rare sunny day.
Bought bread and a protein drink at a convenience store.
This type of bread I've seen several times in Poland and the Baltic countries.
Walked from the hotel to the station and took a train to the Wieliczka Salt Mine.
Joined an English-language tour at 10:30 am.
There were tours in various languages, but none in Japanese.
The mine felt vast, but it's apparently only about 1% of the whole complex.
The tour of the mine took about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
After the tour, returned to Kraków city center by train.
Walked through the Kazimierz district on the way to Wawel Castle.
Returned to the Old Town from the castle and had lunch at the Christmas market with four types of Pierogi.
They were chewy and delicious.
After lunch, bought some sweets at a convenience store and returned to the hotel.
Rested at the hotel for a while, did a little workout, and then went out to the Old Town in the evening.
The Christmas market was beautiful in the clear night.
Warmed up with Żurek and had a Ponchik for dinner.
The Christmas season in Kraków's Old Town is very beautiful and lively, and I'd like to visit again if I have the chance.
