Chasing Summer –

Doesn’t my title sound dramatic? Cause it is. For the first time ever, and hopefully last, I lost my hostle key somewhere out there while I was exploring! Ah, the joys of buying a new key for 25 PLN.

Right, so I started my morning walk at 8, but I really should have waited a little bit longer as nothing was open till 9:30 and it was only a 20 minute walk to get to my first site, the Dragon’s Lair.

Actually, it really is Wewal Dragon and Cave. I punched Dragon’s Lair into Google maps, and it was going to take me to a restaurant a couple of streets away.

If I wasn’t so early I could have entered the cavern into a cave that reaches the river. But I was too early for that, but the statue doesn’t stop breathing fire so I could see that. Every 2 to 5 minutes a short burst of flame will shoot out of the statues mouth. Wawel Dragon – Most Famous Polish Legend – Discover Cracow

Above the statue is the Wawel Castle. Since 1930, the castle has served as a museum. On Monday, it is open from 9:30 to 1.

Right near the castle is the Royal Archcathedral with King Sigismund Chapel and the giant bell. Unfortunately, for me this monday, it wasn’t going to open to the public until after 11. It wasn’t even 9 yet. I also read that my clothing wouldn’t be good enough.

I’ve not been to any church yet on this trip where shorts or tanktops were a problem, but in Krakow, all the churches required a bit more than I had on. Which means that I had to go and buy a t-shirt to throw on. My shorts were long, so they didn’t seem to be a problem.

I started waking downhill and away from the palace area into real Old Town where everyone else lived. Along the way, I passed the usual assortment of interesting buildings and statues as well as several museums, like Bishop Erazm Ciolek Palace (museum), that are not open on Mondays.

Two other churches that are side by side each other that I could only see the outside of because I hadn’t bought my t-shirt yet were Church of Saints Peter and Paul, and Church of Saint Andrew.

Peter and Paul church has life-size statues of the 12 apostles out front, and they definitely make an impression.

Andrew is much more demure by comparison.

In the center of the old town is Market Square. It is the largest and busiest square.

In the center of Market Square is Cloth Hall. This building has been the oldest market and center of trade since the 14th century.

Beside Cloth Hall is the Town Hall Tower. It is like the tower of Piza, as it leans 55 cm. It was once attached to the town hall, but that was demolished in 1820 in order to open the square up.

Right out front of the tower is a big brass head. Eros Bendato | Kraków Sightseeing | Krakow (inyourpocket.com)

Diagonal from the tower is St. Mary’s Basilica. A gorgeous building that is currently being renovated/restored. I circled the enire church looking to get in and finally accepted that the prayer only door was the only door currently being used so I stuck my head in there to see many tourists milling around and grabbing a picture. The inside looks amazing.

On the other side of Mary is a smaller market square.

I walked along Florianska Street towards the Florian Gate. The street has a variety of architecture styles and is filled with restaurants, pubs, and souvineer shops.

The Florian Tower was the main entry into the town and is first mentioned in 1307. It is connected by a long bridge to the circular Barbican.

I was not familiar with the term Barbican before Warsaw, where I first saw it. A barbican (from Old French: barbacane) is a fortified outpost or fortified gateway, such as at an outer defense perimeter of a city or castle, or any tower situated over a gate or bridge which was used for defensive purposes.

Right outside the Barbican is Planty Park. This was a nice spot to stop for a few minutes and rest. There are fountains and statues and a bunch of benches for people to use. As a matter of fact, there is green space encircling the entire old town.

For lunch, I over did it with more perogies, but these ones were potato, cottage cheese, and onion, so more what I was expecting and a giant polish sausage on a bun I only ate half the sausage and gave the other half to a gentleman who was looking in the garbage for food.

This is when my phone charge was low, my body charge was low and I decided I should head back to cool off and plug in my device, but I discovered that my key was missing. I walked back to a few spots that seemed more likely for losing the key since I sat at them, but no love. This is one mystery that shall stay unsolved.