"Memories of Krakow" Krakow by lauriejeanne

Krakow Travel Guide: 4,926 reviews and 9,790 photos

I have many wonderful memories of the Easter holiday I spent in Krakow with my friends Jerzy and Louis in 1988.

We stayed with Jerzy's elderly Aunt in Krakow. She was thrilled to see us, as were all of Jerzy's relatives. Such hospitality was unknown to me -- everywhere we went, people gave me gifts!! In Canada it not custom for the host/hostess to give gifts to the guests. I was amazed.

Fortunately I had come prepared with gifts of my own for them, but to this day I absolutely treasure the beautiful jewelry and the multitude of classical records I received from Jerzy's relatives. They treated me like one of the family!! They had even called Jerzy before we arrived in order to find out what I liked. He told them I was a pianist, and they showered me with recordings of Chopin!!!!

Vodka straight out of the freezer. You do not arrive in a Polish home without receiving that treat!!

<center>* * * * *</center>Shopping was an experience for me. It may be very different now, but then, you stood in line for everything, even shoes. Of course I bought mostly music (Padereski Editions of Chopin at less than a fraction of the price in the West) and crystal!!

My luggage weighed a ton coming home but I still have that crystal to this day. Transporting it from Krakow to Vienna was tough. Getting it back to Canada tougher. But they are my prized pieces now!!!
<center>* * * * *</center>Restaurants! Food, food, food!!!! Great wine, wonderful ambience!! Not the quality of service you could get in the West, but who was in a hurry anyway???

<center>* * * * *</center>Skiing in Zakopane!!! My most memorable experience there was watching skiiers being transported up to the lifts in horse drawn sleighs. I so wanted to go in one (I mean when would I ever get that chance again), but everyone else in our group saw it as a rip off and adamantly insisted we walk up. I regret not being more assertive at the time. No-one had to join me -- what they called a rip off, was for us with our Western money a great deal.

Travel Tip: Do it!!! You may never get back to do it again!

<center>* * * * *</center>Pneumonia. Well if I'm going to remember the highlights, then my first and only (to date) bout with pneumonia happened while I was there. I was so sick, I was afraid to move! Fortunately it only got really bad at the end of the trip. The fact that everyone in Poland smokes and that the cigarettes smell like burned hair didn't help much.

Sleeping was the most difficult for me. The stale smoke hung thick in the air. The Poles I met smoked everywhere -- kitchen, bedroom -- day and night. If Jerzy or Louis awoke in the night, they'd have a cigarette before going back to sleep. I was on a cot right by their bed barely able to breathe, but it just didn't cross their minds to have their cigarette in the hall....

Now that was one time that I did get a bit more assertive. Did me no good but at least I know I tried...

Jerzy's cousin was a doctor. He gave me a 7 day course of antibiotics. That saved me. Upon returning to Vienna, just as they were running out, I was presecribed another 7 day course (the identical antibiotic!) and I got over the pneumonia without too much difficulty. If I hadn't been treated in Poland, it would have been infinitely worse!!

<center>* * * * *</center>Fear of Czech border guards. We had to pass through Czechosovakia and we were bringing much too much chocolate and coffee through. Jerzy and Louis had put it all in my bags figuring the guards would be more charmed by a girl than them.

But this guard was made of stone and when he barked at me to produce my passport, I froze. He opened it..., looked at it sternly for a second..., and then broke out in a huge smile and said the only 3 words he knew in English:

Calgary!!

Olypmics!!!!!

Song!!!!!!!

lalalalalalalalalala....

He started singing... I had been living in Vienna and yes, I knew that the Winter Olympics were on in Calgary that year, but how the heck would I know the official song???? Jerzy said "Sing it girl!!!" and so I hummed along to his tune...

lalalalalalalala

He never checked my bags.

Was is because he was enamoured with Canada, Calgary and the Olympics? I doubt it. He probably heard my Kermit the Frog voice and decided to get out of there ASAP....

<center>* * * * *</center><Well, those are some brief but lasting memories of Krakow.

Check back later -- I may have thought of some more....

Last visit to Krakow: Mar 1988
Intro Written Sep 10, 2002
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Comments (39)

just4funds Feb 1, 2004 at 8:53 PM Report Abuse

Sounds like it was an eclectic experience for sure. I had pneumonia in August of all things, and right here in Michigan! I know what you mean, I was miserable!
matcrazy1 Oct 31, 2003 at 6:16 PM Report Abuse

It may be very different now-Yes! It`s different! Lovely memories (except pneumonia) and lalalala - famous, friendly Calgary Winter Olympics transmitted by Polish TV that time = never to forget!!!
balfor Dec 20, 2002 at 8:49 PM Report Abuse

Very interesting memories! I'm glad you shared them with us! :)
marishabandb Apr 9, 2002 at 12:42 AM Report Abuse

Lovely memories!
ubqitus Apr 5, 2002 at 2:57 AM Report Abuse

As usual!
Krystynn Feb 22, 2002 at 9:53 AM Report Abuse

Hope to have the same memories of Krakow as u. :-))))))
ddgarza Dec 23, 2001 at 3:06 PM Report Abuse

no drunk story ?
Andreaska Nov 22, 2001 at 4:33 PM Report Abuse

you have a way with words, great fun
gemma99 Nov 13, 2001 at 10:54 AM Report Abuse

Concise, beautifully written, very very funny!
Tolik Nov 9, 2001 at 3:29 PM Report Abuse

Fantastick story! I wish I heard you singing that song!