"Krakow" Krakow by doodybee

This hotel was booked through Alpharooms and once again we were not disappointed, the hotel is right next to the Wawel Castle and within a short walk into the centre of the Old Town area. It is listed as a 2* but we thought the entrance Lobby was rather Grand and also the room we had was very large and clean with plenty of hanging space and drawer space( for all those clothes we didn't take - It was clean and although there was the ( now usual) put the towels in the bath for changing policy they were changed along with the sheets every day - the only real moan we had was that the room was on the road side where the trams started running at "silly oclock" and the curtains were of very thin material letting daylight in -so unless you can sleep through noise you would be awake very early - the room also didn't have AC which unfortunately for us was much needed having arrived in a mini heatwave of 26-30degreesC. he breakfast was served in what was the hotel restuarant and was more than well worth the money we paid -- All in all not a bad place although if we were to return i would ask for a room on the other side of the hotel ( away from the main road)

Our first visit was up to the Castle - we only walked around the free areas as we tend to think most of what is inside is in most other museums etc we have attended over the years- There is extensive repair and upgrading work going on around the castle in different areas but this doesn't make any difference to the tourists - the sight from the top of the castle is magnificent over the river & the town itself -

Firstly may I say that some of the comment i make may not be to everyones liking

And if they are not and I offend someone - it's not intentional and I apologise beforehand

Well what can be said that hasn't already been said about this place and its dreadful legacy.

Why? - If you ask me it was down to One man and a very big ego

How? - Because men and women of the same ilk were let get together and brow beat the rest of the population into believing their awful lies

Why oh why did nobody ask the SHORT - DARK HAIRED FURHER why he thought the Third Reich should be populated by TALL - BLOND HAIRED people ( something of a mystery there )

Anyway down to the visit :

On arrival i did what i always do - go to the loo and downstairs from the reception area i was met by an awful smell coming from the toilet area and all i could think was " gee these loo's are the worst at any place i've visited" then i checked myself - called myself a shallow git and told myself to remember where I was - that quickly changed my attitdue I can tell you. We then had a guided tour around the place which was very busy and seemed full of groups of teenage children ( many of whom were not in the least bit interested in where they were) -- and also many more would have had Mr Hitler gleefully eyeing them up as the vast majority of these kids were just what he wanted his third reich to consist of ( heaven knows where they were all from) although i have seen many "factual" documentaries and "fiction based" programmes over the years its still hard to come to terms with what people can do to other members of the human race - just because they are different from themselves - its a sad fact that this practice is still going on in many places across the globe ( not to the same extent thank heavens) - the pictures on the walls of the victims are testimony to the absurd cruelty these bastards inflicted on a daily basis - and seemingly enjoyed

On a hot late summer day in 2008 it seems a lifetime ( but also a heartbeat) away and in the midst of the countryside it was strange that the only wildlife we saw the whole time we were inside the camp confines were 2 butterflies fluttering around in the warmth - no birdsong - no birds in flight - nothing

I know this evil place means more to the people descended from the victims than it ever can to anyone who has no family history entwined with the place but humanity doesn't seemed to have learned very much from the madness that was "the holocaust"

• Pros:Lovely Clean city - friendly locals
• Cons:over zealous security guards over stepping authority at the airport
• In a nutshell:A little Polish Gem