This was day number 2 and it was time to experience Krakow like a Pole or somewhat just get familiar with what Polish people already know about Krakow. I think it's fitting that I merge the sites and bites because it is my believe that food is the cornerstone to culture. I woke up and this is the breakfast that I had. It was a different taste but similar sausage and coffee breakfast something light that was supposed to start off the morning to head to Auschwitz. However, due to scheduling and our ignorance about the trams and trains and running times we kind of ran out of time so that when it became an exploration day of Krakow. It was a bit rainy but we made the most out of it possible and as the day progressed it began to clear. We managed to get to the Planty, kind of like a park that surrounds the city center and at its edges is Wawel castle, where the powers that be used to live and was of course occupied by the Nazi during their time of control. It's an interesting structure to look at to say the least. It is the first castle I have heard of that has a cathedral attached to it. It's free to walk around the perimeter and courtyards of Wawel hill but to see the inside rooms cost money. Krakow also has the oldes medieval town square in the world and it is a great place to go shopping. I managed to get plenty of gifts from here. It's also two blocks away from where we ate breakfast the day before. In between breakfast and lunch I had an Obwarzarnek. Which is like a big bagel mixed with a pretzel and flavored Polish style. It was pretty decent.
My favorite part of the day, even above all the interesting shopping, was going to a Milk Bar. Let me explain. Milk bars were sort of like cafeterias that were used to feed the soldiers during WWII and it was subsidized by the government so it was pretty cheap and still is for a lot of food. It is very Polish and it would be surprising to find someone that is speaking English there besides super researchers (like myself) and people who aren't afraid to try something true to the culture (like myself). I took the idea from two Russians to take pictures of the menu to recite to the woman at the cash register because it would be too difficult to try and communicate what you want. My order went like this:
~ Fasolka po bretońsku ~ Pierogi z mięsem ~ Żurek z kiełbasą i ziemniakami
Translation desired? OK
~ Beans in tomato sauce with sausage ~ meat dumplings ~ White borscht with potatoes and sausage (I think) or kielbasa is probably better idk
Either way it was delicious as hell and fueled me for the day to come...or so I thought until we passed by a bakery which is on like every corner and bought some really odd things from there. Seth seemed to like it but to me it was not sweet enough I think it would never survive in the US, UK, France, or Germany because WE know good sweets :) . Nevertheless I can hardly be mad at buying anything in Poland because its practically a steal. Digest this all peeps. We at like kings or soldiers from WWII..It was so much food it was hard to finish. I only spent like $7 at that! The bread was free. Take notes because this it what real, natural, good bread looks like!