Krakow City Break

     Have you ever been on a trip where it seems like the stars align just for you? Sunny skies and mild temperature everyday. Posh apartments at low prices. Delicious food in restaurants full of character. Locals who wave and smile at you while they stop their car to let you cross the street first. This is what my trip to Krakow, Poland was like. I sound like a corny travel brochure right now, but I assure you no one is paying me to say any of these things. It’s been months since my trip to Krakow and I still can’t believe how perfect it was!

Day 1

My first stop in any European city is alway the old town square. I like to spend a few moments to just absorb the atmosphere, history and the vibe. Krakow claims to have one of the largest and best preserved old town squares in Europe so there was definitely much to explore.  

After exploring the old town square, I joined a free walking tour. I’m usually not a fan of guided tours but this one was free, so I figured, why not? The walking tour was actually very informative and useful. It made navigating through the city much smoother and easier. Not to mention learning about the history of the city is so much more interesting than reading a bunch of pamphlets. 

Day 2

I’ve struggled with deciding whether I wanted to visit Auschwitz Concentration Camp while planning for my trip to Krakow. Not because I don’t see the historical importance or the devastating consequences of its existence on mankind, but rather I wasn’t sure if I have the stomach for it. I wasn’t sure how I would react when faced with such well documented evidence of hatred and cruelty. I knew it would change me forever. The killing of 6 million Jews would no longer just be a statistic in History books. In the end, my son convinced me to go when he said, “How can you not go see it for yourself given the opportunity? If you’re only going to be brave one time in your travels, let this be that one time.” He was right, of course. So off I went to see Auschwitz.

Auschwitz was truly hell on earth. I stood on the grounds of the death camp and a question that ran in circles in my brain was “How can you hate someone so much to build a place like this for them?” 

Day 3 

After an emotionally draining day at Auschwitz, I’ve decided to take it easy. I took long walks around the city, visited some of the touristy sights, went souvenir shopping, and stopped for coffee and snack when my legs got wobbly from my trek around the city.  

Day 4

The last day in Krakow filled me with dread. I didn’t want to be leaving so soon. I stayed out much later than usual in or to cram as many museums and sights as I can. I spent the day wondering through the Ethnography Museum, Krakow Historical Museum, Schindler's factory and the Jewish quarter. 

The last day in Krakow was rather rough. It was in no way anyone’s fault but my own. I dropped my phone and the display broke. I panicked as I had an overnight train to catch. I searched everywhere for a place to fix it on the same day. Needless to say, it ruined the mood for further sightseeing. Not to mention it cost 279 euros to fix it. Got it fixed after 2 hours. Everything worked out well in the end. 

As the train bound for Vienna pulled out of Krakow station, I felt surprised at how fast I’ve become so attached to this city. I felt the resilience in the atmosphere and was awed by it. This is a place where history comes alive. Stories of its people linger in the air. As the train speeds farther and farther away from Krakow, I released a melancholic sigh. Krakow will be a poignant memory; until next time. 

Hanoi City Break

It's been so long since I've had some time to myself. Sometimes life gets so hectic that I can't even hear myself think! So when the opportunity came up for me to get away from it all for a few days, I've decided to jet off to Hanoi. It was the perfect city break for my exhausted soul. The city is crammed with affordable luxuries. My days were filled with wandering through streets of Hanoi searching for exotic and delicious street food, hopping from one museum to another according to my eccentricities and interests, and at the end of the day, relax in one of the city's many spas for a massage or pedicure. At the end of my 6 day break in Hanoi, I felt rested, inspired and ready to take on what ever life throws at me.