Trip to Krakow

I've wanted to see Krakow for ages, so we went earlier this week. It is really lovely, with lots of medieval architecture and a refreshingly car-free city center. We mostly just walked around the curvy streets and looked at statues and buildings and things. We did all the usual touristy stuff, like looking at churches, visiting the castle, going on a horse and carriage ride. The kids liked the horse and carriage ride, but they really enjoyed it when the carriages went by us when we were walking. The first few times she saw the horses, Josephine wanted to run up to them.

We stayed at the Hotel Stary, which is a nice hotel right off the main square. One night when Pascale was in the tub, the maid came in and changed our towels. Pascale asked why we don't have the maid come and change the towels at home. Pascale was very interested in people parking their cars on the sidewalk. She thought they must be incredibly skilled drivers to accomplish this feat.

Our hotel had a pool in the basement in this cool room with vaulted ceilings. Pascale really enoyed swimming, especially since she has not gotten to go swimming since we moved here. Josephine was not sure about the whole pool thing at first, but she got used to it and even started to like it.

I had the impression from some articles I've read that Krakow is a big weekend destination. I guess it must be, because outside the main square, all the restaurants and bars were completely deserted. At one restaurant, there was only one other table occupied in the courtyard. The waiter brought out a whole mess of toys, including a rocking horse, for the kids to play with while we ate. It was great.

Bernie and I got a babysitter one night and went out for dinner at the restaurant in the Grand Hotel. It was listed in a guidebook as being a good restaurant in a nice setting. The room was really cool, with a stained glass ceiling and massive flower arrangement, but we were the only people there. It felt a little eerie.

The weather was unbelievably hot. Being in London, I've sort of forgotten what summer feels like, and it was fairly unpleasant to walk around in 90-plus degree heat. It was nice to get back to London weather with highs in the 60's.