Krakow Photo Gallery - Historic Centre

Krakow is only a short 2.5 hour train ride from Warsaw. The trains are very nice albeit a bit expensive if you buy on the spot. Krakow's new main railway station is sleek and clean. There are lots of shops and cafes on the concourse floor, which is connected to a big shopping mall for even more options. Wish their counterparts in Western Europe would be as good. These are comparable to the new Spanish train stations. There weren't many homeless or vagrants hanging around even at night, unlike what I experienced in Munich months before.
Monumental buildings line plac Jana Matejki, which is just outside the Old Town.
Free walking tours were getting ready to depart around the Barbican, a medieval defence structure to protect the Florianska Gate. With a proper guide book on hand, I decided to explore on my own instead. They weren't selling cheap tourist gadgets here. At least I could find something tasteful with a piece of artwork. Once past the Gate, a pedestrian shopping walkway leads to the main square.
The McDonald's here actually restored a medieval cellar in the basement as part of its dining area. This is worth a visit even if you don't plan to eat. Meanwhile, I went to a local cafe for some delicious pierogi. The Old Town is laid out in a grid so there are lots of street scenes like these :
I visited a lot of churches, which were quiet but well-patronized. Polish people seem quite religious and would drop by for a quick prayer before continuing their routines.
A green belt surrounds the Old Town, presumably where the fortifications once stood. This narrow space is great to relax and take a short snack break when sightseeing becomes a bit overwhelming. For a snack, these donut-like creatures are available for sale throughout the Old Town.
As expected, the main square is a bit of a tourist trap. The drivers were calling out for customers in a non-aggressive way though. The tower was closed for the winter. Seems tourism quiets down significantly during the colder months as several sites had this issue.
Trams run around the Old Town instead of through it. The main tourist sights are within walking distance or you can ride a carriage. Wawel Hill is a mix of palace, church, and museum in a mix of architectural styles from Romanesque, Renaiisance, to Gothic. The most important sites to visit are the cathedral and the castle, which have different ticket offices. The views are quite nice from uphill but the windows are not equipped to accomodate photogaphy equipment.
Collegium Maius was built in the late 14th century and its beautiful interiors are now open for tours.
But Krakow is not just the Old Town. South of it is the old Jewish quarter, Kazimierz. A bit run down, it is home to several synagogues that are open for visits. The grit is an interesting contrast although I probably wouldn't want to be out here late at night alone.