A trip with a mate to Krakow was not what I thought would be happening this year. It has never been a destination on my radar following going there in the early nineties and feeling slightly depressed about everything. My God, how things have changed. Here is a bustling, modern, vibrant European city. Beautiful parks, fantastic food and such friendly and welcoming people. I was blown away. This is what a modern city should be; everything connected – airport, train, city – simples. And the sights of the river and the castle – wonderful. There are boulevards encircling the Old Town which when walked at night are full of couples and families just taking the air. The bars in the Jewish quarter were extraordinary – all buzzing with conversation and energy, the live music bars were raucous and tattered yet warm and all-embracing and the prices were unbelievable. Here’s the view from our £80 per night 5-room apartment.
So why can’t there be more places like this here? Why are our prices twice what they are in Poland? I don’t know but I’m going to try and find out. I wonder if Brexit has got anything to do with it. Oh yes, the only negative of the trip queuing for over an hour at passport control because I wasn’t an EU citizen…
On the plane I took some Jack Senff and some Paul Heaton (who has been listening to the Turtles!) and there’s a great video here. The radio show features Eels, Neil Young, Katherine Priddy, Kara Jackson, Jeffrey Martin as well as three from Justin Currie and many more. As ever take what you want or need.