May 22, 2018 - Elisa Vicariously Visiting Kraków, Poland Again and Tanya At Wawel Castle and Wawel Royal Cathedral

Elisa's Daily Scoop
Covering Long Island & NYC Boroughs
CURRENTLY IN: GARDEN CITY, NY

Vicariously Visiting Kraków, Poland Again

Hey Guys!

Well, the next best thing to being there is being there through pictures!  That's what it's been like "following" Tanya all around Poland this week!!

I've gotten a very intimate view of the cities and sights she has been visiting since I've been basically doing two blogs each day due to poor internet service on Tanya's part.

AND...I'm loving it!!  You all know how much I absolutely adore Poland and having been only to Kraków with my dear cuz back in June of 2015, I feel like I'm there all over again posting and describing her photos!

June 2015 - The Mound in Kraków (c) travelincousins.com

June 2015 - The Mound in Kraków (c) travelincousins.com

Anyhoo, I hope you had a chance to read my article posted yesterday about Annie Londonderry. I've gotten some very positive feedback about it!

Celebrating Annie Londonderry: First Female World Touring Bike Rider and Pioneer for Women

March 23, 1895: Annie Londonderry, the First Woman to Circumnavigate the World by Bike, Returns to the United States (photo credit: A&E.com)

This week, I'm going to have a solo Afternoon Tea in Great Neck at The Royal Tea House.  

As much as I love having the whole afternoon tea experience with my girls, I am really looking forward to dining alone lol!  

Well, I'm going to let Tanya's Kraków pictures speak for themselves today.  I've got a massive amount of things to do, for yet another open house this weekend.  

Plus, I need to get cracking on a few articles I'm working on for you!!

Have a Terrific Tuesday!!

-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Scoop​​
Covering the West Coast & the World
CURRENTLY TRAVELING IN: KRAKOW, POLAND

Wawel Castle and Wawel Royal Cathedral

Wawel Royal Cathedral, Kraków, Poland (c) travelincousins.com

Hello - Tanya is still making her way around Krakow - one of us cousins favorite Polish cities!!  She was at Wawel Royal Cathedral and Wawel Castle today when we texted early this morning.  Here are some pictures for your enjoyment of Krakow, and I'm sure she will be adding to this Scoop later in the day! -E

Krakow Market Square, Krakow, Poland (c) travelincousins.com

St. Mary's Basilica, Kraków, Poland (c) travelincousins.com

Wawel Royal Cathedral, Kraków, Poland (c) travelincousins.com

Wawel Castle Grounds, Kraków, Poland (c) travelincousins.com

Helloooooo there! 

Dzień dobry (pronounced: jane DOH-brih) which translates to Good Day.

I've been over here trying to practice the itty bitty bit of Polish that I've managed to pronounce and understand. ​

Let me tell you, I'm slowly catching on and understanding more here and there, but it is NOT easy.

I'm just lovin' all the blue skies that we have been blessed with. They really make these lovely cities and gorgeous buildings just POP and come to life.

We would start off with a stroll around the Old Market Square, head to breakfast at Veganic - my newly found (only a year and some months old) absolutely YUMMY go to.

And then as Elisa has mentioned above, today was all about heading to the Wawel Castle Grounds, which are so very beautiful! ​

Wawel Castle Grounds, Kraków, Poland (c) travelincousins.com

We started with the Crown Treasury and Armoury (Skarbiec Koronny i Zbrojownia) - which I should mention that I found waaaaaay cool.
The only problem was that it is not permitted to take any photos... And I always find that to be a big bummer.

There were so many pictures that I saw in my mind's eye and that I wanted to take. But alas it was not allowed. 

So many exquisite pieces each rich in history and each so carefully made and with a craftsmanship that you just can't find these days.

Such beautiful fine details and artistic designs  on shaft weapons and two-handed swords, suits of armour, magnificent rifles that were etched in decoration. But there was also  bejewelled goblets, platters, coins and more.

​It was an impressive collection and if you are into that sort of thing then I definitely recommend going!

After exiting the armoury - my "oh well" look (c)travelincousins.com

Next up was heading into the State Rooms, where again no photos were allowed. Bah Humbug!

There was much to see, with mostly authentic articles but of course some copies were thrown in here and there to give a full effect. This however was not really my favorite. 

Numero 3 was going to the Lost Wawel, which was basically an archeological site that lies below the castle and grounds - similar to that at the Louve in Paris (which by the way - you are allowed to take pictures at) and even underground we were still not allowed to take any pictures.

And do you know what bugs me more than not being able to take pictures?
It is seeing other people completely ignore the rule and in fact take pictures!

Well guess what - I am a tattle tell and I ratted them out! I really just can't stand that type of thing.

Anyhow the Lost Wawel was super cool! I only wish I could've taken pictures! LOL

After that we did a bit of strolling around the grounds and took plenty of pictures. I obviously needed a fix. LOL

Next stop on our ticket was the Sandomierska Tower, built around 1460 - this is one of the Wawel Castle’s two artillery towers and nicknamed “fire towers”.
And you know how much I love towers, views from the top and climbing steps - I really do!
​Anyhow no biggie here it was only 137 steps to the top.

Once we climbed down, we headed through the Dragon's Den and upon exiting I was approached by a knight who asked for my hand!

But the Great Warrior Birdwald Ponypants would pull out his sword and fight to the death in order to not let me fall into the arms of another! 

Fire breathing Dragon's Tales and all had ended our visit to the Wawel Royal Castle.

The story of the Wawel Dragon - 

Wawel Dragon is a famous dragon in Polish mythology who lived in a cave at the foot of Wawel Hill on the banks of the Vistula River. One of the many popular stories about the dragon takes place in Kraków during the reign of King Krakus, the city's mythical founder.
In the legend, the dragon terrifies local villagers by destroying their houses and eating up their young daughters. Desperate to solve the problem, King Krakus promises his daughter Wanda's hand to any brave man who can defeat the dragon. 

A cobbler named Skuba takes up the challenge and stuffs a lamb with sulphur for the dragon to eat. Skuba leaves the lamb near the dragon cave and the unwary beast devours the bait.
​Soon after, the dragon's thirst grows unbearable and he drinks so much water from the River Vistula that he explodes from the uncontainable volume. King Krakus then weds his daughter Wanda to the victorious Skuba. (Wiki)

Travelin' Cousins 2015 (c)travelincousins.com

BTW - I seriously can't believe that it's already been 3 years since I was here with Elisa.
I think it's about time we plan another cousins adventure!

​Until tomorrow,
-Travelin' Tanya