Thursday 17 May 2012

What Was a Trip to Krakow


All the recent posts going around about dissertations, graduations and revision has made me remember one the best parts to my university life - our research trip to Krakow. The premise behind the trip was gaining first hand experience of the social and economic change occurring in Krakow since the fall of communism - one of our modules in human geography. About twenty of us went with two lecturers, we had to find our own way there and were constantly reminded we were there to work, not be tourists [that became a running joke]. Breakfast was eaten over the lecturers going over what we'd be doing, we'd risk our lives catching the tram [the line of which is in the middle of the road], riding taxis [the drivers were INSANE], getting off trains were you have to climb up to the platform, panicky lecturers shouting at us to move quickly when molten hot steel was being lifted over our heads in a steel mill [one of the scariest things I've ever experienced] and even visiting a Tescos. I thought take the time now to finally giving that trip some attention. 


Krakow itself seems torn between trying to create a city of culture image while not trying to forget it's historic past - which is often dark. During WWII Krakow became one of Nazi Germany's five major Jewish ghettos concentrating Jews in the Podgorze district. Sometimes WWII can become a little intangible, but when you're standing in front of what remains of ghetto walls and buildings [see photograph above] it brings it to life. As did our trip to Oswiecim - the town that became better known with the camp that was built there - Auschwitz. The towns beauty, quirky little streets, brightly coloured buildings and it's castle continues to be over shadowed by the camp. Visiting Auschwitz was a chilling experience.


With the outcome of WWII and the raise of communism a new order of social change came into affect which we saw most predominately within the planned city of Nova Huta - a city of preplanned communist propaganda and ideals based around a steel mill. What developed were towers of socialist living, vast housing blocks and avenues named after Lenin. Every avenue looks alike and tower high above you. It's daunting in its style. With the fall of communism in 1989 so too did the communist street names and the statues of their former leaders, replaced with references to Pope John Paul.

Visit Poland and you take a glimpse of it's former life. We visited in 2007 so it'd be really interesting to witness how the country had developed it's sense of self since this time. Krakow is certainly worthy of a visit, everywhere you look and go in the city it is coated in history - the good and the bad and you have to acknowledge both sides to create a future. 

21 comments:

  1. I love this post, so interesting to find about Krakow! The photographs are good Rachael

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    1. Thank you - they were the early days of my photography passion with my first ever digital camera!

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  2. I've never been to Krakow, but it looks similar (unsurprisingly) to Prague. It looks like a beautiful place.

    C
    xxx

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  3. What a fascinating post!
    My brother went to Krakow a couple of years ago but being a bloke never bothered taking any photos. He thought it was wonderful but was ashamed of a gang of Brits who visited Auschwitz complete with a four pack of beer each, how disrespectful is that? xxx

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    1. They sound very disrespectful don't they?! Although with all the hords of tourists there it feels more like an attraction then a memorial to what occurred there. I wish I had taken more photographs - compared to how snap happy I am these days I hardly took any.

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  4. this was so interesting, i think it would be so moving to go to somewhere as full of history as that! x

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    1. There was so much we couldn't see because we were only there for five days - has so much history.

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  5. okay, that pizza may be cheap but it looks absolutely delicious!!!
    all of these photos are just gorgeous!
    xo TJ

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    1. Seriously some of the best pizzas I ever ate where in Poland!

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  6. I really want to visit Krakow, as a history student I've always been interested in the place as a place of memory, commemoration and ruins. I've seen pictures of the memorial of chairs in the square which I really want to see (bit of a monument geek). Definitely a place on my wish list and these pictures show me that I definitely need to go at some point xo

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    1. We made a trip out on a walk to see those chair - kind spooky because they were just there, on a plaza and everyday life was going on. Haunting. If you ever get a chance its well worth a visit!

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    2. That's definitely a part of the world I want to visit, and particularly Lithuania. Vix sent me over here as I'm a fellow compact collector. :-)

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  7. Beautiful photos...and that pizza looks delicious!

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  8. Well I actually live in Lithuania, which has a border with Poland. During the 14th century, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was the largest country in Europe! But then things started going very wrong. Lublin Union was signed and Lithuania and Poland formed a voluntary two-state union which lasted more than two centuries. Later Lithuania was occupied first by the Soviet Union then by Nazi Germany and then by the Soviet Union again. Lithuania has been occupied for 50 years in total. Those years have been awful for people. We finally regained our independence in 1990 (the year I was born). After that Lithuania had one of the fastest growing economies in the European Union. Things seem to be getting better but you can still see those sad and oppressed faces of older people and also some old buildings from those years. It's a really sad period in our history and it did lots and lots of damage. Fortunatelly we have really amazing young people who are trying to make things better, to make life in this country better. :)
    I've never been to Krakow but I liked your post. It was so informative! Thanks for sharing. :)

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  9. Just found your blog (through reading your comment over at Charis Magic). Really lovely pics. When did you move to America?
    My brother moved to Chicago last year. Before that they were in Hawaii. Before that they were settled in Swindon. They LOVE the states but get homesick.
    I totally agreed with your comment at Charis's site, WHY do we sometimes miss the people that haven't bothered with us at all!
    I'e just moved to the south coast of England and am missing the "friends" that haven't even emailed me in the 15 weeks since moving to see how we are. So WHY I miss them I have no idea. But I do.
    My hubby is a Yorkshireman so we were up there last weekend. Five hour drive. Yikes!
    I write a blog too. www.treasuresfromthecherrytree.blogspot.com if you are ever interested in reading my drivel about my charity shop fetish.
    x x x x

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  10. I'm all for cheap pizza! xxx

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  11. Looks like an amazing city, lucky you :) xx

    http://Heidi-likes.blogspot.co.uk

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  12. I'm visiting Poland for 2 and a half weeks in July to teach as part of the English summer school my local town provides over there. So many people have preconceptions of it as a country, but I've heard just like everywhere else, it's got it's good and it's bad areas. Can't wait to get my hands on cheap pizza haha.

    Charlotte xo

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  13. Hi, my name is Wiola and I'm from Poland. I'd like to thank you for a very nice opinion about my country. I live in a small town near to Warsaw, but every city in Poland are close to me. Tnank you very much again. Sorry for my englisch.

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