I got up, or more accurately never really slept on my departure day from Cyprus heading to Poland.  The departure from the hotel was 5am as I had to drop off the hire car at 5.30am.

All this was tight because the morning flight was 7.05am from Paphos to Krakow.  Gladly, all went smoothly and the on-time flight had me in Krakow before most folks had gotten into work.

 A short but ultra-efficient train journey had me headed to my hotel just after 10am in the morning.  It was too early to check-in, but at least I had somewhere to lay my bags, before I stepped out into the pleasant morning sunshine that greeted me in Krakow.  It was not as warm as in Cyprus, but pleasant all the same for a mid-October day. 

The town square is the biggest medieval town square in the whole of Europe.  I would guess it also has become the people watching capital of anywhere you could name. Around the square line cafes, bars and restaurants that are filled with people most of the day, and all of the night.

I’m guessing its mostly tourists, but it just nice to do.  As my stomach thought my throat had been cut off, food was the order of the day as lunch time approached.  In fairness, the food wasn’t great, but ok.  I promised myself to search out somewhere better, as I am sure there must be not too far away.

 

With this being my first visit to Poland, and Krakow in particular, I wanted to learn about the place, and I have consistently found one of the best ways to do this is on the free walking tours that each city seems to offer.  They are run by locals, often history students who know all the detail to inform your walk around the town.  Most times I have found these walks great, and I have done several now.  Mario was the guide for this particular 135-minute walk around Krakow.  Taking in the sites as Mario infilled it with factual detail, foibles and a few jokes. It was an entertaining and informative wander.

 

What these walks also help you to do is to get your bearings, find out what is where, ask questions about anything you might want to know, and get to meet some other people who are the same boat as you. On our tour (in English) were travellers from Brazil, USA, Sweden and Ukraine. 

With the lack of sleep, early start, flight, initial walk on my own, walking tour and then a short venture back to see Krakow by night I suddenly sound myself in a state of weariness I can’t actually recall previously.  Everything ached, everything was tired and I was officially on empty. The fitness tracker said I had walked 14 miles, my body said I was done.  My bed felt so good, and sleep and recovery were massively needed.