My supervisor said I could have Friday off so that I could take an earlier train and meet up with some girlfriends I met from Łódź during the Wroclaw weekend. This is the 3rd weekend we’ve gotten to spend together, we are really exploring all around Poland together!
Friday I participated in the International Programs in Engineering Around the World in a Snap takeover. I featured a bunch of images from Krakow and cheesy encouragement to future international travelers. Here are a few favorites.
Then we started our stay in Krakow with a free walking tour of Old Town. Some interesting stories below:
Theater Mimika was the only place for Polish to be spoken during performances under foreign regime. The building architecture is also a combination of Neoclassical, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. This was once of many buildings with contrasting architecture in the old town of Krakow.
-19th Century Poland disappeared from the map because Germany, Austria, and Russia attached simultaneously and split up the territory. At this time, Krakow was part of Austria.
-Defense trail= Barbakan, pronounced “Barbie-ken” (because Barbie and Ken, put husband and wife’s names together and you have the name of the defense fort). Only country ever to penetrate was Sweden.
-The city wall stayed over parts of old town because the engineers knew how to give a “scientific” argument. “You know how we have that horrible northern wind every winter? If you don’t want your women to have their skirts up all winter (think Marilyn Monroe style), then we should keep the wall.”
-Torture and executions = premium entertainment, you know because Facebook and twitter didn’t exist yet, so you’d simply bring the family and some popcorn to enjoy the execution!
Modern art = many interpretations. Some say this statue of a bandaged face without eyes shows “love makes you blind” or “love is blind.” A recent tour participant offered this interpretation “the bandages and no eyes is clearly a 50 shades of grey advertisement” lol
Street performer
The crew having dinner :)
Awesome that you got to hang out with them again -- I bet you will stay in touch for years to come!
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