Hi Gram!
Phew, that was an early morning. I had to get to the train station for an 8:23am departure, so I left my apartment around 7:30. I wanted to make sure I got there in plenty of time to find my seat and settle in before it pulled out of the station. I grabbed some breakfast at a kiosk once I found my platform on the departures board, then made my way over there to wait. We all boarded in an orderly manner, although I had to put my heavy suitcase on the top shelf. A nice gentleman helped me lift it up there. Europeans are so nice! The first few hours, I read my book and watched the fields and nature just roll by. Before I knew it, we were pulling into the Krakow station. I collected my bags (and hurt my shoulder a little getting my big heavy bag down from the top shelf), then found myself walking from the train platform, through a mall, and out onto the streets.

I was planning on hiring a car to get my luggage to the apartment, but the weather was perfect for a walk. I was electric with excitement to be in this beautiful city, stopping for photos as I walked. My apartment was on the 1st floor, which for everywhere except the USA means up a floor from ground level. Everything went smoothly getting in, only to discover a cute little apartment right out of the 70’s with the decor and layout. I charged my phone a little, then headed out to walk a bit. A block later, I found myself seated at Pierogarnia Goralska, a pierogi restaurant with a nice view. I got a mix of different flavors and savored each one.

After dinner, I just went and wandered a bit, people watching and taking pictures like a tourist. I started down a busy road with little shops, then circled around to a parkway lined with trees. It had a mix of lovers sitting on park benches, locals and tourists out for an evening stroll, and cyclists trying to weave between them. All of this was framed by grandiose buildings behind the trees. I love that Europe has so many of these pedestrian walkways and squares where one can just wander slowly without watching for cars on all sides. I ended up at a pedestrian walk that went under the road, giving me a chance to walk up and down some stairs and get in my count. As I left the stairs, I realized that was right next to the train station where I’d arrived a few hours earlier. From there, I got out my GPS and pointed back towards the apartment, stopping at a grocery store to get some breakfast for the next few days. I was pleased to see that my 3 yogurts, an apple and an orange only cost around $5. In hindsight, that’s a fair price but I was expecting it to be much higher. Back at the apartment, I showered, crawled into bed, and read my book until the quartet at the restaurant downstairs lulled me to sleep.