h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yes, it's a beautiful place and a good article to celebrate it. You didn't mention the good winter sports and the good guesthouse accommodation in the neighbourhood.
But, you won't find (m)any old Jews in the old Jewish quarter. I am always conscious of the concentration camps in the neighbourhood and the scent of death hangs over the city for me

yesss, wanderer. it's true.

i visited auschwitz when i was in krakow, and i can't even try to express the feelings the place evokes (and i'm german). some polish nerds built a disco at a stone throw's distance from the camp, on grounds that were used for dyeing leather or suchlike. i guess they knew it would cause an uproar and they would get paid to leave the site again.

there is much of ww2 still to be found in and around krakow.

how do you know that there aren't many jews in krakow left? i got the impression that - apart from touristically altered folklore-events - there is still a lively community.
maybe that's not true?

I'll visit poland again - warzawa for example is so weird and impressive! and the baltic coast, and the other towns, and the mountains...

jin dobre, or so...! : )

Jule

I don't have the actual figures, but most of those still living in Kracow are young.Only a fraction of pre-war Jewish numbers.
I worked in Gdansk for four years and Szczecin for two. Interesting places with interesting post-war histories. Do go back to Poland - it's got a lot going for it - and write another good article like this one

merci bien!

i try to come up with some on astrology. polish have been big in astrology always... ; )
where's your article on shanghai?

bcnu!

Julia

Ok, this might be a bit too late because its been over a year since somebody has actually read this conversation, but nevertheless. Krakow is definetly wonderful and if I may use such a cliché - it is the place-to-be. anyways, on the matter of Jews living in Krakow; during my visit I found this very useful guide book called in your pocket, and it says:

" The city's most haunting ethnic statistic involves the fact that before WWII, 28,8% (64,000 people) of the city was Jewish. Estimates for Jews left in Krakow after the war range from 2000 to 6000 and today ( 2001 ) it is believed that only few hundred Jewish people call Krakow home, although no one knows the exact nubmber. "

Given the fact that there is more than 750,000 people living in Krakow few hundred is really a small group.

It is impossible to write about all the sights of Krakow but two places worth mentioning are Wieliczka Salt Mines and Nowa Huta ( the gigantic steel factory )

Slightly linked to this conversation is the fact that Auschwitz is a tremendous place to visit. It is hard to describe the feelings that you get when visiting the place of such obscene crimes. Its very emotional and it leaves you with a clear impression of how bad any kind of prejudice is.

The quietness and calmness of both the camps despite the atriocities, is a feeling that won't ever leave me.

If you ever get a chance please go.