last day in krakow

a brief post for today...mostly we walked around parts of the city we hadn't seen yet and aren't on the well trod tourist circuit. first stop was this fantastic milk bar style restaurant that is popular and had a steady stream of customers because the food is very good and very affordable. we had a schav, a chicken soup, potato and onion pierogies, little spinach pies, french fries, two compotes and a cappuccino for around ten dollars. many groups stopped by and took photos of the building while their tour guides explained the area's significance. I believe this is the neighborhood of Schindler's factory.

 

kitty corner to this restaurant is a place called pan zielonka or mr. herbs or something to that effect. i finally found some dried sea buckthorn so i hope to make my own tea when we are back home.

during a walk to an outdoor market i couldn't help noticing just how incredibly robust and ubiquitous the nettles are here:

also noted on the way was this business with its own atm:

and some severely underutilized beautifully constructed boxen:

a plaque commemorating another polish artist. these are everywhere... it's just really moving and remarkable how the arts (and just about all creativity here) are honored with these plaques that recognize someone's contribution to poland's history and culture: 

after a long day of walking we just stopped for a rest and in the background tou can see the castle krakow (Wawel?)is known for:

waiting in another park for an uber back across the river to have dinner (note cute little trash receptacle with rain repelling umbrella-like cap...and A too!)

on the way in the cab i snapped a quick shot as we sped past that hot air balloon and the ferris wheel from a couple of posts ago:

of course i forgot to take pics of our second meal at mezzellian but here's the menus: 

and here's A in Krakow Park, the favorite childhood park of Eva Hoffman that we read about in this book: