Today is our final touring day in Krakow as tomorrow we leave for the airport after lunch. This will be the final blog post for this trip.
We do have a 28 day cruise coming up in the Summer of 2027 in the Mediterranean. We can meet back up then.
We started in the gym today. Nice to be in AC. It is already warm. We booked tickets to the Schindler factory 2 weeks ago. Timed entry and tickets need to be purchased well in advance. This is one of the most popular touring sites in Krakow.
The factory was about a 2.5 mile walk. We went back and forth a few times on taking an Uber. We decided to walk.
Arthur Schindler was a member of the Nazi Party during WWII. He had a factory that made pots and pans and also some munitions for the German Army. He was able to employ thousands of jews and saved them from the gas chamber. The museum is in the factory but is the tour is not of the factory rather it is a remembrance of what Krakow was like during the occupation from 1939 to 1945. Lots of photos. Lots to learn. Maybe you remember the movie Schindlers List?
We spent about an hour here and walked back to the apartment. Fascinating museum. One or two stops for water on the way back. Lots of people out. Streets are packed.
When we arrived at the beginning of June I was puzzled as to why someone would leave Poland for the USA, knowing that they would never return. I am beginning to understand the turmoil at the early part of the 20th century when my great grand parents made the trip. The area that is now Poland has been conquered by so many different people. I can now understand why someone would want to leave.
The culture here is similar to ours back home. Moving here would have no culture shock. The USD allows us to live like kings if we choose to. It appears that the retail economy is thriving but I know little about the tax situation. People don’t greet you as they pass you on the street. That is different. The workers at the market checkout are pleasant but not friendly. If you ask for help, most Poles are very friendly. We keep commenting on the miserable look they have on their faces as we pass but this seems to be a cultural thing. I don’t think anyone we have met was around in WWII but many were certainly here during the communist era. That can certainly have an effect. Those born after communism ended are probably the majority of people that we see.
Nice country to visit. Back to the USA on Monday!