Wroclaw
My UK flight was delayed because of the ever-so-reliable Ryanair airline and I missed my bus because of it. I was pretty pissed about the inconvenience of Wroclaw but was pleasantly surprised.
The following day my bus would leave for Krakow around 2 PM. I actually, in the 2.5 years I've been in Krakow, have not taken the time to venture Wroclaw. I've seen most Polish cities but Wroclaw was not one of them. So, maybe this was a blessing in disguise? Who knows. I woke up around 8 AM and wandered the city for a few hours. Here are my opinions:
The cathedral in the center is beautiful but it has nothing on St. Mary’s in Krakow. In this point in my life, I've seen a lot of churches. When I say a lot, I mean a lot and really only a few stand out. This one I will remember, however, not for its pretty paintings or religious statues, but for its stained glass piece. It is a memorial to Katyn which is a pretty interesting aspect of World War II and is hardly touched upon in school, if at all. When the Soviets invaded Poland, they rounded up most of the Polish military heads and influential military people. Many of them went missing and were never seen again. When the Nazis attacked the Soviet Union, they eventually found a mass grave in the Katyn forest (in modern-day Russia) and basically pointed at the Soviet Union and said, "Stalin is just as bad!" The mass grave turned out to be full of missing soldiers with bullets in the back of their heads and they had been buried with their possessions. The estimated number of bodies is around 22,000. If you want to read more go there. There’s also a Polish film about Katyn.
Anyways, it was nice to see a reference to it. There is a memorial in Krakow near Wawel Castle, too.
Back to Wroclaw, there are little dwarves around the city in random crevicesl. This was some sort of rebellious act against the Soviets during Communism and they are still visible today as a symbol of rebellion. Specifically, they signified a meeting place for a movement group to meet during the Cold War but now now it’s mostly just a tourist attraction! The main square has lots of little alleyways that are charming but sadly are filled with graffiti. Most of the US chains destroying the beauty ofKrakow's city center have taken over the city center of Wroclaw. The city has its charm, especially in the university area. The door is huuuuge to the main building and really the university itself is stunning. I liked the city overall. The colors in the main square really is what makes it so beautiful - a medieval colorful square that still feels authentic! If it was gray and lacked color, it wouldn't be nearly as nice as it is (like Warsaw). I didn't do anything touristic besides have a wander but it has a good atmosphere and I imagine it would be a lovely place to live!
