The closer my long-awaited vacation and HiveFest, the more often I return in my thoughts to previous meet-ups. There were only two of them in my life. The last one was #HiveBeeCon in Krakow in October 2023, and I am so excited because I will see this charming city again after HiveFest!
As I think of it now, my last visit seems full of events and slow, measured simultaneously.
Perhaps I owe this controversial feeling to my guide and not-the-guide. With him, I didn't have the slightest opportunity to feel lonely or lost as it feels when I travel without my loved ones, just on my own. Or to be alone with my thoughts about how much my life there in Ukraine is different from what it is here. And from what I had before. Instead, I came back to my rented apartment at the end of the day full of good feelings. And I smiled as I thought back to the past day. Always.
One day, we went to discover Krakow neighborhoods on his chic red Tesla. I never wrote about it so this is my #ThrowbackThursday post.
Some of you got the hint already. If not, I here is another one - car plate. Can you spell it? Is is ... @GANDALF? Yayyy! In addition, a great choice of motto for the plate of the car you're traveling in.
Kościuszko Mound
The first spot was the most famous one among 4 mounds near Krakow - Kopiec Kościuszki w Krakowie. I have never seen anything like it. That is, there are many barrows in Ukraine, but all of them are very old in terms of age, and this one is quite young, it was built in 1820-1823 in honor of the Polish national hero Tadeusz Kosciuszko.
It stands on the hill and is surrounded by a beautiful park with quiet shady alleys.
After climbing up the hill, another challenge was to find an entrance. Initially, we chose a counterclockwise direction (how can I remember these details?), passed a few entrance-like but closed gates, and eventually made a full circle. The entrance on the left from where we started.
There is an Entrance fee that includes the Kosciuszko Museum. It was the first half of the working day, so there were few people, and even the coffee shop was still closed.
The view of Krakow from the top of the hill. Wawel Royal Castle on the hill stands out from the urban development.
We climbed to the top of the hill.
There was a fenced observation deck at the top, but there was no fence all the way up the spiral.
The wind was quite strong and it added a bit of adrenaline.
😬
The main entrance, as I understand it, is under reconstruction.
It was so heartwarming to see the Ukrainian flag along with Polish.❤️💙
Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec (Opactwo Benedyktynów w Tyńcu)
I searched Google Maps for interesting sightseeing and saw the pictures of this abbey.
The view from the opposite bank is fascinating. We stopped for a while to look and take photos. There was a small ferry nearby. I wonder if they still use it?
The next location chose @Gandalf.
No, not specifically this place. I just made a few steps off the road for a wider angle for my photo and spotted this warning sign about snakes. Oops.
Ojcow National Park and Pieskowa Skala Castle
The weather has changed, and I remember it got very windy. But the rocks looked cool anyway.
Just look at this! The rock looks like the stone club of a giant troll. Later, I learned that it is called Mace of Hercules.
This beautiful, renaissance castle is right around the road turn.
We walked closer but didn't come inside. It was quite late and I was a bit tired and pretty hungry. So neither castle nor Eagle Nests Trail with picturesque views couldn't tempt me anymore. And we took the road back to Krakow.
The firewall looks at the troll's Hercules Mace. The clouds above caught my eye. Another great opportunity to train your imagination...
That's all folks.
I am deeply grateful to my friend @Gandalf for being my companion during my stay in Krakow and for this wonderful day in particular, and warm memories.