Day 11 - Krakow

Woke up in a Chinese laundry today. Well, that's what it feels like here. We all did washing last night and tied a length of washing line between our bunk beds to dry it all on. Getting out of bed was like an obstacle course of knickers and tops. Today we decided to just explore Krakow. We had fallen in live with the place just based on the hostel, food and the street we are in, so we thought it best to check out the rest of the place.

We were not disappointed. We got to the main square and were awestruck at how beautiful it is. The cloth market is an incredible building, gianormous and just so pretty. That was our first port of call. We spent AGES in there. The stalls were full of amber jewellery, hand carved jewellery boxes, woven table cloths, fur hats, painted china and rather strangely, wooden carvings of old Jewish men. I didn't buy one of those. I bought a beautiful pair of green amber earrings to match my ring at home. They came with a certificate of authenticity to say they were genuine amber set in real silver. I love them.

We mooched around a bit more, then took a detour to the train station to sort out the journey to Prague. Whilst we were there, something amazing happened. I had one of those moments where I knew life would never be the same again. I bought chilli chocolate ice cream. I have never tasted anything like it in my life. Spectacular is about the only word to describe it. Especially as its well into the 30s here. Life changing moments over, we went back to the main square. On our way back, we witnessed a child feeding pigeons. This was no ordinary park scene tho. This child was knelt amongst pigeons, stroking them and holding them in her hands. I felt sick. Her parents were nowhere to be seen. I hope to God she has had her tetanus.

Back at the main square we pins somewhere to eat, and we threw ourselves into Polish life. We had vodka at 3 in the afternoon. It was marvellous! Even more marvellous was the post-vodka trip to the castle. We went on a walk around the royal chambers and then down into the caves to the dragons den. There's a legend here that there was a dragon living under the castle and he ate people and animals and no one could get rid of him. One day, a man fed him a poisonous sheep and the dragon exploded and everyone lived happily ever after, covered in exploded dragon guts.

Back to the hostel, and I had a wonderful nap. All good naps are preceded by vodka. They are also followed by good food. WE ARE EATING LIKE KINGS HERE!!! Dee and I had the most amazing tea ever. It was a giant kebab skewer hung from kebab-gallows with potatoes and vegetables underneath, and an absinthe-soaked sugar cube that was ON FIRE. Yes, my tea was hung above a fire pit. I was like a child. I was so excited. It tasted unbelievable, even though half of it was soaked in absinthe. That was possibly the best meal of my life.

Tonight is a warm night. I am sprawled out on my bed in my Blink 182 tshirt, we are all boiling. This is only a taste of things to come. Tomorrow morning we are off to Prague, and rumour has it that it is scorching there. I have tanned already, the girls have not. I am enjoying being happily bronzed and would really like to not be a lobster. Fingers crossed, eh.

We have lived Krakow. The food, the people, the place itself is just wonderful. We definitely want to come back here (*coughJADENEWYEARcough*)

Ps, Mum I really had to buy those earrings. Honest. I had to get rid of my Polish money cos I can't use it anywhere else. If I didn't buy them I would have spent it on vodka. Good enough reason?