TOUR TO KRAKOW 24 - 29 MAY 2009
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Hotel Wyspianski After a very early start, we left Bristol Airport at 0700 on Sunday 24 May on a packed Easyjet flight to Krakow and arrived on schedule. We were met by our tour manager, Anna, and taken by bus to Krakow. The traffic was, as we were to find, uncharacteristically light and we arrived at the hotel around lunch time, too early to check in. Most of us left out baggage in a secure room and set off to investigate the delights of old Krakow. Our hotel (left) was just outside the old town - less than five minutes walk to the main square,Rynek Glowny (right) with its historical buildings and tempting cafes. Rynek Glowny and the Cloth Hall
Listening to Anna on Wavel Hill Monday started with a walking tour of old Krakow in glorious weather. On the left you can see us on Wavel Hill, listening while Anna gives us a brief history of Poland and Krakow. Later we looked at the Cathedral (right) and part of the State Rooms in the Castle (below left). We also visited the old university and ended up in Rynek Glowny. Wavel - the Cathedral and Castle
Wavel - the State Rooms At the end of the walking tour we visted the Franciscan Church, famous for it's art-nouveau stained-glass windows by the celebrated artist Wyspianski(right). In the church we sang an informal concert lasting for about 30 minutes, which was very well received by an assortment of nuns, students and other tourists. Wyspianski windows in the Franciscan Church
St Katherine's Church, Kazimierz In the evening we drove to Kazimierz, the former Jewish Quarter, where we gave our first formal concert of the tour in St Katherine's Church. We sang our full programme of music by Haydn, Purcell and Mendelssohn, wth some close harmony arrangements of well-known English folk songs. We finished with a performance of Gorecki's Totus tuus which earned us a standing ovation. Sining in St Katherines
entrance to Auschwitz The following day, Tuesday, was much more sombre, involving, as it a did, a trip to Auschwitz. The weather was somehow inapropriately beautiful as we walked through the entrance (left) with its infamous message. We spent a long time going around the museum at Auschwitz itself, with its unbearably poignant exhibits. Then we were taken to the much larger camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau with its railway station and reconstructed huts (right). Everyone was very moved by the whole experience. Reconstructed hut at Auschwitz-Birkenau
Dinner at the Ariel Restaurant In the evening most of us went to a Jewish dinner at the famous Ariel Restaurant in Kazimierrz. The room we ate in was amazing with its painted walls and hunting trophies and the food was excellent. We were entertained by the Jascha Lieberman Trio playing some fascinating music - described by Mark Lee our conductor as " Miles Davis meets klezmer!" Jascha Lieberman Trio
St Kinga's Chapel in the salt mines. Early on Wednesday morning we went to visit the famous salt mines at Wieliczka a few miles outside Krakow. This was the only morning that it rained and we were underground for most of it! The salt mines were fantastic, as well as seeing examples of the machinery used to mine and transport the salt, we saw many of the statues that the miners had made and visited several of the underground chapels that had been cut out of the salt. On the left you see some of us in the largest one, St Kinga's Chapel, with its salt candelabra. The decorations include a bas-relief version of Leonardo's Last Supper (right). Leonardo's Last Supper in the salt mines
The choir sining in the salt mines We gave another informal concert in St Kinga's Chapel - the acoustics were amazing! After emerging from underground we drove back to Krakow for lunch. Official photo from the salt mines
Concert in the Franciscan Monastery, Wieliczka On Wednesday afternoon we returned to Wieliczka to sing in the Franciscan Monastery. After a period for rehearsal we sang movements of Haydn's Little Organ Mass as part of the evening Mass and followed this with a short concert. Once again we had an excellent reception from the audience. The concert was also filmed and recorded and the local newspaper took some pictures (left).
Dinner at Gospodin CK Desertas restaurant Thursday was our final day and a party went on a tour to Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains, while the rest of us stayed in Krakow for more sight-seeing and shopping! The tour ended with an excellent meal in a Krakow restaurant. Dinner at Gospodin CK Desertas restaurant
Caroline and Paul And of course, after the meal the usual suspects were to be found attempting to drink the bar dry of its stocks of interesting Polish vodkas. We had a free Friday morning in Krakow and then an afternoon flight, somewhat delayed, to Bristol. Everyone seems to agree that we had a marvellous time and already people are asking "Where are we going next time?" Liam, John and Vicky
 
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