Krakow

Up and out early for the el cheapo flights I'd scored on a 'LOT Crazy Wednesday' deal, a few weeks earlier. We would have happily taken the train, but it was cheaper to fly and would take marginally less time, when you add to the toing and froing from airports. We dumped our overnight bags and went for breakfast in a old-style cafe off the Rynek, as Krakow woke up and got going. It was jolly chilly at times, but unusually, the sun came out and hats, scarves and gloves were shed (though not by the Poles!) as it was actually mild enough to sit outdoors and enjoy a pint of beer! Who would have thought it. I came at the same time in 2009 and it was so cold that my Nikon lens froze! What a contrast.

A nice day, ambling about the market and doing some christmas shopping with lots of coffee/cake/beer stops along the way. We'd made a reservation at a restaurant that was fully booked when mum and dad visited in March and rested ourselves back at the hotel before going out for a delicious meal at Miod Malina, where dad ordered this beautifully presented steak tartare. Fed and watered, we walked back through the much quieter Rynek, to walk off the excesses of the day before a restful night at the Amber Hotel.