I appreciate this walking tour, but our serial killers win. – A fellow American I met on the Macabre Krakow walking tour (she isn’t wrong)

I must have the kind of face that says, “Hello… talk to me…” because I found that as I wandered, that’s what would happen. People would just talk to me. Maybe it was my haircut, but I doubt that. I cut my own hair – and it looked like I cut my own hair. I don’t mind people talking to me, if I’m honest. You meet so many interesting people that way.

Anyway, as I mentioned in the Warsaw post, I love free walking tours. You learn a lot, meet a lot of people, and get to see a city. I met two of my close friends, R and M, on walking tours in Krakow (as I will describe in a bit). So, my first night in Krakow, fresh off the train from Kielce and with a belly full of Indian food and a hot cup of tea (because February is cold), I decided to join the Macabre Krakow tour. Aside from the awkward introductions with the tour guide and staring at a sheltie dog that was joining us, I met a lady who was visiting from Ohio. Her granddaughter was visiting a friend that had moved to Krakow from Warsaw, and she had a free night and decided to join up with this tour. Since we were both a little underwhelmed with the stories being told on the tour knowing America’s rich history of murderers, we started talking and sharing stories. She found me particularly interesting. Likely because I was so matter of fact when describing that I sold mostly everything in the States to wander. She also made sure that I called my mother regularly to let her know I was alive.

After the walking tour, she wanted perogies and wine. I wasn’t too hungry, but this was one of those moments that you eat anyway. Sometimes those things can happen. You aren’t hungry but you’re making a connection of some kind and would miss out on an experience that would be remembered. You eat anyway. So, I politely accepted this no longer a stranger but I can’t remember her name’s invitation and we wined and dined in one of Krakow’s underground restaurants. A great start to this city sharing stories, tasty perogies and wine.

Over the next day or so, I scheduled my tour to Auschwitz, the Rynek Underground museum (which is so dope!), and sampled some of the cities markets… yeah, and went on more walking tours. One tour I was super pumped about was the street art tour. I absolutely love street art and this was the first tour I was able to take catered purely to street art since I started traveling.

Seeing the art was awesome (there is a slide show of some of it above), and this tour provided two cool experiences. First, I met an Instagram celebrity. That dog from the walking tour the night before joined this tour, and after noticing that we were basically watching what could only be described as a photoshoot for Petco’s new line of dog shampoo that promises to give your coat both body and shine as the wind gently wafted through his majestic mane… it was only after watching that unfold that someone asked and we found out that we were in the presence of @thebobster_sheltie.

Second, I met one of my new friends, R, on this tour. Like me, she took a break from her work and life to travel. She was on a 6 week tour through Europe and was only in Krakow for a few short days. After the tour we found our way to a cool underground Indian restaurant called Ganesh Restaurant (photo of the dining area below) to actually talk without interrupting the tour guide (bad form).

R and I shared stories, both funny and enlightening. There is a metaphorical bridge we stood on that had similar planks of experience paving our way through life as we knew it. Grounding to talk to another person who gets where you are. As we parted ways for the night, we vowed to meet up the next day after my tour at Auschwitz (which I will save for a later post because that entire day was interesting). But as we both traveled on, we would message each other regularly and be the support neither of us knew we would need.

The first few days of my seven days in Krakow were already full of meeting the most random of people and dopely delicious food. The second half of the stay would be just as interesting with a visit to Auschwitz, meeting a Scottish couple and following them to a pub or two, meeting a nice older English couple on Valentine’s Day and helping them find a place to eat ?? , then meeting M who becomes a very good friend, and being invited to a Turkish wedding.

Until the next post or two about Krakow…

Understand that as you travel and meet people (and yourself), you gather an interesting group of acquaintances and, if you’re lucky, friends. Think of the people that would come together for you from all walks of life, cultures, and backgrounds – simply because they know you. It’s a dope understanding of the ripple effect you have in this vast ocean. – Drew Wilson (the most generic of names for the most eccentric of souls – a title given to me by a friend)

• Have additional questions for me about my experience? Email me using the contact form.
• Check out additional pictures from my travels in the Digital Postcards.