Krakow - The Jewish Quarter and Podgorze Ghetto

7/09/2008

This morning we walked over to the Jewish Quarter to Kazimierz Square. On the way we passed a lot of people queued outside a shop and could not work out what they were waiting for. On the way back the queue was 3 times as long and we were passing families eating icecream. So that what all the fuss was about... icecream! Later we found out it is called Lody and the most popular flavour is "birds milk" - a semi-sour marshmallow, covered with chocolate. It must have been extra special and worth the long wait in the queue.
In the Jewish Quarter we visited the Remuh synagogue and the old cemetery. We made our way to the Plac Nowy (market place), this is where the locals shop..... definitely the place to go if you are in the market for a fur coat. There were a lot of women trying them on if not buying. Must be getting prepared for winter! Lots of second had clothing stalls and the young women and girls were into these. Quite a different vibe to the touristy Cloth Hall in the town market square.
We crossed the Vistula River to Podgorze where the Krakow Jews were forced into the ghetto. We went to the ghetto heroes square which is decorated with empty metal chairs where the Jews waited to go to the concentration camp.
We then walked to Schindlers factory where Oskar Schindler did his best to save his Jewish workers - this is also where some of the movie "Schindlers List" was filmed. Unfortunately the factory and buildings were under restoration and not open to the public, so missed out on that one.
We walked back to the old town and bought some more fruit from our now friendly fruit vendor lady - and with a panini this made a good lunch.
It is noticeable the number of nuns in full black habit and there are very many young ones as well.
I talked Bob into having a Polish meal experience for dinner. He wanted Greek but hey! where in Poland....
We found a little restaurant tucked away down an alley way and the waitress was most helpful in making suggestions to try. We started with ˝dips˝ - one was a yogurt with herbs and garlic- quite nice. The other took a few tastes to work out what that was - then we realised it was pork fat with crackle bits in it. No thank you!
For mains Bob had Pierogi - ravioli dumplings with various fillings and sprinkled with pork fat and crackle again. Very filling... and after a few you are avoiding the crackle and as much fat as possible. I had Bigos ..... which is sauerkraut stew cooked with sausage, meat and mushrooms - and anything else that is loose in the kitchen, I think.