CinX's Travels 2013

[CinX]

Auschwitz II - Birkenau by cinxxx, on Flickr


Auschwitz II - Birkenau by cinxxx, on Flickr


Auschwitz II - Birkenau by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Auschwitz II - Birkenau by cinxxx, on Flickr


Auschwitz II - Birkenau by cinxxx, on Flickr


Auschwitz II - Birkenau by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Auschwitz II - Birkenau by cinxxx, on Flickr


Auschwitz II - Birkenau by cinxxx, on Flickr


Auschwitz II - Birkenau by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Auschwitz II - Birkenau by cinxxx, on Flickr


Auschwitz II - Birkenau by cinxxx, on Flickr


Auschwitz II - Birkenau by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Kraków, Poland - May 2013

Kraków (Polish pronunciation: [ˈkrakuf]) also Cracow, or Krakow (US English /ˈkrækaʊ/, British English /ˈkrækɒv/) is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River (Polish: Wisła) in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life and is one of Poland's most important economic hubs. It was the capital of Poland from 1038 to 1569; the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1569 to 1596; Free City of Kraków from 1815 to 1846; the Grand Duchy of Cracow from 1846 to 1918; and Kraków Voivodeship from the 14th century to 1999. It is now the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.



Developed over many centuries, Kraków provides a showcase setting for many historic styles of architecture. As the city expanded, so too did the architectural achievements of its builders. It is for this reason that the variations in style and urban planning are so easily recognisable. Built from its nucleus (the city centre) outwards, and having escaped much of the destruction endured by Poland during 20th-century wars, Kraków's many architectural monuments can typically be seen in historical order by simply walking from the city centre out towards its later districts.

Kraków's historic centre, which includes the Old Town, Kazimierz and the Wawel Castle, was included as the first of its kind on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1978.[65] The Old Town (Polish: Stare Miasto) is the most prominent example of an old town in the country.[66] For many centuries Kraków was the royal capital of Poland, until Sigismund III Vasa relocated the court to Warsaw in 1596. The whole district is bisected by the Royal Road, the coronation route traversed by the Kings of Poland. The Route begins at St. Florian's Church outside the northern flank of the old city-walls in the medieval suburb of Kleparz; passes the Barbican of Kraków (Barbakan) built in 1499, and enters Stare Miasto through the Florian Gate. It leads down Floriańska Street through the Main Square, and up Grodzka to Wawel, the former seat of Polish royalty, overlooking the Vistula river. Old Town attracts visitors from all over the World. Kraków historic centre is one of the 13 places in Poland that are included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The architectural design of the Old Town had survived all cataclysms of the past and retained its original form coming from the medieval times. The Old Town district of Kraków is home to about six thousand historic sites and more than two million works of art.[67] Its rich variety of historic architecture includes Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings. Kraków's palaces, churches, theatres and mansions display great variety of color, architectural details, stained glass, paintings, sculptures, and furnishings.
Kanonicza Street, which leads to the Wawel, is home to a number of 16th and 17th century architectural masterpieces

In addition to the old town, the city's former Jewish district of Kazimierz is particularly notable for its many renaissance buildings and picturesque streets. Kazimierz was founded in the 14th century to the south-east of the city centre and soon became a wealthy, well-populated area where construction of imposing properties became commonplace. Perhaps the most important feature of medieval Kazimierz was the only major, permanent bridge (Pons Regalis) across the northern arm of the Vistula. This natural barrier used to separate Kazimierz from the Old Town for several centuries, while the bridge connected Kraków to the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the lucrative Hungarian trade route. The last structure at this location (at the end of modern Stradom Street) was dismantled in 1880 when the northern arm of the river was filled in with earth and rock, and subsequently built over.

[CinX]

Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Daylight again


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

It also shoots flames, but I didn't get to catch it on camera...


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr

Some glass


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr


Krakow by cinxxx, on Flickr