Jo’s Monday walk : Beside the Wisła

Balon Widokowy and na Skalce

Balon Widokowy and na Skalce

Isn’t this just a strange sight?  The hot air balloon, hunkered down on the banks of the river, dwarfing one of Kraków’s biggest churches!

I think this might have to be my last Polish Monday walk.  I’ve been home for a couple of weeks now, and already have English walks that I want to share.  So let’s take a city stroll, beside the River Wisła (Vistula).  I think you’ll enjoy it.

It's quite an idyllic scene on a sunny day, isn't it?

It’s quite an idyllic scene on a sunny day, isn’t it?

The swans are more than happy!

The swans seem happy enough

And there are riverboat restaurants to keep the people happy too

And there are riverboat restaurants to keep the people happy too

Though you couldn't tell from this face, could you?

Though you’d never guess from this face, would you?

The Vistula is quite an amazing river, which flows the entire length of Poland, 651 miles in total. In doing so, it passes through many of Poland’s finest cities.  From Silesia in the south it meanders through Kraków, then via Sandomierz to the nation’s capital, Warsaw.  Continuing north it sweeps past Płock and Torun, finally emptying out into the delta beside Gdansk, on the Baltic.

All kinds of craft use the waterway

All kinds of craft use the waterway

In Krakow the tourist gondolas are numerous

In Krakow, there are numerous gondolas for the tourists

You can stroll through the centre on either river bank, and both will afford you fine views of Wawel Castle.  If you’ve never been, my K is for Krakow will take you on a tour of the heart of the city, Stare Miasto.  It is a beautiful place.  Or you could sit on the terrace of the Japanese Cultural Centre, gazing across the river, and sip your wine in style.  But for now we’ll keep walking, under bridges and over bridges, in the delicious sunshine.

Underneath the arches

Underneath the arches, Wawel ever present in the background

Always, boats have me reaching for the camera

Gazing down into a tethered boat

Just beyond Most Grunwaldskiego, with its rattling trams, you can see the spires of Na Skalce, the Pauline Church- a special place. Let’s take a little diversion there before we return to the river.

The Pauline Church and Monastery

The Pauline Church and Monastery

The grounds of the church are very beautiful

The grounds of the church are very beautiful

With a fountain and statue at its centre

With a fountain and statue at the centre

Long columns and statues

Tall columns and statues of bishops

And majestic heraldry

Majestic heraldry

Combining modern and ancient

Combining modern and ancient

While Pope John Paul II looks tenderly on

While Pope John Paul II looks gently on

Named for the rocky hill, Skalka, on which it was built, this is Kraków’s oldest shrine and Poland’s second holiest sanctuary after the Jasna Gora monastery at Czestochowa.  King Boleslaw II, the Bold, had Kraków bishop Stanisław put to death here in 1079, creating another martyr in the battle between Church and State.  Stanisław was canonised and throughout the Middle Ages his cult was pivotal in forming the Polish nation, with an emphasis on the accountability of those in power. Following their coronation, Polish kings made a point of doing ritual penance at this sanctuary.

Beneath the church is a crypt, cut into the rock of the hill, now a mausoleum to famous Poles, including Stanisław Wyspianski, locally born painter and writer.

Back on the river bank it's time to board one of those restaurants

Back on the river bank, it’s time to board one of those restaurants

And sample a little szarlotka? (apple tart)

And sample a little szarlotka? (apple tart)

I’m going to leave you sitting in the sunshine while I amble a little further.  I can’t sit still for too long and you won’t get lost if you stay by the river.  See you soon!

Ending as I began, with the hot air balloon

I’ll end as I began, with the hot air balloon

For anyone not familiar with my Monday walks, I host this feature every Monday and anyone is welcome to join in.  All you need to do is send me a link to your walk in the Comments below, or include a link to my walks in your post.  It’s up to you which you prefer to do, and you can join in on any day of the week.  I will include your link at the end of next week’s walk, to give everyone a chance to see it, and share on social media when I read it.  Happy walking!

I had a terrific response to my walk last week so there are some wonderful shares below.  I’m going to start you off though with a Memorial Day posting from Yvette.  Such is her charisma that she even got President Obama to join my walks!  :

http://priorhouse.wordpress.com/2014/05/25/walk-with-jo-navy-monument-and-obama-walk/

http://bopaula.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/monday-walk-in-montmartre/

http://morselsandscraps2.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/walking-round-ljubljana/

http://pommepal.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/exploring-greenough-river-jos-monday-walk/

http://dailymusing57.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/monday-walk/

http://ledrakenoir.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/whom-the-bell-tolls/

http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/jos-monday-walk-clouds-come-floating/

http://smallbluegreenwords.wordpress.com/2014/05/17/a-spring-walk-in-herefordshire/

http://morselsandscraps2.wordpress.com/2014/05/20/a-monday-walk/

Please spend some time with my friends.  These are all terrific reads!

120 comments

    1. The little mini tour buses get everywhere, Viv. One or two pulled up to offer us a ride when we got caught in torrential rain (but I haven’t told that story yet) I’m trying to watch the French Open and battling laptop problems at the minute. Yikes! 🙂

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  3. Happy Monday, Jo. Another great walk, full of interesting tidbits and photos of life and culture along the river. Your walking participants are growing. Such a great idea and I’m pleased Obama joined in. 🙂

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  4. I didn’t even see the Wisła when I spent a day in Krakòw. What a loss! Although I suspect your Wisła is even more beautiful than the real thing.

    My family have plans for the length of the river: J. wants to buy a little wooden boat and examine it that way; my daughter and her family can’t wait for the cycle way along its length to be built. The twins have their first helmets, in readiness.

    Thanks for listing my walks in your round up. I’m honoured.

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    1. You know, we really are quite in tune, Meg 🙂 Since I discovered the route the river takes I’ve always wanted to navigate the length of it and end up (or start) in Gdansk.
      I got some fabulous walks last week and am really enjoying doing this 🙂

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  8. An eclectic walk Jo!! That balloon is indeed incongruous in that landscape. I love the giant chess pieces and the tall columns with statues of bishops. And the apple pie of course 🙂

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    1. It’s a lovely city, Madhu. This was on our last day in Krakow and we spent quite a while on that riverboat, just soaking up the atmosphere. (and cake!) 🙂

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  12. a gorgeous walk Jo, and I learnt some more about Poland … I love the river views but I could just as easily float off for a bird’s eye view!

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    1. It was superb up in the balloon, Christine! We didn’t do it this trip but we have in the past. I think there’s a photo in the Krakow post that I meant to include here, but enough is enough 🙂

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  13. A great short visual tour of Krakow, I’m off to learn more about it and plan a holiday. Your pictures are amazing. I’ll check out some of the other links as well.

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    1. I meant to post my photo riding high in the balloon, Drake, but I forgot! I think it’s in the K is for Krakow post anyway 🙂 I’m off to the Moors walking this morning. Have a good day!

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      1. Enjoy the moor walk – amazing landscape… 🙂

        I bought the TV series “Heartbeat” on dvd for my old parents back in Denmark – it is recorded in the area around the North York Moors especially Whitby and the village of Goathland – they are very excited about the beautiful nature footage… 🙂

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      2. My mother in Norway watch “Heartbeat” every day. 🙂 Now I got the chance to see it too.
        3 years ago Klausbernd and myself went to the North Yorkshire Moors and just by chance we ended up in Goathland. We had never seen the “Heartbeat” or heard about the place. You can’t imagine the expression on our faces as we turned around the corner and were set back in time. The expression of the locals were even better; you have never ever heard of ..?!?!?!?

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      3. I was further north on the Moors today and had a calamity with my camera, so no joyous memories of today, I’m afraid. But it’s close enough for me to be a regular visitor (and I hope that my camera will be ok- I got water inside!)

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  19. As ever, a great walk Jo, and I can have a nice stroll in interesting places virtually even if I couldn’t manage it in reality due to declining stamina!

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    1. This one’s quite gentle, Sue, and you have a choice of riverside restaurants. But the armchair will do just as well. Thanks for joining me. Have a restful day. I’m off to the Moors (walking, of course 🙂 )

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  20. Fun juxtaposition in the first photo. I am sorry to hear this is your last Polish walk Jo. I am having a rather difficult day at the office, but I will link my scheduled Monday walk to this post now 🙂 Happy bank holiday!

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    1. Thank you so much, Paula 🙂 A busy day at the office! Ugh!! My last Polish walk but not my last Polish post by any means 🙂
      The sun is finally shining here so I’m off to the Moors soon. I took so many rainy day photos I think that’ll need a post soon too 🙂 Thanks again for your support.

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