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. Pingback: ‘U’ is for Ula | restlessjo

  2. come sempre le tue foto svelano la tua grande personalità, la curiosità di scoprire e l’eleganza e l’originalità dello scatto, tu sai veramente entrare nell’anima stessa di quello che vedi e che riesci a far conoscere a chi ti segue, sei una grandissima fotografa, cara Giovanna!
    un grande abbraccio con ammirazione

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    1. You are far too kind, Ventis 🙂 I just like to have a little fun, and then to share it. 🙂
      We receive so much love in this blogging world of ours. I don’t think I could live without it.
      Hugs speeding to Italy from a wet and windy England. Un bacio, cara!

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  3. So enjoyed your last walk in Poland Jo. That hot air balloon is huge, great shot! I wouldn’t dare to go up in one of those things though…bad enough having to fly 😮 I like the idea of stopping at the on-the-water restaurants and that apple pie did look quite tempting! Love the river and as always your great photos. Hope you enjoyed your walk in the moors and the rain held off for you…it’s been drizzly and grey here all day…still, I got a walk in but just into town to my Asperger’s support group so nothing exciting 😉
    My blogging plans for this week are already going pearshaped…never mind…see what tomorrow brings! 🙂

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    1. I started to write ‘U is for Urszula’ tonight and part way through realised I’d already got one, Sherri! Change of plan 🙂
      I did go up in the balloon, but it was tethered. Fabulous views but I held tight! The weather’s a bit crazy but it was fine here on Monday. Camera dilemma meant I didn’t get any shots 😦
      Hope tomorrow is happy, whatever it brings, Sherri 🙂

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      1. Ahh…changes of plan! Glad I’m not the only one haha 😉
        Well you are braver than me Jo, tethered or not I wouldn’t do it but I can well imagine the views would have been incredible!
        Sorry about your camera problems though…and yes, let’s hope tomorrow is indeed happy for us both 🙂

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  4. Such a shame about the camera mishap Jo :-/ hope it’s salvageable .
    So many great shots you’ve taken here along your riverside walk . Those columns and bishops I like very much … the fancy pinnacles and turrets … oh and I don’t suppose I would have missed out on a slice of that delicious looking Apple Tart either 🙂

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    1. I’m playing among different turrets tonight, Poppy, in an effort to bring the Polish saga up to date. (I’ve even got a ghost in store) 🙂
      Thanks for your kind words. I think the camera is going to survive, though I probably don’t deserve it. I can now open the shutter and view the photos stored on camera, though I haven’t used it yet.

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      1. Oh I feel a breath holding moment for you at some point Jo … not tonight though perhaps 😉 …you get on with those
        turrets … Rapunzel … Knights … Shining …

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  7. Pingback: Mullewa Meander : Walking with Jo | gypsy life

    1. Thanks, Elaine 🙂 It’s such a lovely surprise when another contribution comes in. My armchair takes me to some wonderful places! Thanks a lot for joining me.

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  12. Now that is one HUGE hot air balloon for sure. Great shot Jo!

    Now that is an idyllic scene for sure hon. Wow! It’s so beautiful there and those swans are just so beautiful. I love how they posed for you. 😀

    Those columns are just fascinating. Such great artwork! Stunning shots of this beautiful place Jo. I hope you saved me some apple tart! LOL! One of my favourite treats – with a glass of fresh milk of course. 😀

    Thanks for the lovely walk and for sharing hon. ♥ Big Hugs ♥

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    1. Thanks, Sonel 🙂 On to my second cup of coffee on this drizzly morning. This Summer of ours ebbs and flows like the tide.
      The view from the balloon was fabulous, Sonel, and it was tethered so no fear of drifting away anywhere. A shame really! 🙂 Take care.

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  13. Pingback: Sunshine walking | Le Drake Noir

  15. Another lovely walk with you along another river. You like the water don’t you? And I liked the tart, very nice. I think you are dong a fine job in encouraging people to visit Poland.

    Hope you resolve your technical problems. I spilt red wine on a camera, which didn’t do it much good, but eventually it worked again (though I did buy the OH a new one for his birthday yet he still brings it up!!) I shall have another local walk for you later in the week. I am now off to catch up on where everyone else has been walking 🙂
    Jude xx

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    1. I was so cross with myself, Jude. It was just a morning walk and I don’t usually carry water with me but I have a new small cooler bag which seemed ideal. Unfortunately I put the camera, without its cover, in the bottom and the bottle leaked! I took a few shots but I was just getting going when the screened fuzzed up and the camera wouldn’t function. It was a perfect day up there too 😦 The camera’s sitting on a towel forlornly. Me too! I’ve gone off water all together 😦

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  16. Fantastic stroll, Jo. The swans are really lovely, and the apple tart would go down so well after a good walk. Those puffy clouds in the blue sky are lovely. I so enjoyed my walk with you. 🙂

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      1. Yes, 3:00 – 4:00 posted Sunday morning, I try to schedule them to go early in the day each week. 🙂 I thought it would be a quiet post for me but found a surprise right in the middle of the hour. 😉

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    1. I still just about fit into my jeans, Jill 🙂 No wonder I have to do all this walking!
      I’ve been near drowned the last couple of days so it was a relief to see a bit of blue again today.

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  19. Dzień dobry, Jo! Your photos and descriptions of Krakow (and Poland) are wonderful! Brings back happy memories of when I visited the land of my maternal grandparents!

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      1. Thanks for the opportunity Jo. The beaver was an exciting find for sure! I am so slow most people walk faster than i run so come on over. We will go get some croissants after . 🙂

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      2. I’m trying to watch French Open tennis, answer my comments, dry out my camera (which I managed to get water inside this morning- yikes!- no photos!) and I have laptop problems too. I think you’d better keep the croissants warm a while but I’ll be there! 🙂

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