Shopping in Kraków - Fun at #EuroMeetup18

[ErmesT]

Waiting for the #EuroMeetup19 in Getz, I want to share some more memories of #EuroMeetup18 - Shopping in Kraków is today subject

What happen when you visit a small, ancient and beautiful city in Europe, like Kraków is? What the Local Guides do, in a few hours of free time?

We walk on the city center, of course, taking photos, and discovering shops and street markets.

Old Kraków is a really a small town, that you can cross in minutes for reaching Rynek Główny - The main square, surrounded by beautiful Churches. In the center of the square, Sukiennice, the Handicraft and folk art mall, is offering a huge choice of products, like the small boxes, made in wood, of the first photo. But also (this is what I like more) a lot of amber. Necklaces, bracelets, of all sizes, are sold in many small shops. I can stay hours, watching the shops. The space is crowded, as you can see in the picture here below. Full of tourists, that are trying to buy a small piece of handicraft.

In the past I worked in Kraków for many months, so these small craft products already fill my house, but it’s always worth adding another. Don’t you agree with me?

But of course, this is not the only open market in Kraków. 250 meters walk is what you need to reach Plac Szczepański. The street market in there is completely different, more for local than for tourist. What they sell in there is normally bigger, difficult to put in a luggage or in a backpack, but just as beautiful, and sometimes much more interesting.

Kraków is a city where the music is in every corner, do not be surprised to find a violin in the market stalls.

I can write for hours, pages and pages, about the fun, the beauty, of the European Meet-up in Krakow, at the moment I just want to know three things:

1) I am curious about the Local guides that was with me and @AntonellaGr in Kraków: what kind of shopping did you did? @helga19 , @TorM , @NatalkaR , @davide7O , @LudwigGermany , @barrazacarlos , @ikaramon

2) I am curious about the 2nd European Meet-up (Ghent, Belgium) - what kind of shopping do you suggest, what will we find? @JanVanHaver

3) I am curious about all of you, Fellow Local guides. How is your street market?

Can’t wait for your Feedback. Have a walk in the music of the beautiful Kraków

Have a fun

[KarenVChin]

@ErmesT looks like you had great fun taking photos and enjoying the live music more than actually shopping! And I never knew amber came from Poland.

Cheers,

Karen

[IshantHP_ig]

Hello @ErmesT

Thanks for sharing the awesome pictures with us, your snaps always good

[TheEagleEye]

Thanks for sharing nice photos and story @ErmesT and also the very well edited movie. I was in Krakow in December 2016 but didn’t spend enough time there.

My wife and I don’t buy souvenirs. We like looking around, looking at history.

thanks again for sharing.

[ErmesT]

Hehe, @KarenVChin

Well, really we bought some small wooden box ( @AntonellaGr was shopping) while I was attracted by the colorful world all around us

[ErmesT]

Thank you @IshantHP_ig

what about you? What do you suggest for shopping in street market in your area?

[FaridTDF]

Me gusto mucho el post @ErmesT , sé que al ciudad es muy turística , y la lúdica pulula en el aire por doquier, casi que sustos permanentemente a conciertos a cielo abierto.

El viedincomoleta la visión sobre la música, que tan grande es la ciudadanía Ermes.

Un gran saludos Farid

[ErmesT]

Thank you @TheEagleEye

What have you visited in Krakow?

And more, to be back to the subject of this thread, what about street markets in Prague?

The city where you live in in my “to go soon” list, so I am very curious

[TheEagleEye]

Hi @ErmesT . My wife and I only wandered the Old Town area of Krakow although our visit was cut short due to a friend of ours having an accident in Slovakia so we left Krakow to visit her.

Yes there are many markets in Prague, some open all week and others just Saturday or the whole weekend. We visit the market by the river every Saturday morning for our fruit and vegetables.

I hope you get to Prague sometime soon.

Regards.

[ErmesT]

Yes, the tourism in Krakow is increased a lot, in the last years, @FaridTDF

It seems that Italians are the bigger number, you can literally speak Italian, when walking in the city center.

The price for Hotel or apartments is very low, and the rooms are beautiful. With the same amount of money that we (you and me) spent for a double room in San Francisco, you can have a small apartment for four people in Krakow, at 10 minutes walking from the main square.

[FaridTDF]

Es una creíble @ErmesT @lo que indicas, definitivamente la próxima CL19 tiene que ser en Cracovia

Al margen del chiste si hacemos turismo es conveniente tener esa ciudad en elnintinersrio, gracias por el dato

Farid

[KarenVChin]

Lol @ErmesT Happy to know @AntonellaGr was supporting the local economy! The live musicians and street performers don’t do this for free. They need tourists Euros too. Supporting local artists is a great thing to keep art alive.

Cheers,

Karen

[DeniGu]

I really enjoy how colourful your post is, @ermest!

Local markets are some of my favourite places to explore in a new city. I feel like I’d spend hours in the handicraft and folk art mall–there seem to be thousands of wonderful things. ?

I can’t really think of similar street markets in Bulgaria, but I want to share a couple of photos from the Egyptian bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey. It’s located in an old building, which is very easily accessible by bus, ferry, and on foot. It’s also close to the Bosphorus.

The first thing I noticed when I entered the bazaar were the amazing scents in the air, coming from piles upon piles of spices, traditional sweets, perfumes, and whatnot. Then I saw the colours–just like in your photos, the colours were all around.

I didn’t dare buy anything from there, though. Many shops didn’t have price tags on their products, which meant that the price was negotiable. I’m not really good at haggling, so decided to just enjoy the experience, and buy souvenirs at a fixed price somewhere else. ?

Have you ever tried to bargain for the price of souvenirs, @ermest? And what did you get from the markets in Krakow? (I do agree that one more handicraft is never too much!)

[ErmesT]

Haha, @KarenVChin

@AntonellaGr was supporting local economy, while I was taking care of street performers. The gave me the possibility to record them, I know they are not there for fun only.

But let me add a small note. People playing music on the streets in Krakow are normally graduates of the conservatory, or teacher on the conservatory.

In the past I have seen a string quartet, with Contrabass, Cello, Viola and Violin, playing on the street. They deserve every euro they can get. On the '90, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, for a lot of teachers and conservatory students. Playing on the street, with great dignity, they were earning the money to live. I was there on the early '90, I remember very well the city center, crowded of young people, and music everywhere. I have a lot of respect for them

[KarenVChin]

@ErmesT We have that here too! There used to be a guy who would sing opera in front of Macy’s Men’s Store for years. He was very good, became a local celebrity. I remember all the dollar bills he had in front of him - which was a lot green if you know what I mean It’s unfortunate or fortunate that you can make a decent living as a street performer, but it’s difficult to find one on stage.

Cheers,

Karen

[JanVanHaver]

Really @ErmesT do you want me to spoil half the fun by telling it all in advance? But no worries - plenty of shopping opportunities in Ghent!

And for those who can’t wait to read the recap posts on that shopping: just sign up for the meetup & join us in Ghent in June.

[ErmesT]

Oh noooooo @JanVanHaver

I don’t want you to spoil what we will find in Ghent. I was looking exactly for this reply. I am already excited. #Euromeetup19 is not so far, but please don’t tell me anything. I will not be able to keep the secret

[ErmesT]

Great photos, @DeniGu

I have never been in Istambul bazar, but the one in Izmir is interesting too. It was in the pre-digital era, sorry (no photos)

Souvenir shopping in Krakow? Of Course! In the years, I bought a set of wooden plates, and some terracotta’s bell. Maybe @AntonellaGr can share some picture

I’ve never tried to bargain in Poland, but we did in Turkey, of course.

Let say that in all the carpets and souvenir shops (I am referring to the west coast, from Izmir to Didim, including Ephesus of course) you are expected to bargain. There is only one rule: No means No. Once you refuse the “last price” and go away, you cannot change your mind and come back to the same shop. They will never offer to you the same price

[DeniGu]

I was smiling from ear to ear while reading your reply, @ErmesT . Bargaining sounds like a great experience to have and recount.

I’ll definitely remember that rule, too. I’m visiting Egypt next month, and I think it’ll come in handy.

Haggling is not typical for European countries, I think. Can you negotiate prices in Italy?

[AntonellaGr]

Hi @KarenVChin

Yesssss… I always support local economies and air companies for extra baggage

cheers

Antonella