taken: 10 april 2013
kraków struck me as a place of melancholy - though more of a hopeful kind of sad. a place where the past and present coexists. where history lingers.
the buildings and structures of the city envelopes its stories. from the more distant past: the royal wawel castle (built and rebuilt), the barbican, the town hall. more recently, reminders of wwii: the jewish ghetto, the schindler's factory, the nearby auschwitz.
every hour kraków is awakened with the sounds of the trumpet (Hejnał Mariack) from atop the st mary's basilica, drifting across the city and broadcasting on polskie radio, before coming to an abrupt stop. a tribute to the trumpeter who was shot in the throat in warning of a mongol invasion in 1241 (according to legend). the anthem is played four times in four directions (NSWE) - once for the kings, once for the city, once for the bishop, and once for the visitors. it was like a little wave and nod to us - a lovely touch to the city.
