Sleeping in today was absolutely wonderful; I woke up when I felt I was ready, and that still wasn't too late! So it worked out well! I spent the morning getting ready, and then Nate and his girlfriend, Jill, they came back to the apartment. I ended up joining them to go out and about in the city a bit. We ended up going to the restaurant we past a few days ago for McDonald's since it had just opened. The food was quite delicious! And I'm really glad that the waitress had told us about their promotion so that we could get the food for cheaper. The price difference was quite handy, haha. But, through this, Jill was absolutely amazed by the quality of the food. As in, the freshness and the deliciousness. She was comparing it to the food in London, which apparently is no where as good. I'm telling you guys, Poland has phenomenal food. This is not from bias, as everyone in this API group is in awe of its amazingness. But yes, the food was wonderful. I had a grilled chicken, with some side salads, and barszcz z uszkami, and ended off with a szarlotka. Oh. Delicious. Also my first legitimate obiad since I've left Wrocław and hanging out with my family, since... time has been hectic otherwise. So yes, it was very filling.
Although, leaving was a bit of an adventure. We left the restaurant, and Nate couldn't find his wallet. He was sitting against a wall, so we had no clue what could've happened, but as we had all gone back in frantically looking for his wallet from where he was sitting, some people noted that he had dropped the wallet on his way out. Yes, the money inside was gone, but hey, he got the wallet, which was far more important since it had everything else in it. Aka, while abroad, or anywhere really, just be super cautious with your things. It's not worth the panic.
The true fun part of the day came up after that mini adventure. We walked over to Wawel, the castle in Kraków, and we got our tickets to go into the Cathedral, to see the bell, and to see the crypts. The cathedral is absolutely gorgeous, and many people rest there. I have been there before, in 2005, but I can't recall walking through it last year, to be honest. I know we were outside, but not inside. Oh, wait! Perhaps that's because I said I needed to rest and didn't want to go and it wasn't planned with the group, that's right. Regardless, this year, I am very glad I went back. Walking through it, admiring the design, and reading all of the information in Polish (such wonderful practice!)... I don't know... It almost felt a bit like a... pilgrimage? That sounds weird to say it that way, but you see, this time I was actually paying attention. A lot of attention. Reading through the names, reading through the history, trying to figure out each individual's significance. And I was doing it all in Polish, reading through the descriptions, and for whatever reason, reading it in Polish made it feel that much more authentic. Perhaps I'm just weird, but that's what it felt like to me.
Ah, and through this walk I touched the clapper of the Zygmunt Bell, and saw a ton of the other bells in the bell tower. By the way, if you touch the clapper with your right hand, you want to be married; with your left, you want a divorce. Plus, the view from the tower is absolutely stunning from the tower. And the nooks and crannies are super tiny and awesome. I actually did not go in the bell tower the first time I was in Wawel, too! So it was definitely something new!
In regards to the main part of the cathedral, at least for me, though, well, it's all of the crypts. You see, some of the people kept there, or memorialized there are incredible figures of Poland, whom I have grown up or grown to greatly respect. For example, Chopin has a memorial plague there, as does Mickiewicz. Then, there is also King Jagiełło, the man who found Jagiellonian University, Queen Jadwiga, a Polish Queen whom I learned about in Middle School I think, and since then have highly admired her. She was a woman very pro-education and helped with the University and other matters of the sort. She is no longer resting there, but seeing her tomb was cool, no less. Saint Stanisław apparently rests there as well. Many, many of Poland's monarchs rest there. Along with them, though, Tadeusz Kościuszko is there. Pan Kościuszko was a Polish man who after failing to insure the independence of Poland went to America and helped in the American Revolution. As in, he was in charge of the cavalry and a major component to the American Revolution. It was quite humbling to be before his grave. Sikorski was also there, and while I do not know too much about him, I immediately recognized his name. Although, later on, we also saw Piłsudski's crypt... I have incredible respect for Piłsudski. He is part of the reason Poland was free once again between the two wars. He was part of the Battle of Warsaw in 1920, which was the reason why the Russians could not advance their front in attempt to make the rest of Europe communist. And apparently, the Battle of Warsaw is one of the 20 most important battles in the history of the world. ... I did not know that. And that's really cool.
I also learned a rather interesting comparison from my flatmate, Nate, about Poland. Apparently, some people have compared Poland to the second coming of Christ, and there are even some who would say Poland is the second coming of Christ (the book on it is on the banned list in the Papacy, apparently). Anyways, they say this because Poland has suffered through so much. For a good while, it wasn't even on the map, so people in Poland study the history of Polish lands, sometimes, as opposed to Poland. During World War I, it had one of the main battle grounds in Warsaw which actually ended up preventing the further spread of Communism. The entire country was the main area for the eastern front of the battles as well while pushing Russia back, and then it came back! Only to be invaded once again and absolutely massacred in multiple ways through World War II. And after World War II, the Western world sort of turned their backs on Poland and said ehhhh, we'll pretend Communism isn't happening and Poland is actually happy. After all, they voted for it, even though the votes were obviously rigged, right? And I'm not saying other countries did not suffer, or Poland has been the only one, but I am saying that it is an incredible comparison I have never heard of before. Poland continuously suffers for the sanctity of Europe, yet they keep on fighting through all of their suffering. Very interesting, indeed.
Along with these old heroes and monarchs, though, our late President, Lech Kaczyński has also been laid to rest there, along with his wife. After the tragedy which Poland managed to yet again pull through, they were placed there, with much controversy, apparently. Although, as I learned, its also in honor and memory of the entire accident and all of the lives lost last April. Beautiful crypt, and I don't really know what else to say besides that... Along with that tragic moment in Polish history, there is an urn in memory of the lives lost at Katyń as well... After that part of the visit, we headed toward the courtyard of Wawel, while it was raining. Beautiful, and I'll have to visit it yet again. It's worth every visit, I'd say. That's it for my visit to Wawel today; from there I headed back to the apartment and relaxed, as my legs were quite sore. So I started looking up Polish history and reading about it, because I was trying to find a significant Polish figure from the 20th century I would enjoy writing a paper about. I'll have to talk to my parents about any suggestions. I mean, I'd like to have some sort of personal connection or importance from them, so I am highly considering Pani Maria Skłodowska-Curie, as she has been one of my role models for a long time.
Reading up through the history, though, I also realized something else... Big Brother was virtually in Poland. I remember reading 1984, being absolutely mortified by the thought that people would allow themselves to go so far as to be so controlled, and to change the words and books to ensure only whatever the government wants. Hell, I just read about a general who was completely erased from history for 50 years by the Soviets, because they did not want Poles to know, hey, he was fighting against the Red Party, because hey, he wanted his country to be free. Big Brother existed in Poland. After the war, the Soviets also played propaganda films blaming Katyń on the Germans and claiming that it happened three years later, so that it fit the timeline of the war! They tried to brain wash them, saying that the Red Party would make Poland free, and that that was the only way to approach their freedom. It's very scary at how easily people can be controlled... It happened under the III Reich in Germany as well. People were essentially brain washed. They followed their leaders; they followed the people they thought would solve all their problems... And my question is... are we really any better? We're a decade into the 21st century, and have we improved? Have we learned from our mistakes? Or are we destined to repeat history? In America particularly, is our failing education just a misfortune, or is it the desire of political leaders to ensure the development of sheeple? Can people see the faults, or will they turn a blind eye to them and hope they will improve? Will they realize their lack of freedom when it's too late, if at all? Oh, yes, I know these are all incredibly controversial and uncomfortable questions, but I want to make you think. I want to think. It's so important to actually address such painful notions. But yes, just some interesting notes, and I'd be incredibly happy to hear any responses or thoughts on this.
But moving on from such a subject, I ended up talking to my dad briefly today and Skyping with some people from the Muffins, which was super fun. I really am starting to miss everyone back at Vandy. It's sad not being able to participate in shenanigans and adventures like we did last year. But! Tonight was good. Because eventually, Kasia came back from spending time with her family; she hasn't seen them in a while, so I am sure that was wonderful for her. They gave her some stuff, and she has lots of spare food to share cause she doesn't want it to go to waste! I hope we get to meet her family tomorrow, as they seem really nice. Homemade pickles and wine. And I tried the wine. Believe it or not, I actually could tolerate it. Meaning, I think I could drink a glass of it if I had to. I didn't make a face from drinking it; yes, I was pleasantly surprised. But then again, its homemade. I shouldn't be too surprised! For a while, we all chilled in the other apartment, and then we moved on out to go out to town. We went to one club, and it was overflowing, but then... we went to Piwnica Pod Baranami! My family would be so proud... My uncle actually suggested it and ensured I knew of it so that way I would go visit it. It's a must-see while in Krakow. You see, it's under some statue sheep heads, and it's got quite the historical significance! You see, during the Communism days, many of the free thinkers would go down there and meet up. Musicians, artists, poets, intelligentsia in general. The founder of it was a part of some famous Polish band as well, so yeah. Very very cool place. We got down into the bar, as it was quite underground, ya know, trying to keep hidden, very obscure, and we saw how cozy it was! There was a place further downstairs, but it was shut off; some sort of reservation. We stayed there for a while, and around 1, we headed back home to the apartment. Since then I've been further relaxing, and I should go to bed soon. Quite the interesting day, for sure! I wonder what tomorrow will bring...
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