The Plague
A sickness, like the Plague, came over me on day three in Krakow. I guess the city really does offer a true medieval experience. On top of feeling below the weather, Krakow’s weather didn’t help much either. It was 98 degrees with 90 percent humidity. It’s the hardest thing ever for someone who isn’t use to humidity. I am more of a dry heat kind of guy. Immediately, I went into survival mode. On the way back to my hotel room, I stopped by a convenience store. Luckily, the store was right next to my hotel. I bought four giant bottles of water. Consequently, being dehydrated can make you really dizzy. I’m surprised I didn’t faint in the middle of the street. Therefore, I prayed to god to only give me just one night of this hell. I feared there was no end in sight.
As I laid in my bed, I thought of the things I should be doing. I didn’t go to the train station to book my ticket since I was ill. There was a wedding I was supposed to attend in the next town over. That’s the whole reason I went to Poland remember? I did not pack my bags to be ready to go to the airport. I was flying out to Amsterdam after the wedding. The only thing I could do was look out the window of my hotel room. It was definitely much worse than what I am describing. I am just sparing everyone the gruesome details of the flu that plagued my life. Other than stepping outside to take a few photos, day three was a complete bust.
Day Four
My last day in Krakow should have been at a wedding a couple of hours away. However, that clearly did not happen. I was faced with planning a whole day on the spot. First, I took my time getting ready for the day. There was no need to be in a hurry. I ate my breakfast and looked up a few museums in the area. If I had known ahead of time, I probably would have booked a trip to Auschwitz. As sad of a place as it is, I especially love history when it reminds me of how fortunate I am. Strangely enough, it would have tied in nicely with my visit to the Ann Frank House.
Second, I realized I needed to make the most of a bad situation. I saw some great art and learned a little more about Poland’s history that day. On top of that, there was an antique car show during my lunch in one of Krakow’s plazas. After lunch, I took another nap just to be on the safe side. After I woke up, I packed my bag and got ready for dinner. I met a few Americans at the restaurant I selected. We watched one of the World Cup games together. Another weird observation I had, Krakow is a hub for Americans. It is almost like we took over the city. Walking back to my hotel, I couldn’t help think of all the regrets I had for my time in this country.
Until Next Time, Krakow
Due to the poorly timed illness, I have a lot of unfinished business in Krakow. The city, and even the country of Poland, has much to offer in the form of food, music, culture, etc. I will be planning a trip back to Poland to hit all of the sites in Warsaw and Krakow. Hopefully that means less sickness and more castles, museums and historical sites. It was great experiencing everything alone. If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t change it for the world. Next time however, I will be able to share it with my family. My one hope is for the exchange rate to stay the same. It is obviously more expensive to travel for a family of three. In the end though, you cannot put a price on memories. That’s because memories are infinitely priceless.
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