cobblestone Krakow vs. hiking in Zakopane

entering the door to the Old World!
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Poland :: cobblestone Krakow vs. hiking in Zakopane

I have been in Krakow a little over a month now. I have not been having the typical tourist experience here, of that i am sure.

I never thought that Poland would be a place I spent more than a few days in my Europe travels. After six months in India I chose to ground out in Krakow, Poland - and not for a few days, but six whole weeks! I came to Krakow not because Krakow is now known as one of Eastern Europe's hot spots & a very popular travel destination. I came because I have a good close friend that has been living here for 3 years who owns The Stranger hostels (www.TheStrangerHostel.com) and Outrageous Bus Tours company (www.OutrageousTours.com). I have been thinking about investing in his companies & I wanted to see firsthand how they operate. I came to Krakow because it was a good place to land in the Old World. A few friends here, cheap living & a truly "Outrageous" job offer! To travel around in their big red double decker school bus for the initiatory route promoting the tours by postering, flyering, & establishing relationships with all the youth hostels & other travelers we meet!

but...keeping a the fresh respective of the New World.
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Zakopane :: a 2 day hiking trip to the Tatra mountains south of Krakow. very beautiful area! big mountains that were still snow capped in April at lower elevations. Hiked for a few hours first day then went back to our lovely 'privat' room in huge house (10 rooms?) with view of mountains ($12 each night). watched Jim Carey movie "Bruce Almighty" for some stupid american humor! next day met up with Roople's (met her on www.couchsurfing.com for hiking buddy) 5 friends from medical school (mostly canadians & americans, 3 gals & 1 guy). went on long hike, 5-6 hours, up snowy mountain trails, resting on snowy vistas with larger than life views! made soup with one of the friends stove on top of a big hill. good times in nature indeed! we hiked all the way into the city of Zakopane, where we then took a cheap train back to Krakow 3 hours ($5).

me & chalkman...one of 100's artists put all over Krakow!
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A jolly good time in nature to nurture the mind, body, & soul!