The recent news say that the famous Szkieltor (Skeleton), not finished so far building from 1975, after many years of abandon,  will be soon transformed into inhabitable space (office space). Located near Rondo Mogilskie and Cracow University of Economics, a kilometer away form the The Main Square, 91 m high construction, supposed to be the first  and smallest out of many skyscrapers, that were planed in this area. The plans were rapidly dropped at the begin of 80ties, simply because of crisis. And here it is- a visible example of entropy, that soon will be bustling with energy of business people.

The installation of Mirosław Bałka-a huge concrete tunnel with AUSHWITZWIELICZKA sign curved on its upper wall was moved yesterday from Plac Niepodległości in Podgórze to Zabłocie, just next to Schindler’s Museum (that is also meant to expose contemporary art ). Instead of deliberating on how to interpret this particular piece of art, we just say here, that its direct inspiration was Krakow-based travel agency, which offers” an opportunity, first, to see the Death camps in Auschwitz and Birkenau and afterwards to visit beautiful salt mines in Wieliczka, within eight hours only”

The building you can see above was a charming ancestor of today’s temple of consumption Galeria Krakowska. Not long time ago (till 2004) Bar Smok (milk bar “Dragon”) was the first to welcome all tourists heading to the old town from train station. Many farewelled Bar Smok with mixed feelings of relief and regret, it wasn’t looking good, it didn’t feed well but it was part of peoples lives.

PS. the Neon has survived, it is safely stored somewhere in the cellars of the city council and waiting for better days for Dragons

This cheerful scene presents Krakovians cooling themselves off in the Wisła beneath Wawel Hill during hot summer of 1963. It is surprising view for all knowing Wisła today. Taking the  plunge  into the river in these days, would certainly require some dose of insanity. Without exaggeration it is quite  stinking, quite dangerous and quite  dead sewage.

Here you go the link to an audio guide through Krakow’s Getto (in English) that was published some time ago by restless people form podgorze.pl.
Alongside the guide a useful map of old Podgórze can be downloaded.

This weekend in Krakow should be very promising for amateurs of mainstream Pop/Rock/Hip-hop/Dance music.Coke Live Music Fest kicks off on 20th with The Chemical Brothers and accelerates rocking on 21st with  Muse. Other attractions will be 30 Seconds to Mars, N.E.R.D, Panic!At the Disco and some Polish groups like Muchy and Sofa. Well,if you are interested ask the hostel staff to help you out with tickets and getting there.

The Podgorze.pl invites every one for non virtual but real, embedded in space and time walking tour following the dramatic history of the Liberator KG-933. The plane was shot down over Krakow during the night of 16-17 August 1944 while returning from delivery mission to Warsaw Uprising.The crew was killed in a crash apart Australian Allan Hammet, who found his ways to polish underground Home Army and survived the war.
The walk starts at 19:00 this Monday, 16th August, from Apteka pod Orłem (Plac Bohaterów Getta 18, Podgórze, only in polish unfortunately)