History

The first published information about Jews in Poland came from a Jewish merchant writing at the end of the first millennium. Abraham Ben Jacob, also known as Ibrahim ibn Yaqub, described trade journeys he had made. The stories became part of Abu Abdullah al-Bakri?s "Book of Highways and of Kingdoms," published in 1068.

King Kazimierz the Great established a city in his name on February 17, 1335, that grew into one of Poland's largest Jewish enclaves. The question is why he created a separate municipality for Jews ? and that?s where the legends arise.

There are still some places in Poland where the spirit of past eras flows with strength and vigor. It sometimes seems that the PRL (People's Republic of Poland) was not as bad as the great majority of Poles declare. Reminiscences of the PRL days usually evoke strong reactions, ranging from decided hostility to effusive longing. But as controversial as the period is, no one can decry its merit in the creation of the dairy bars (?bar mleczny? -- milk bar).

The 15 to 20 years that preceded the collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s was really difficult for Poland. The hard times started in the early 1970s, when the new regime of Edward Gierek was unable to stop an economic spiral, even with massive loans from abroad. Some of those loans, by the way, have still to be repaid.

Nowa Huta is the easternmost part of Krakow. It is more a historic term than an administrative district. Although almost 30 percent of the city?s 750,000 inhabitants live there, you often hear: ?I?ve never been to Nowa Huta? from people who have lived in Krakow for several years. How come? Well, just read this short text.

Krakow is one of the greenest cities in Poland. And one of the most relaxing ways to appreciate the greenery is to sit on a bench in the Main Square gazing at the trees of Planty Park.

Few risk trying to create a tourism hot spot out of a place that at first glance no one would find interesting.