It's funny how in a world where everyone seems to be free to choose what they want to do with their lives, very few people actually get to do what they really want to.
I have abandoned my passion for writing, and have busied myself into doing other mundane things. It's a pity really, but I sometimes wonder whether I am as afraid of writing as I am in love with it. I have this crazy obsession of wanting it to be perfect. Which is funny, considering that I'm not quite the perfectionist in all the other aspects of life. I am not a very organized person, my room is never tidy, I am quite lazy, and I never really bother to study too much. But when it comes to writing, my inner freak comes out. I examine every single word and sentence, up to the point where everything starts making no sense. And that is why I usually abandon all pursuits of keeping something up, such as this blog. But I'm hoping to be back at it now, and I'm trying not to fuss too much.
Summer 2012 has come to an end, and I must say- it has been a pretty good one. I got myself a tan (which is fading away too quickly) and my summer job was fun. I got to do a couple of firsts, and also rewarded myself with a vacation to Poland with my special someone. And of course, the whole point of this little post. Poland. THE place to be if you're just as vintage-crazy as I am.
Krakow- Poland's cultural capital, is one of the oldest cities. It's recent history can still be felt everywhere, not just in the flea markets and all the old museums, and quaint shops...but also in its spirit and people. Being history buffs, we made it a point to try and visit all the historical gems this city has to offer. Of course, I cannot mention everything- but I will mention the highlights.
#1 : Kazimierz : (the Jewish quarters) or in my words: Hipsters' Paradise. It is the place to be if you are an artist and want to get away from the humdrum life of the city centre, and yet still be in a place which is interesting enough to inspire you. Most bars can be considered as refuge to local artists. Some of them are also adorned with fantastic vintage accessories, such as 'Singer bar' which has nothing to do with singers, and more to do with the vintage Singer sewing machine. This bar's tables (and I mean, ALL the tables) are singer sewing machine tables (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Singer_sewing_machine_table.jpg)... something which I think is extremely...hip.
Furthermore, there's a flea market in the square every morning- and the vintage memorabilia that can be found here is ridiculously amazing, and ridiculously cheap. 1920's cameras, ghetto money back from the war, music records, gramophones...you name it.
Lastly, being the the Jewish quarters, there is a lovely collection of synagogues, and also buildings which have made it to Hollywood by Spielberg, in his famous black and white film- 'Schindler's list'.
#2: Sunday's flea market: Vintage-crazy -me turned crazy at this flea market, which can also be described as...crazy. People selling their old knick knacks, collectors proudly displaying their priceless trinkets,vintage mirrors, vintage watches, shoes, clothes, house ornaments, badges, WW2 memorabilia (of which I spent a little fortune on), old photographs and postcards...I really could go on forever. It was heaven.
#3: The( WW2) Jewish ghetto's square: I can honestly say, that the Jewish ghetto was an experience so great, that it merits a whole new post for itself. Along with my (second) visit to Auschwitz. These places, which have witnessed such great and immense human suffering, mean more to me than anything else I experienced in this city. But I shall only talk about the ghetto's square, as it is as impressionable as anything else. Plac Zgody, refurbished in 2005 is a memorial site, commemorating all the Jews living in the ghetto. Throughout the middle area of the square, there is a substantial amount of larger than life chairs scattered around. It is a meaningful design created by architects Piotr Lewicki and Kazimierz Latak, "First, a quarter of the town's residents had to leave their homes and go to the closed-off area of Podgórze. Then the ghetto was reduced in size, and the people were divided according to whether or not they could work, whether they were sick or healthy etc. As a result people were constantly resettling, bringing all their belongings with them. They also took chairs with them, the furniture closest to the body. When the ghetto was liquidated, the Jews had to move to the Płaszów camp, and anything that wasn't needed remained in the square. We wanted to draw reference to that moment precisely. There must have been an incredible silence, it must have been completely empty."
#4: On a lighter note, 'vintage' non-euro money: zloty. 1 Zloty= 20 euro cent, which basically means that life is cheaper in Poland. A mojito at an average bar costs around 2 euro. Point made.
And lastly, #5: Milk Bars: built in the Communist era, these little shops (canteens) which are subsidised by the government, are a safe haven to the homeless and broke students. Not many have survived, and are nowadays only popular for the very cheap food (a plate of dumplings costs less than a euro). But definitely a highlight, as they give a small insight to a retro Poland.
'A Time for Us' :Polanski's Romeo and Juliet
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