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Dallas Ski Club / Space City Ski Club; Poland: Krakow & Zakopane |
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Friday 20 January to Sunday 29 January 2012POLANDZakopane Krakow
SummaryKrakow (4 overnights) is the cultural and artistic capital of Poland with a historic city center which has not been ravaged by war. (UNESCO site) Zakopane (4 overnights), situated at the foot of the Tatra mountains, is Poland's leading winter resort, and has been a cultural and winter destination for over 100 years. (UNESCO site) Warsaw (Post-trip; 3 overnights) is the capital of Poland. While the city was razed during the Second World War, its historic center has been fully restored. (UNESCO site) Air TravelAir travel will arrive in, and depart from, Krakow, and Katowice. The Post trip will return from Warsaw. Ground TravelThe transfer from Krakow John Paul II Airport to Krakow city center is about 20km (about 30 minutes). For the return from Zakopane to the Krakow airport, the distance is about 120km (about 2.5 hours). The transfer from Katowice Airport to Krakow city center is about 80km (about 30 minutes). For the return from Zakopane to the Katowice airport, the distance is about 205km (about 3.5hours). The mid-trip transfer by bus between Zakopane and Krakow is just over 100 km (about 2 hours). top ^ LodgingAccommodation is provided in modern top-quality three- or four-star hotels with buffet breakfast included. In Krakow, we will use the following hotel:
In Zakopane, we will use the following hotel:
Skiing in ZakopaneSee separate "Guide to Zakopane Skiing" (online) Optional ExcursionsSee separate "Guide to Poland Excursions" (online) The following optional tours will be offered. During the stay in Zakopane:
During the stay in Krakow
Excursion prices will be advised, but are generally lower than in western European countries. Post TripA post-trip to Warsaw (3 nights) is proposed. Post-trip includes:
top ^ DestinationsPoland
Positioned at the geographic centre of Europe, Poland has known turbulent and violent, as well as prosperous times. There have been periods of independence as well as periods of domination by other countries. In 1989 Poland became the first of the eastern European countries to overthrow Communist rule, following years of demonstrations, strikes and underground political movement led by the Solidarity Trades Union movement.
Despite strong Russian objections, Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. However, it still lies outside the Euro currency and Schengen border zones. 
Poland has achieved some success in creating a market economy and attracting foreign investment. However, unemployment is high and incomes and growth low. The huge farming sector is unwieldy and very inefficient, many farms still retaining their medieval land divisions into inefficient, long strips. In spite of this, Poland's agricultural output is greater than that of Great Britain, France and Italy combined. The Roman Catholic church, a very strong force in Polish life, has expressed concern that modern lifestyles are corrupting moral values.
Polish EU Presidency in 2011As of 1 July 2011, Poland assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. At that time, Poland will become the host of most events and will play a key role in the meetings of the EU. CurrencyPolish Zloty PLN 1US$ = 3.0084 PLN 1 PLN = US$ 0.33179 AffordableMost items are less than half, or even a third, of the prices in the main western European resorts. top ^ KrakowKrak’w, which dates back to the 7th century, is one of the oldest cities in Poland, with a historic city center. Once the capital of the Poland, and always the unofficial cultural capital, Krakow was named the European Union Capital of Culture for the year 2000.
The city has traditionally been the leading center of Polish academic, cultural and artistic life and has become one of Poland's most important economic centers. In 1978, the same year that the historic city center was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site, Karol Wojtzla, archbishop of Krakow, was elevated to the papacy as Pope John Paul II, the first non-Italian pope in 455 years.
The 15th and 16th centuries were known as Poland's Golden Age. Many artists came to work and live in Krak’w and important works of Renaissance were created then including ancient synagogues in Krak’w's Jewish quarter. Following the invasion of Poland in September 1939, the Nazi forces turned the city into the capital of a colonial authority. More than 180 university professors and academics were arrested and sent to concentration camps. The Jewish population was first confined to a ghetto and later murdered or sent to concentration camps. After World War II, under the Stalinist regimes, the intellectual community never recovered their independence, and the creation of the giant Lenin steel works transformed Krakow from an academic into an industrial center. top ^ ZakopaneZakopane is situated in southern Poland close to the border with Slovakia. It lies in a valley at the foot of the Tatras, the highest mountain range in Central Europe with the highest peak of Mount Rysy at 8,122 feet.
Zakopane itself is at an altitude of 2725 feet, and has a population of about 30,000. For more than 100 years, artists, politicians, cultural activists and scientists have been coming to Zakopane to improve their health, admire breathtaking views, take exercise, and to be fashionable.
Zakopane offers its visitors splendid nature, rich folklore, original culture, perfect conditions for relaxation and, above all, a full range of sports in summer and winter. top ^ HistoryZakopane is only four centuries old. It was founded at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries as farmer and shepherd' settlement. In the middle of the 18th century, steelworks were built nearby in Ku?nice and iron ore mined in the Tatras was processed there. The manor house of the owners often received visitors and mountain climbers. This is when the beauty of the neighboring and sunny Zakopane valley was first discovered.
In the 19th century many tourist hotels were built and the railway arrived. This led to Zakopane becoming a well known tourists resort and a health spa. Before the First World War Zakopane was visited by many well-known public figures of partitioned Poland. After the war the mountains attracted famous musicians, writers and artists. In recent years, the most important events in Zakopane's history were visits by the late Pope John Paul II. The Pope was attached to the town and the mountains having spent a lot of time there in his childhood and youth. He did not give up his love of the mountains even when he became Cardinal in Karakow and eventually the Pope. top ^ CultureZakopane plays a vital role in Poland's culture. It is one of the places where local people, strongly supported by local authorities. have cultivated ancient customs and traditions, songs, dances, local dialect and highlander craftsmanship. The town's residents have a keen awareness of cultural identity. Popular art is very much alive, and it is intensively cultivated. Today are many studios, workshops, and galleries and Witkacy's Theatre, one of the best-known theaters in Poland.
Zakopane has become something of a mecca for mountain culture even beyond Poland's borders. Mountain culture is explored in the Tatra Folk Centre. For 41 years, mountain people from all continents arrive in September for the annual International Festival of Highland Folklore.
There are plenty of museums in the town, the most significant and oldest being The Tatra Museum with several branches in historic residences. Visitors can see exhibitions and local craft and fine art galleries. top ^ WarsawWarsaw is the proud capital of Poland and the largest city in the country. It has become an important European center for scientific, cultural, political and economic activities. In addition, more than sixty universities make Warsaw an important academic center.
Poland, and Warsaw hold a vital location at the virtual center of Europe, a buffer between west and east. Since medieval times, and even before, its mere location caused it to be a continual participant and victim of political power struggles. While Warsaw has seen a long and turbulent history, nothing exceeds the events of the 20th century.
Early in the Second World War, Poland was annexed by Germany and the city's entire Jewish population, several hundred thousand, was herded into the Ghetto. After a month's strong resistance in 1943, virtually all were massacred. Next, in August 1944, as the Red Army approached, the citizens of Warsaw rose up against the German occupiers, but were forced to capitulate after more than two months resistance. Hitler then caused the entire population of Warsaw to be expelled (resulting in some 200,000 deaths) and the entire city of Warsaw be razed (resulting in the destruction of 85% of the buildings).
After the war, under Communist rule, the historic city center was rebuilt, but so were mass residential blocks in the basic design typical of Soviet bloc countries. Today, the city has gained entirely new squares, parks and monuments and has a current urban landscape of modern and contemporary architecture. More recently, Warsaw saw the agitation of the Solidarity movement, which received support from the Polish Pope John Paul II, and led to Poland's independence and ultimately to the fall of the Berlin Wall and break-up of the Eastern bloc. Since joining the European Union in 2004, Warsaw has experienced an economic boom. In 2012, part of the UEFA European Football Championship will be held in Warsaw. Although today's Warsaw is a fairly young city, it has many tourist attractions. The Warsaw Old Town, reconstructed after World War II, is a UNESCO Heritage Site. Among the notable landmarks are the Royal Castle, King Zygmunt Column, Market Square, and Barbican.
Further south is the so-called Royal Route with many classicist palaces. Wilan’w Palace is notable for its baroque architecture and parks.
The Pow?zki Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Europe, full of sculptures, some of them by the most renowned Polish artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.Nearby is the Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery one of the largest in Europe. 
In many places in the city the Jewish culture and history resonates. The tragic pages of Warsaw's history are commemorated in many places. There are also many places recognizing the heroic history of the people of Warsaw. As example, an infamous German Gestapo prison is now occupied by a Mausoleum of memory of Martyrdom and the beginning of a walk in the traces of the Heroic city. In Warsaw there are many places connected with the life and work of Frédéric Chopin. Also many references to Marie Curie, her work and her family can be found in Warsaw. top ^ Zakopane Skiing
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