More on Day 5 --- Sunday in Krakow

Well, today we're doing some typically Sunday things in Krakow: go out for a stroll, go to a museum, and have a lovely evening meal. Alas, it's been mostly drizzling and not a great day for the usual Sunday stroll (our sunniest day so far was yesterday while we were deep in the mind in Wieliczka!).  So after we visited the Wawel Cathedral we went back down into town to the Wyspianski museum in the Szolayski house which is a part of the National Museum in Krakow.  There's a great special exhibit for May:  "Sarmatism: A Dream of Power." Sarmatism defines the culture and mindset of the 17th century Polish gentry---former knights now become landowners.  

After their winged cavalry defeated the Turks at Vienna in 1683, these noblemen promptly turned around and adopted numerous Turkish elements as we see in this display of portraits, clothing, weapons.  Richly emboidered silk sashes, gold buttons, soft boots all in Turkish style---incredible wealth and display of swashbuckling Sapiehas, Rzewuskis, Tarnowskis, Czarneckis and Sanguszkos. 

Some of us took a break for tea and cake at the cafe Jama Michalika on Florianska St., a Krakow landmark from the turn of the 20th century with its cabaret, The Green Balloon (Zielony balonik).  Always full of tourist visitors, the service isn't great but the Young Poland ("Mloda Polska") atmosphere/decor is historic:  deep green and mahogany furnishings in Secessionist designs.    

For dinner we went to "Del papa" on sw. Tomasza or St. Thomas street alongside Plac Szczepanski.  Del papa is one of the quieter Italian restaurants, fewer tourists come here than the more well-known Miod Malina or Pod Aniolami. Its quality has helped it survive for several years. It's a nice spot late in the evening for just a drink too. Good menu with beautiful presentation. We have a long banquet table; our group is making some progress with dining skills: learning how to order, ask questions, discuss the history of foods.  Why is the Polish-Italian connection so natural and enduring?  Meals are a surprisingly important component of this Polish exploration.