Grand Market Square (Rynek Glowny): Largest plaza of medieval Europe since the 13thc

Filled with people day and night

Filled with out door cafes

Filled with people

Filled with unique entertainment

What looks like birds...

...are ladies in hoop skirts!

Filled with funky art

Remember the head sculpture at our very first hotel in Amsterdam?  Here's his Polish relative

Filled with an historic Church

which is filled with individual hand carved human size figures

and a larger than life cross with Jesus waaaaay up on top

Last, but not, least, filled with Cloth Hall, 700 years old, making it the oldest shopping mall in the world.  There is a web cam that canvases the Market Square 24/7.

We arranged with our friends that we would stand and wave to them from the entrance to Cloth Hall at a specific time.  Here is the photo they captured from their TV set in Chicago at that magical moment.

Inside Cloth Hall during the day

Matching our t-shirt to theirs

Looking through the gates of Cloth Hall after hours

Walking down one of the many interesting, pedestrian friendly streets leading to the Grand Square

Some words needed no translation

One of our first fine dining experiences: Our own street side table, with an unimpeded view of people passing by

Wierzynek Restaurant, overlooking the Square, open since 1364 to serve the royals.  Some things haven't changed......

A view out the window.  Charlestonians feel right at home.  This carriage is one of many that also fill the Grand Square

More views out our Restaurant window:

More carriages; more umbrellas covering the tables of more restaurants below

The University of Yagalovia, the oldest college in Europe, is a short walk from The Grand Square

We start exploring its campus