Kraków
You may well have heard of the Polish city of Kraków - nowadays it's one of the most popular destinations in the country. Throughout history, there's been a lot of rivalry between Warsaw and Kraków. Kraków was actually the capital of Poland for several hundred years, and later continued to be a centre of religion and intellectual life. Unlike Warsaw, it didn't suffer destruction during the second world war, and it's full of architectural monuments dating from the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
The communist regime that came to power after the second world war built one of the largest steelworks in Europe, Nowa Huta, just outside Kraków. Normally, location of industry is determined by factors such as availability of raw materials, labour force, transport infrastructure and so on. But in this case none of those factors were taken into account - rail and road links had to be built, raw materials had to be brought in from huge distances, the workforce had to be moved in from other parts of Poland ..... The motivation was purely political - the idea was to introduce a working-class element as a counterweight to the traditionally conservative, Catholic, and therefore oppositional population of the city. No thought was given to pollution control, and the result was an ecological disaster, affecting the stability of the historic buildings and the health of the population. When I first went to Kraków in 1981, the old city was still impressive but terribly dilapidated, and the Swedish guide book I had with me advised visitors not to stay longer than 12 hours!
Things have changed a lot since then. The air and river have been cleaned up, and many of the buildings have been beautifully restored.
From Kraków, you can travel south to the Tatra mountains along the border with Slovakia, with their fantastic scenery and abundant opportunities for walking, climbing, skiing, etc.
This photo shows part of the Cloth Hall in Kraków's huge main town square:
And this one was taken looking through one of the archways of the Cloth Hall:
The next photo shows the 14th century church at one corner of the square. According to legend, during a raid on the city by a Tartar army, the watchman at the top of the church tower saw the invaders approaching, and picked up his trumpet and started to play a melody to raise the alarm, but he was interrupted by an arrow in the neck. And today, a trumpeter plays the same melody every hour on the hour, stopping suddenly at exactly the point where the original trumpeter is supposed to have been hit by the arrow. 
The next one is just a street scene in the old town in Kraków, but I quite like it:
Please bear in mind that all these photos are pretty old, and Kraków is a lot more colourful and international-looking nowadays.
Anastasia: You're right - you could actually say:
...poet and dramatist who is still considered one of the most outstanding figures...
as well as:
...poet and dramatist who is still considered to be one of the most outstanding figures...
Here are the solutions to yesterday's question about contractions:
1 Sorry, I have to go now. Don't contract subject + 'have to'.
2 You must not tell anyone. This can be 'You mustn't .....'
3 I have dinner when I get home in the evening. Don't contract subject + 'have' as a main verb.
4 The programme will be starting soon. This can be 'The programme'll be .....'
5 There are no tickets left. Don't contract 'There are'. (Probably some people do, but it isn't considered correct.)
6 No, it is not. This is usually 'No, it isn't'.
7 One is all right but the other is rubbish. This can be 'One's all right but the other's rubbish'.
8 If I could help you, I would. Don't contract 'would' (or other auxiliary verbs) if there's no other verb following.
9 I had had three coffees by the time she arrived. This can be 'I'd had .....'
10 Here is one idea. This can be 'Here's .....'
11 This is something that has always confused me. This can be '..... that's always confused me.' (You can't contract 'This is'.)
12 I have a look whenever I go to England. This is similar to number 3.
13 What is the difference? This can be 'What's the difference?'
Sometimes the decision whether to write a contracted form or not depends on stylistic considerations. For example, in number 4, the contraction of 'will' to ''ll' is normal in speech, but in formal kinds of writing the uncontracted form is preferred.
Here's a little challenge for today. Look through Sylvia's blogs from the 13th and 15th December, and mine from the 14th and 17th, and find phrases that mean the same as the phrases in bold:
1 I was totally exhausted.
2 something that I've never been able to understand
3 It's crazy.
4 It's hard to stop yourself doing something.
5 I always buy from the same supplier.
6 finding books by chance
7 you have to deputise for someone
8 It depends on how I feel.
Good luck!
Jonathan
Comments
That was a sad legend, but then most legends tend to be sad for some reason. Anyway, this is how I have coped with the homework: 1 I was totally exhausted. - I was completely drained. 2 something that I've never been able to understand - I can't imagine. 3 It's crazy. - It's insane. 4 It's hard to stop yourself doing something. - I am hooked on something. 5 I always buy from the same supplier. - I'm a loyal customer of one particular manufacturer. 6 finding books by chance. - Come across books 7 you have to deputise for someone. - You have to stand in for someone. 8 It depends on how I feel. - It depends on the mood I am in. Sincerely, Ana
Good day teacher, here are my answers: 1 I was totally exhausted.(compeletly drained) 2 something that I've never been able to understand. (sth that have always been a mystry to me) 3 It's crazy. (it's insane) 4 It's hard to stop yourself doing something.(to be hard to resist the temptation) 5 I always buy from the same supplier. (to be a loyal customer) 6 finding books by chance (coming across) 7 you have to deputise for someone (to be working for) 8 It depends on how I feel. (couldn't find it)
Hi,Jonathan What a fascinating and sad story! I have got itchy feet and I would love to go to the town and listen to the melody right now.The more reading your blogs the more interest and curiosity arising. I've done my homework and here you go. 1.I was completely drained. 2.That's always been a mystery to me.4.I get hooked by books. 5.I am a loyal customer of one particular shoe manufacturer. 6.coming across. 8.It depends on the mood. thank you for the pictures and have a good day.
Hi, Jonathan its really nice to know about the history and culture of different countries. Since how long have u been there?What are the differences you have found between britishers and polish in terms of culture and food?. The pictures you have sent are really very interesting. Here is my homework: 1.Totally exhasted= I was completely drained 2.Something that i've never been able to understand.= It was really strange to be in a disco at 7 o’clock in the evening 3.It's crazy. = it’s insane 4.It's hard to stop yourself doing something.= it can be hard to resist the temptation= I get hooked by books, and I can’t stop reading. 5.I always buy from the same supplier=I'm a loyal customer of one particular manufacturer 6.finding books by chance = coming across books of authors I didn’t know before, ...... 7 you have to deputise for someone = Sorry i could not found 8 It depends on how I feel. = depends on the mood I’m in that day. Bye for now. Have a greatday!
Hello Jonathan! The Kraków pictures are really amazing! What a trick task you gave us today. Anyway, here´s my answers: 1-completly drained; 2-it´s insane; 3- it has been a mistery to me; 4-to be hooked on sth; 5-to be a loyal customer; 6-come across; 7-I didn´t find this one; 8-it dependes on the mood. Well, I think it´s all. Good night Jonathan, Ana Paula.
Hello,Jonathan. Krakow is one of my favourite places all over the world. My best friend lives there so I have possibility to visit this place from time to time. Krakow has got a big square because the town was founded under the town laws from Magdeburg. Towns which were founded under the town laws from Lubeka, have got a long and broad main street. They haven't got a town sqare. (in Poland for examle Gdansk and Szczecin) I'm waiting for your next story. Bye, bye.
Hi teacher Jonathan! Most of the time these days I have to lie down in bed to lessen pains in my spine due to sitting at work without heating. It can´t be better, it takes all my mental strenghts so I won´t try the homework. But I was pleased very much that you have mentioned my country, too. I may assume from your few lines that you like the High Tatras and perhaps visited it from our side too. I am so anxious with my bad back not more to go for such a high way walks. And you have remembered of my desire to visit Krakow, such a place of art, where Olga Boznanska was born. She is an artist of my deepest admiration. The photo of the archways you have posted sugessted my visits to galeries in Vienna, it shows the same atmosphere. Hopefully I will be good for visiting Krakow in summer. Thank you for the nice narration!
Hi there , How are you all doing ? Here in my city ( Ardebil) we have had lots of snow fall and last night was the coldest night that we 've had this autumn . Jonathan very thanks for the wonderful photos and saying us some historic story of Krakw . I specially loved the legend of the church watchman , how romantic it is . Before I didn't know , how beautiful is Poland . I realize that Tatars have some role in this country 's history and I 'm interested to know more about them ( again a new project in the Net ; -) and finally here are my answers to your last homework : 1 I was totally exhausted ( completely drained) .2 something that I've never been able to understand ( I 'm completely in the dark about it ) 3 It's crazy( really strange ) . 4 It's hard to stop yourself doing something( getting hooked to do sth ) .5 I always buy from the same supplier( I 'm a loyal customer of the … ) . 6 finding books by chance (coming across books of authors I didn’t know before )7 you have to deputise for( …. ?) someone 8 It depends on how I feel ( my modd ) . And what a good trick to read all the Blogs many times! Have a nice Thursday and laters
Dear all, Amy (one of the teacher bloggers) has just emailed us to say that she has had a baby boy! He's called Oslo William Bastin and he was born on December 7th. Mother, father and the two children are all doing well. Congratulations to Amy.
Dear, Paul, Amy what a wonderful message to make us happy with lovely Amy her family and the new boy, William!! Happiness, good health and long life! Cheers Amy, thanks you haven´t forgoten us as we never do!
Dear Paul, how wonderful news you are sharing with us today! Thank you :-). I wish health and all the happiness in this world to Oslo William. I´m very happy for our dear teacher Amy. So kind of her. She didn´t forget us. Best wishes Paul, Ana Paula.
Dear Paul, how wonderful news you are sharing with us today! Thank you :-). I wish health and all the happiness in this world to Oslo William. I´m very happy for our dear teacher Amy. So kind of her. She didn´t forget us. Best wishes Paul, Ana Paula.
First of all, congratulation on your safe delivery,Amy! I wish you and your family have a beautiful Christmas.I'd like to thank Jonathan who shared us such a chic photo. Your camera work is really terrific! Especially I like the second one. The contrast of shade and light is so beautiful. I've never been there, but I feel nostalgia in your picure. I expect you to give us another nice shot. Bon voyage!
Hello Jonathan! The photos look fab. The legend of the church is sad but I like it. I wish I could hear the melody. Here's my answers: 1/I was completely drained. 2/something that's always been a mystery to me 3/It's insane. 4/It's hard to resist something. 5/I'm a loyal customer of... 6/Coming across books 7/You have to stand in for them. 8/It depend on the mood I'm in. By the way, the story of your non-matching pair of shoes is hilarious. I hope they will find their partners soon. Next, Hello Paul! Thank you so much for telling us a nice news. Please send my best regards to Amy, Ed, Louie and especially the baby Oslo. Myen.
Hello Jonathan, It's good to see the old Kraków. I realling like seeing old pictures as they tell a lot about the place that how it looked like before. Thank you for sharing such nice photos. Best wishes of the season to you and your wife. Naheed:)
Dear Paul, it's a very good new we have got to hear from you. Many many wishes to Amy and her family. Lots of wishse to baby Oslo William. Naheed
Cracow (Polish: Kraków) is a good topic for reading. I thank for an information about Szczecin given by Ana Paula from Brazil. In my city there are a few small squares on streets. This is a very interesting city in the Polish seaside with some beautiful towns in the area (e.g. Stargard Szczeciński, Świnoujście, Police, Goleniów, Pyrzyce, Międzyzdroje, Wolin and Ueckermünde in Germany)!
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