I had a mentally and physically draining day across the board. Time in a medical facility (I’ll be fine) and slamming my finger in the door (unrelated to the medical center visit) were some of the easier things. Anyway, that’s life! Here are some photos for your enjoyment.
This fire -breathing dragon is one of the very few things I recall from 2005. Remember this, Jeff? Wawel Castle and hill are together the most culturally significant site in Poland. When Poland had kings, they were buried here, and the site is very old in Polish history. Krakow was the Polish capital until 400 years ago, when it was switched to Warsaw. These Obwarzanek Krakowski (Krakow pretzel/bagel things) stands are everywhere around town, and they all look the same. I can totally envision these being from Communist times. Someone Xed out a certain language… Even if you don’t recognize flags, you can probably figure it out. One of the other very few sites I recall from the 2005 trip. I bought some handicrafts as gifts for my family back then. Waiting outside the doctor’s office in the hallway. I guess this was a private facility, and it was nice and quick. The doctor was a really old but gentle guy with shaky hands and rudimentary English. Everyone was quite kind there, despite the lack of English, and the visit was about $65, plus a $5 prescription. There were many confusing moments and lots of conferencing when they realized I didn’t have a Polish identity number, but as they always seem to in these countries, they somehow made it work out. I found them on Google Maps, and my impression is that I was supposed to have a referral or something, but I think they felt sorry for me.
Today’s dad joke: When a lady from Krakow attempts to elicit praise and compliments from someone else, she’s called a “fishing Pole”!
Today’s travel quote:
When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.
Susan Heller Anderson
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3 thoughts on “Fire-breathing dragon”
Sorry that you had a medical issue, but glad to hear that you’re ok. The fire breathing dragon is really cool!
Agreed, hope you’re doing well! I don’t actually remember the fire breathing dragon, but I do remember the market. I may also be imagining this but I remember that there’s either a church or some municipal building where someone plays a horn every day but cuts the tune short in honor of the hornblower who got hit by an arrow mid-song. Weird what sticks after 17 years!
You’re right! I didn’t remember that horn story at all, thinking I learned it for the first time last week. It is really funny what slips out vs stays in, and how it varies by person. Together, Colleen and I can normally recall a decent amount of a large situation, but it’s often because we combine different parts! We were just talking today about our memories of driving through Bratislava in 1998, and while I remember the castle very clearly, she has no recollection of it, while she recalled something else that I forgot then, and again now, haha. I suppose one can visit anywhere again for a second time after 15-20 years because you won’t remember most of it from the first time anyway!
Major Meander 
Sorry that you had a medical issue, but glad to hear that you’re ok. The fire breathing dragon is really cool!
Agreed, hope you’re doing well! I don’t actually remember the fire breathing dragon, but I do remember the market. I may also be imagining this but I remember that there’s either a church or some municipal building where someone plays a horn every day but cuts the tune short in honor of the hornblower who got hit by an arrow mid-song. Weird what sticks after 17 years!
You’re right! I didn’t remember that horn story at all, thinking I learned it for the first time last week. It is really funny what slips out vs stays in, and how it varies by person. Together, Colleen and I can normally recall a decent amount of a large situation, but it’s often because we combine different parts! We were just talking today about our memories of driving through Bratislava in 1998, and while I remember the castle very clearly, she has no recollection of it, while she recalled something else that I forgot then, and again now, haha. I suppose one can visit anywhere again for a second time after 15-20 years because you won’t remember most of it from the first time anyway!