Parties, people & personal reflections

Stepping off the plane, the first day of what was to be a long weekend of mayhem and memories, the sun dazzled me and I got lost in a car park in the first 10 minutes.
Krakow, 'why Krakow?' - the first question off everyones lips when I told them where I was heading on my first holiday in 4 years. Well, why not! Sun holidays lazing on the beach just didn't spark my interest, the adventurer in me had decided to go somewhere slightly off the beaten track and the student in me had a huge appreciation for the exchange rate.
Krakow offers a huge variety of activities to suit all tastes and I'm not just talking about the amazing obwarzanki pretzels sold in the main square which sorted out a sore head or the pierogi which offered a comforting sensation in a strange city after a long day of sightseeing. The Wawel castle is a great place to start and after a lot of long short cuts finding the fire breathing dragon along the Vistula River kicked off the first of many 'How did I end up here?' moments.
The Kazimierz or Jewish District offers another view of what makes this city so multifaceted. Full of old buildings, cemeteries and museums, it offers a more subdued energy than the main square during the day and with so many great restaurants and bars its an ideal place to catch up with friends or take a quite afternoon to catch up with your thoughts.
There are a number of wonderful day trips to take part in to see life outside the city. The Auschwitz-Birkenau tour will make everyone who takes part stop and think about the power of politics, the potential extremes of humanity and their own place in this world. This is a tour that everyone should experience and which will stay with you for a long time.
Back in the city there a seemingly limitless number of restaurants and bars to explore into the small hours of the night. On the last night of my adventure I found myself after a long night of partying, on a tram heading across the Vistula into the south of the city. After visiting one of the many amazing churches, sitting on the banks of the river watching the world wake up, I couldn't help but think again 'How did I end up here?'
Krakow is a city where you can get lost but feel like you know everyone you meet. You can explore, party, relax and find yourself all in one day. With a limitless list of things to do, this is one city where you just wont want to sleep in case you miss one second of excitement.