I had a Kracking time ticking Poland off my never-ending bucket list – what a city

AFTER a stagnant few years on my never-ending bucket list, Krakow was finally ticked off.

The closest I’d ever been to experiencing the country’s incredible culture was my regular visit to a charming Polish deli just down from my flat.

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I’d spend ages browsing the vast selection of kartacze and makowiec with no idea what was underneath the alien wrapper of the imported delicacies.

But now I was packing a bag to explore one of Europe’s most popular tourist spots.

And with a brief three hour journey and regular flights from Glasgow and Edinburgh, the stunning metropolis it’s only a stone’s throw away.

I lived like a king during my relaxing stay at the city’s ibis Styles, just a short drive from the airport.

The newly-built hotel oozes luxury and class and is perfect for families, couples and groups of pals. Downstairs sits the CHILL Bar, which does exactly what it says on the tin.

An airy social space with rows of comfy sofas to kick back and enjoy the vast selection of beers, wines, coffees and local snacks.

The stunning position of the hotel was a game changer — situated near to the old town, the building lay on the cusp where history meets modernity.

One path takes you to Poland’s yesteryears, while the opposite road leads to the bouncing nightlife of the trendy city centre.

And a regular tram service stops outside the accommodation — providing a convenient mode of transport to the main tourist trap.

However a few pints of Tyskie later, I stumbled onto the wrong tram, resulting in a serendipitous ride to the city’s outskirts.

But it was all part of the experience and provided an insight into local Polish life.

It wasn’t long before I was back on track and my minor bump in the road was worth every minute once I arrived at the phenomenal main square.

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Arriving at the bustling market place was breathtaking and really felt like I’d entered the heart of this historic city.

With a sea of busy pubs and modern cafes dotted among the city’s magnificent architecture I was in holiday heaven.

If grabbing a beer isn’t your scene there’s plenty of museums, shops and markets to soak up the local culture.

The gothic spires of St Mary’s Basilica will leave you speechless — dating back to the 14th century, it is a stunning work of art.

After hours wandering about soaking up the culture, I settled down with a beer and watched the night go by.

My main motivation for ticking Poland off my bucket list was the country’s rich history. So a tour of the city in retro twentieth century vehicles was the perfect way to discover Karkow’s Communist heritage.

The next morning, we hopped on a retro Soviet army truck and took a tour of nearby Nowa Huta — the easternmost district of Krakow.

The history unfolding in front of me didn’t disappoint.

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I’m told this was where the country first took the leap from Communism to Capitalism.

On the outskirts of Nowa Huta sat a large, intimidating ironworks – the main place of employment in the district.

 The building was probably a similar size to a small village.

But the highlight was the exciting trek into a Cold War bunker. Inside unearthed an incredible maze of rooms containing an operation HQ with equipment from the era.

Hands down this was the highlight of my trip.

To round off the day I visited a bar mlecnzy or milk bar (for those like me who need to polish their Polish).

A milk bar is a staple in classic Polish culture and is simply a cafeteria which, during the Communist era, provided low cost Polish cuisine to the poorer families.

The culinary star of the day was the country’s famous pierogi – a steamed dumpling – the ultimate comfort food in Polish cuisine.

With an endless variety of flavours including cheese, pork, cabbage and anything else hard hit families could get their hands on.

The local treat was washed down with a glass of kompot, which the guide told us is a homemade fruity drink.

He added: “All Polish grandmas always have a jug chilling in the fridge – each recipe is unique in its own way.”

I loved the pierogi so much I went back for round two the next day – this time the pork dumplings and an order of delicious zurek soup.

Following the trip I went back to the hotel to sleep off the food and reflect on the fascinating history and culture of this beautiful little city.

It was also a perfect opportunity to explore my accommodation, including getting stuck into the coffee and biscuits the hotel staff kindly left in my room.

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Later that night I put on my best clobber to attend a wine and food sampling evening.

“Wine tasting is too posh for a Glasgow lad”, I thought — but I absolutely loved it.

The sommelier knew his stuff and kicked off the evening with a light and bubbly Cava which came with a beautifully presented side of flaky beetroot-infused salmon.

Next up was a plate of octopus on a bed of mango salsa – a first time for me. Not the fish supper I’m used to for sure, but this was my favourite dish of the night.

The fish melted in my mouth and wasn’t too overpowering, with the glass of white wine totally enhancing the flavour.

But it was the third course that raised some eyebrows.

As the chef plated up a portion of gizzard – a surprisingly tasty dish from a cut close to a bird’s stomach – it was similar to a liver pate.

Finally we scoffed down a poached plum with mascarpone and a glass of very sweet dessert wine.

My last night in Krakow had come to an end – but not my trip, because next morning I wired in to the mouthwatering breakfast at the ibis Styles.

It had everything from pastries to eggs and Polish sausage to continental cheeses.

I then took one final whirl around the famous square before saying ‘do widzenia’ to Krakow and heading to the nearby airport

After returning home and popping into my local Polish deli, I can now confidently pick up the kartacze and makowiec knowing what’s underneath the (not so) intriguing wrapper.

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