First Impressions

The team spent our first day in Poland in Krakow and Katowice, getting registered at the COP conference and settling into our hotel.  As we found our way through the unfamiliar cities, we observed some differences between Minnesota and Poland. The weather feels like home, but the architecture in Krakow has an old, rustic style - unique to the city. The architecture allows the city to feel comforting, yet unfamiliar. As we were driving to our hotel, I noticed a blue and red structure on top of a hill. It looked like a castle due to its grand height. En route to the hotel, I also witnessed solar panels on some homes and in fields. It sparked joy within the team because it shows how Poland, if not some people, are moving forward to using green energy. 

In Krakow and Katowice there are cobblestone sidewalks, which is the complete opposite of what I’ve grown up with in Minnesota. Minnesota has even, paved sidewalks, allowing walking, and biking to move at a smooth pace. In Krakow and Katowice people bike, park, and walk on the sidewalk. To expand on parking on sidewalks, the drivers here are very brave souls. In Minnesota there are lines we must follow, but in both Krakow and Katowice it seemed to be more free range. Drivers would turn when they had time, cut one another off, and even drive right in front of the trolley.  The pace of their culture seems to move quickly without any breaks. Poland is definitely going to be a crazy adventure, and we’re ready for it!

Old Krakow, Poland

Krakow, Poland