The first weekend

The main square, Rynek Glowny

After our tour of Wawel we stopped in the main square for a few drinks before dinner.  In shirtsleeves, and sat but a stone throws away from the magnificent St. Mary's Basilica and just about next door to the offices of the British Council where I will doing my CELTA ( Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages ) , we watched the sun set over the the Cloth Hall (the building on the left in the background)

We had booked a table at Pod Aniolami restaurant and this next quoted passage is taken from their own menu...'Restaurant Pod Aniolami - Under the Angels - is an extraordinary place. Some people say there are indeed angels in its Gothic cellars. The restaurant, a laureate of many first class awards and distinctions invites you to original, unforgettable and unique banquets. The place is far-famed for its marinated meats grilled over a beech hardwood fire. The restaurant's historical 13th century interiors and brilliant cuisine based on Polish culinary traditions will enable you to soak up the atmosphere of the Medieval Kings' City of Cracow.

At "Under the Angels", time stood still and one can still find the ambience of old Cracow here. Beautiful interiors and excellent cuisine attract renowned guests from all over the world. ( see photo below)

' Renowned guests!'

The restaurant is located in the 18th century building at the Royal Route, leading to Wawel King's Castle. For over three hundred years the building was the residence of Cracow's goldsmiths who also had their workshops here'.

On my recommendation , as I had eaten here before, Steve, Dave and myself had the herring starter....now, I hear some of you groan at the mention of herring but believe you me this was delicious and so fresh that it was not 'fishy' at all. It was served with a piquant relish of finely chopped onion, gherkins and dill and accompanied by a very , very cold shot of vodka. Even if you are not too keen on herrings, I assure you, you would find this starter absolutely stunning , as we all did.

The service here is exemplary, the ambience spot on,  not being rushed to 'turn' a table is very welcome and the professionalism of the team of young waiters and waitresses was a joy to behold and made me think that if I was to return to the hospitality industry it would have to be in a place such as this.

Pork szaszlyk

Amanda and Steve had the rib eye steak and Dave and I had the pork szaszlyk, which was tender chunks of pork cooked on the aforementioned beech wood fire and served with bacon, baked apple, horseradish and mashed potato. This is not the type of restaurant that many  Krakovians would frequent very often. To be honest,  it is deemed to be quite expensive in Polish terms. However for a special occasion, such as this was it really was exceptional value at just under £20 per head for three starters, four mains, three vodkas, three beers and a soft drink. Five star plus and we will be back.

It was awful!