Blog & News

World Cup Lottery at Kadetus Hostel
2010-07-26

We would like to announce the result of the lottery, which took place at Kadetus Hostel.
During World Cup 2010 our guests filled a coupon and took part in a prize draw. The prize was an original Jabulani Adidas 2010 ball!
Ladies and Gentlemen.
The winner is Mr. Stephen S. :)
Congratulations from the staff of Kadetus.
Also, we decided to reward another person. We were touched and amazed when we came across one of the coupons.
Mr. Marek G. asked us to reward Rafał, who is a person under "Mimo Wszystko" Foundation’s care, instead of himself.
The foundation takes care of disabled persons and fulfil a lot of plans, which are aimed at bringing joy into their lives.
We hope that the prize will bring many happy moments into his days.

Summer Jazz Festival
2010-07-17

This year is absolutely extraordinary, if we consider jazz music as an important part of cultural life in Kraków. The 15th edition of Summer Jazz Festival has started almost two weeks ago and already has won itself lots of public.
46 days of great events - it’s essential to emphasise. 100 concerts - an impressive number, moreover it is almost impossible not to find at least one, which will be interesting even for a layman in a category of jazz.
The first edition of this festival was organized when famous Piwnica Pod Baranami club celebrated its 40th anniversary, in 1996. For the first time the director of the festival – Witold Wnuk – presented daily concerts in Piwnica, throughout July. He drew inspiration from Piotr Skrzynecki, who was an outstanding personality in the world of cabaret. Summer Jazz Festival is now one of the biggest jazz festivals in Europe, and Kraków has been hosting such talented musicians as Nils Landgren, Brandford Marsalis, Greg Osby, Joao Bosco, Jarek Śmietana, Urszula Dudziak, Tomasz Stańko.
Too many names should be listed here, but we can announce just a few: Bobby McFerrin, Paulo Fresu, Markus Stockhausen, NRD Big Band, among others -all will be playing an unique and valuable music this summer in Kraków, and you still have time to choose, which one is the best.

(photos from: www.cracjazz.com)

International Street Theatre Festival 2010
2010-07-15

There is something fascinating in the variety of gestures, hues, exclamations, and above all the atypical individuals, whom we pass on the picturesque streets of the old city. A figure of mime, magic horses - driven cab, sad hatter or a mad breakdance showman arouse curiosity. The churches illumination, dusty cornices over the entrances to the old houses, a tiny booth with bagels induce a specific mood.
There is something even more fascinating in the colorful whirl, which arises among all these elements come alive in the sun-filled July. It appears a new set of words and figures, catching interest of the toddler, as well as an old hand.
Actors dressed in multicolored costumes, acrobats, jugglers and musicians fill the old town, transforming the urban space in an unique place of magic, paradox and direct contact.
On July 8th started the International Street Theatre Festival, whose theme this year is: the theater space - the city.
Another, awaited edition is abound in interesting performances that take place in unusual spots, such as trees of Planty(park around the old town), or the wall of the City Hall Tower. 4 Polish groups and 16 foreign will share their ideas with you, presenting a range of acting, music and lightning skills.
Fullstop Acrobatic Theatre, Slagman Producties, Delreves, Mask Theater will be performing as well as other great groups.
An important element of street art is the artist's direct contact with the viewer, which allows for the presentation and reception of a unique message performance, which would not be possible in a closed space of a theater or a fixed pattern of recorded spectacles.
Proximity of actors, props and unspecified stage framework will automatically allow the observers of all ages to come closer to art, which is often like a precious diamond, yet shining from behind glass, which in this case, is found directly within the reach of a viewer. Street Theatre Festival is a special event, presenting top notch acting or acrobatic skills, reaching out to both the residents of Krakow, as well as visitors and tourists. The performers do not hesitate to push the barriers between people, doing so in a way, that may not always be subtle, but will surely be wonderfully surprising, unconventional and memorable.

(photos from : www.karnet.krakow.pl & www.kgurszynski.eu & plfoto.com)

Remigiusz Sperski 07.03.1980 - 01.05.2010
2010-05-05

Last Saturday our dearest friend and invaluable staff member - Remigiusz - died in a motorcycle accident. We just want you to know how immense this loss is to all of us here at Kadetus and how much we grieve over his sudden and so, so unexpected death.
Remi worked at Kadetus for over three years and a half. He was officially a logistics manager but jack-of-all-trades would be a far more apt description of his person (this is exactly how I described him to one of our guests just over a week ago). He was a self-taught technical genius who kept our place in tip-top condition, fixing every damage and constructing anything that could be of use for visitors and staff alike. It's fair to say that he held this place together, both literally and figuratively, that is why it's really hard for us to imagine Kadetus without him, it will definitely be never the same again.
His technical prowess was just one of many assets he possessed. Perhaps I should mention his worth as a human being in the first place. It is always only after someone passes away that we fully realise the part this person played in our lives. And now we clearly see how important Remi was to all of us. Looking back, I can't recall any situation when he was in a bad mood, refused a request or annoyed anyone. It could never happen because Remi was so likeable, good-natured and ever-willing to help. He was the last person to criticise, he'd rather show what's wrong and explain how to do it. He was a man of many passions, motorbikes being one of them, sadly. He had clear-cut, some would say radical, political views because he really cared about the future of this country. His frequent derisive remarks about beaurocracy and current state of political affairs had the genuinely patriotic overtone. He also had interest in aeroplanes, in the past he applied to the Polish Air Force Aviation School and recently had been attending gliding courses. He was also fond of music and loved to be a DJ at our staff parties. Remi was very sensitive to the fate of the animals and had a cat tellingly-named Honda. I could go on and on...
I'm quite sure that some of you who visited Kadetus had the chance to see or even chat with Remi. On behalf of the entire staff I would like to ask you to spare a thought or prayer for him as he IS really worth it. I hope that you have people like Remi around you because they make our lives so much richer and meaningful. I also wish that you will never have to experience the feeling that we are experiencing now.

Rest In Peace Remi, we will never forget you!

A natural necklace
2009-07-08

A bird's-eye view of Krakow's oldest quarters will make the attentive observer see a necklace with a medallion suspended on it. The necklace is of pure green as it is a park rounding busy streets of the Old Town. Following the decree of the Austro-Hungarian emperor who was the ruler of the land at the time, the impressive medieval city walls studded with numerous towers were pulled down almost entirely, thus lending some breathing space to the previously isolated core and opening it to the surrounding districts. Having the notion of a "garden city" in mind, the urban planners decided to establish a park in place of fortifications and the adjoining moat. Luckily, the northern section of the bulwarks, including the Florian Gate and the mighty Barbican, was left intact so that the future generations could admire the skill of medieval architects.
The park, full 4 kilometres in length, became known as Planty and soon gained a favourable reputation among the city residents. Also, it proved to be a perfect setting for the landscape designers to display their skills. In result, about 30 small gardens of various sizes and shapes were created all over the park, not to mention fountains, monuments and winding paths with stylish lamps and benches placed along them. Today, Planty Park provides a shady shelter after hours spent on exploring the busy narrow streets of the Old Town and in the evenings the glow of the lanterns and the hum of the fountain affords an ideal setting for a memorable rendezvous.
The medallion I mentioned is the Wawel Castle, obviously. But it deserves another entry in this blog that I promise to deliver at some future time.

jbn

Rocky retreat
2009-05-09

If you feel you've had enough of museums, churches and all the bustle of the Old Town, I'd recommend a trip to Zakrzowek, one of the most picturesque areas of the city.
It was only a pure chance that nearly 20 years ago a limestone quarry south-west of the centre was flooded during excavation works. In result, the quarry turned into a lake surrounded by steep limestone cliffs. The special properties of this mineral gave the water uncommon transparency as well as the Mediterranean-looking azure tint. No wonder that the lake soon became a favourite place of recreation among the locals. The lake itself is just a part of a larger area called Twardowski's Cliffs/Rocks, which is essentially a park studded all over with limestone outcrops of various sizes and two caves for good measure. Even though swimming in the lake is officially forbidden, on hot and sunny days some people just can't resist to take a dip or two. This reservoir consists of two pools connected by a narrow inlet, and whilst one of them was claimed by the wildcat swimmers and sunbathers, the other serves as a training "ground" for a professional diving school. Exploring the depths of Zakrzówek lake can be a really rewarding experience as there are some unexpected objects to be found at the bottom, among them a minibus, computer, shopping cart and a commerative plaque devoted to John Paul II who worked at the quarry in his youth.
So, if you find yourself in Krakow in the middle of a sizzling hot summer day, checking this place out is an opportunity you won't be able to resist and won't regret afterwards, I'm sure of that.

jbn

Garden of experiments
2009-04-24

I don't know about you but I never really liked physics back at school. All those intricate equations and theories made me feel somehow intimidated and all at sea, not knowing what to make of all that.
For those sharing my sentiments but still eager to understand the forces that make our world what it is I would recommend a visit to the Garden of Experiments. Named in the honour of Stanisław Lem - a world famous Polish science fiction writer - the garden is an open-air educational exhibition covering six hectares of the Polish Pilots' Park east of the Kraków centre. Inspired by similar projects in Nuremberg and Paris the garden features a wide range of devices and structures demonstrating the laws of physics in a very accessible way. The site provides a brilliant hands-on experience that makes everyone feel like a proper scientist but with so much more fun to it.
Trying to make the scientific adventure as comprehensive as possible, the originators designed the garden thematically, the four sections dealing with optics, mechanics, acoustics and liquids respectively. Among the installations there is a Newton's cradle, a giant kaleidoscope, a spiral wheel, a telescope, a turntable, tubular bells and many other "toys" that prove that it's possible to learn physics with no need for any obnoxious equations.
But before you get overenthusiastic about all this scientific stuff, don't forget that there are forces attracting people to one another that neither Newton nor Einstein could figure out ;)

jbn

Easter shade of green
2009-04-10

So finally Easter is coming. It's a perfect time to take a breather for a couple of days, especially with this flawlessly warm weather that has apparently decided to stay around here for a bit longer than usual. I have always associated Easter with the greenness of the nature awakening from the winter sleep, dazzling my vision with its many shades. This fascination with the nature reborn is shared by many other people, who collect willow twigs, bunches of box and grow cress to decorate their houses for Easter.
The staff of Kadetus Hostel wishes you a very green Easter so that you also experience this reviving force that makes people lively, optimistic and full of resolution to pursue your with extra energy.

The shadows of Franz Joseph
2009-03-06

It is not a common knowledge that Kraków was at some point in its history a strategically important point on the map of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Beginning in mid-19th century, the Austrians embarked on quite an extraordinary project that was to be called Kraków fortress. According to historians, this elaborate complex of fortifications within and around the city has actually never been conquered by invading forces. The main idea consisted in the core, with the Wawel castle as a citadel, encircled by inner and outer rings of artillery and infantry forts, ramparts, redoubts and shelters. Located in the nothern frontier of the empire, practically at the Russian border, Kraków had always stood a good chance of being in the heat of the action. This scenario became reality with the outbreak of the First World War. In 1914 the Russians twice attempted to breach the Kraków fortress which served as a hinge supporting two front lines, and after some heavy fighting were ultimately repelled.
After the fortress had served its purpose, most of it parts were gradually left to crumble. Some objects were simply demolished, some were adapted for other than military purposes. But the most prominent forts still dot the landscape around here, even if rather forgotten. There is actually something like the Kraków Fortress Route that could be a treat to those hardcore tourists that wouldn't settle just for the Old Town. Following the sites of the outer ring would make a proper hike, mind you.
Don't want to hike? Take a bike!

jbn

Highbrow antics on tour
2009-02-18

Having this peculiar air of the time long gone, Kraków has always been a magnet attracting all kinds of people with artistic inclinations. There must be something inspirational in these old walls telling the old stories to those who would listen. Among many artistic souls that fell under their charm is an English violinist Nigel Kennedy. And why not? Being a musician, he must have one hell of a keen ear for such stories.
Mr Kennedy cuts a somewhat eccentric figure in the world of classical music. He seems to balance his thorough education and undoubted talent with the image that is not quite as classical as the music he plays. He is known for sporting a mohawk haircut, extravagant clothes and heavy boots during his performances. And on top of that, his accent and interests (Kennedy is a stalwart football fan) are as unclassical as they can be.
In any case, Nigel Kennedy apparently has a soft spot for Kraków and Poland in general. He has a Polish wife and has been living in Kraków on and off for several years now. He is quite a frequent performer at the Krakow Philharmonic and next month he will take the stage again to break yet another convention during a concert tellingly named "Jimi lives". Accompanied by Polish musicians, Kennedy will present his own renditions of Jimi Hendrix's songs in an attempt to broaden the perspective of the refined audience.
If you feel like you would't mind experiencing some highbrow antics, this may be the moment. And considering that the Philharmonic is on the same street as our hostel (almost next door, you could say), it could be a perfect opportunity for you to visit Kadetus, too.

Cheers,

jbn

Kraków's younger sister
2009-01-31

Kraków may be an old city indeed but one of its significant districts is actually younger than your grandparents. Located a few miles east of the city centre, Nowa Huta (The New Steel Mill) can be regarded as a huge monument to communist times.
The story behind the idea to build Nowa Huta is probably as peculiar as the district itself. Having gained the power in the country, the communists encountered quite strong resistance from the traditionally conservative population of Kraków. That's why they decided to "correct the class imbalance" by building a satellite industrial town and attract working classes and peasants from all over the country. They were supposed to work in the Lenin Steel Mill which became the largest factory of this type in Poland. The steelworks were built on the fertile soils, perfect for farming, which only underlined the fact that the decision was purely political.
Whatever the reasons, the authorities set out to plan and build a residential area along with the factory. The result was rather innovative, if a bit crude. It was built on a semicircular plan with a central square and converging main streets feeding into it. A number of transverse side streets link the main ones, giving the overall impression of the spider web. The central square displays the monumental socrealist architecture and featured the statue of old Vladimir Ilyich until it was pulled down in 1989. Each block constitutes a separate housing estate accessible from the outside only by several narrow gates, thus resembling a fortress.

jack b. nimble

The orchestra of millions of hearts
2009-01-06

Ask any Polish person with what event they associate January and I bet 9 out of 10 will say it's the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (in Polish: Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy). This Sunday the Orchestra will play for the 17th time and let's hope it will keep on playing as long as its motto says: "To the end of the world and one more day!".
Established in 1993 by the charismatic social campaigner Jerzy Owsiak, the GOCC is the non-governmental charity foundation raising funds to buy the high-tech medical equipment necessary for the treatment of serious diseases of children. Ever since its beginning, the second Sunday of January becomes a nationwide display of generosity. On this special day the volunteers collect money practically on every corner of every town, giving a red-heart stickers to anyone who donated even the smallest sum of money. People take pride in wearing them on their jackets, caps and bags for the next few days. The red heart is, in fact, the logo of the campaign and I cannot think of any simpler and more apt symbol for it. All over the country live concerts, auctions and TV broadcasts are held, all in good cause. No wonder it's called the Great Finale.
Every edition has a particular target subject and this year it's "Early cancer diagnosis in children" because it's not just about raising money but also awareness of the simple fact that prevention is better than cure. The January collection is the main but by no means the only event organised by the foundation. Among the other projects there is the Woodstock Stop - the largest open-air music festival in this part of Europe (being officially a thank-you to all the volunteers for their dedication) as well as the so-called Peace Patrol, which promotes and teaches CPR techniques.
So far the Orchestra has managed to raise nearly 100 million dollars but more importantly, it has saved indefinite number of lives and spared many tears.
This year we break the magic "100"!

Eager to know more? Visit http://www.en.wosp.org.pl/

jbn

Shaloming around in Kazimierz
2008-06-28

After long years of neglect, Kazimierz - Krakow's Jewish quarter - has finally been brought back to its vibrant life. The narrow streets and passages are no longer deserted as Kazimierz offers enough bars, clubs, cafes, restaurants and galleries to become a serious competition to the Old Town proper. One could observe that the district's unique character can be ascribed to the quaint blend its Jewish heritage with the modern-day off culture. Neighbouring the venerable synagogues, the aptly-named New Square often becomes the stage for the local cult heroes who perform on the roof of rotunda located there.
If there is anything that has really helped to restore the bygone charm of Kazimierz, it is definitely the Jewish Culture Festival. Since its beginning in the late eighties, the festival has developed from a local attraction into of the major events of this sort in the world. Spanning over nine days, it is now a string of happenings that offer a perfect insight into various aspects of Jewish civilization that was once so conspicuous here. The features include exhibitions, discussion panels, lectures, live music concerts, film screenings, theatre performances, walking tours. Those eager to taste a first-hand experience of Jewish culture can have a go at one of many workshops organised throughout the festival. So, whether you'd like to practice speaking Hebrew or Yiddish, calligraphing, playing klezmer music, drumming, dancing, singing or even paper-cutting (all in the Jewish fashion), you are welcome to join in.

Krakow's setting the pace
2008-04-20

Apart from being a hub of cultural, touristic and, arguably, academic life of our beautiful land, Krakow may now boast the title of Poland's sports capital, and quite rightly so. The two currently most succesful Polish sportspeople - the Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica and the tennis player Agnieszka Radwanska - both have their origins in Krakow. Also, this year saw two Krakow's teams of Wisla and Cracovia winning the national championship in soccer and ice hockey respectively. And we must not forget that in our city lives one of the icons of modern athletics - an Olympic multi-medalist in race walking - Robert Korzeniowski.
What is more, the prospects do not look any bleaker as Krakow is still a strong contender to host some of the games of the European soccer championship in 2012 and there are plans to build a racing circuit in the city's outskirts that could be included into Formula 1 series. Obviously, the organisation of major sports events is a perfect opportunity to promote a city and all its assets to a global audience.
The future will tell whether these hopes materialise.
I keep my fingers crossed.

jack_b_nimble

Roll up your sleeves for 'Rękawka'
2008-03-22

On the southern bank of the Vistula River, in the Podgórze district, lies the Krakus Mound, supposed to be the grave of the legendary founder of Krakow - Krak. The tradition has it that when the prince died people carried the earth in the sleeves (in Polish - 'rękaw') to raise a fitting monument.
Later, on every Tuesday after Easter the mound became a scene of bizarre spectacles. The rich people gathered on top of the hill threw tasty leftovers and coins down to the mob of paupers below to see them struggle for the smallest piece.
The festival survived until our times but in a more civilised form. It is now more of a picnic with knights' duels, fun fair and stalls with handicraft. Just a perfect way to keep oneself in festive mood for one more day. If you want to feel it, you are welcome to join in!

The colour photo below courtesy of www.podgorze.pl

j_b_n

The never-ending mystery of Krakow
2008-03-01

If you enjoyed the open-air majesty of our Market Square, you will probably be thrilled to learn that right below it the underground museum will soon be opened for all to discover yet more mysteries of medieval Krakow. It's amazing to realise that the ground level of the Rynek has risen up to 5 metres throughout the centuries, gradually covering the older architecture. The archaeologists have done a good job to reveal the remnants of the Rich Stalls, the Great and Little Scales, which functioned as trading centres alongside the still-existing Cloth Hall. Once the underground spaces are adapted to admit the public, Krakow will gain an extra attraction in its very heart. To make the experience of exploring the underground passages a bit less claustrophobic, the designers plan to install the see-through footbridges and laser lighting of the displays. The walk through the museum will be a walk through Krakow's past, starting with a wooden cottage and a cemetery dating back earlier than the official foundation of the city, just to give you some creeps;)
And when you've had enough of the dead, you just walk back up to where the living are busy writing the next chapter of our history...
Enjoy the pictures as much as I do.

jack b. nimble

Merrymaking makes us merry
2008-01-30

Well, Krakow may be a long way from Rio but this year for the first time we are having a real carnival around here too. The celebrations started off with a colourful and joyful parade going down Florianska Street to the Market Square where everyone could get a mask as an invitation to join the party. The noisy pageant then moved to Szczepanski Square where one could see a stage performance about the royal carnivals that took place at the Wawel in the times of kings. The following day a spectacle called "Struggle between carnival and the Lent" as if to remind us what comes next. Now, all the sweet-toothed individuals are bracing for tomorrow as on the Shrove Thursday hundreds of free doughnuts are going to be distributed on the streets among both locals and visitors. That's a delicious tradition of ours, you must admit.
The festivities also include live concerts, masked balls, film screenings, fashion shows, exhibitions, simply all kinds of events you can imagine. With no trace of snow anywhere around, it's much easier to feel a sort of Copacabana atmosphere, believe me or not. Anyway, hope that you also have fun anywhere that you might be right now.
Till next time.

jack b. nimble

Another new beginning...
2007-12-28

OK, so here we go again...
Finally, after four long weeks we have completed a thourough refurbishment of our hostel. All our 15 rooms have been nicely refreshed and fine-tuned to meet the needs of a weary traveller, and three more are still to come. An entirely upgraded front, staircase and reception give Kadetus a slick, elegant look that attracts the eye and sets this ever-homelier mood that we have around here. It was tough, though, to make this place look as it does now. No wonder we were all over the moon to wrap everything up just in time to celebrate it during the traditional Polish Christmas Eve supper. The photos below should give you some idea as to our feelings then. Just look at these faces, aren't they proud of getting the job done? ;)
Anyway, with the New Year fast approaching, we are getting ready to start it in a special fashion and keep it real in the next twelve months. Our crew would like to wish all of you who stayed and will stay with us a very eventful and thrilling time during your travels in the upcoming year. We hope that Kadetus Hostel will find its place in your itinerary.
Stay tuned for more soon.

Greetings,

jack b. nimble

One hot summer...
2007-08-15

I've two great informations - first - weather in Kraków is brilliant, hot and lovely summer with some rain in the early morning - helping to clear the air.
Second is more private - we are one of the most popular hostels in Kraków. Nice. Why is it like this? Maybe there is a lot more tourists in the city this summer? Or maybe the word about Kadetus is spreading - people telling people that we are best place to stay in. :-)

One great summer for our guests :-) Definitely not the last one :-)


m.

Good weather is coming back
2007-07-14

Uff, good news for everyone craving for sun - summer is coming back to Kraków. Last couple of days forced me (thick-skinned and warm-blooded bloke) to wear long sleeves! But luckily sun is going back and forcasts for next week are more than optymistics - 30 deg. Celcius, no rain. If I were you I would came to Kraków to enjoy best summer ever :-)

Below: a photo by Wojciech Gorgolewski, master of aerial photography.


m.

Hello and welcome to our new website PLUS ;-)
2007-07-12

So, finally I have a great pleasure to present you our new website for Kadetus Hostel and Kadetus Plus :-)
The webpage changed alot, as well as our services. We are happy to present to our guests 11 new rooms with bathrooms, cable TV (with bloody large LCD screens), Internet access (both wireless and sockets for RJ-45 ethernet cable ;P). It seems our standard is quite comparable at least to 3-star hotels...
So, we would like to invite you to visit Kraków - and I promise we will do everything to keep your stay here as pleasant and comfortable as it is possible :-)

And a photo of one of our rooms - take look before you book ;-)


m.