It seems there has been a shooting near the main square in Krakow. As I'm writing this, six are dead and a dozen wounded. The gunman was also wounded.
I left Poland a couple of days ago and it's one place I never really worried about my safetly. But I guess we can't let our guard down anymore.
Krakow is a wonderful city and I hope no one planning a visit will let this deter them.
A lot of less than positive things have been going on. Just doesnt get much attention in the US. Like fighter jets escorting passenger jets 3 days ago and a multiple victim shooting in Paris two weeks ago.
Its just life. Listen to it and you will never venture outside. The odds of being in any of it are pretty slim.
Heartbroken to read about the shooting. I was just at that square in September, and it's hard to put into words how I feel knowing that a mass shooting happened there. Kraków is such a lovely city, with a small-town feel and friendly people.
I know these things can happen (and do happen) all around the world. But it hits differently when it happens somewhere you have just visited and felt a strong connection to.
Just like Joy, I also recently visited Krakow. So heartbroken for the city.
I haven’t been to Krakow in 25 years - but I am still heartbroken by this news.
I was last in Poland in May and have been to Krakow 6 times, so often that I feel I could be a tour guide. In Poland, I always felt I could relax a bit, not too worried about scams on the street, etc. I still plan to return to Krakow next year because I love the atmosphere and beauty of the city. I mourn with everyone else.
It was heartbreaking to see everyone literally running for their lives.
Last night as I was trying to find a channel for my grandkids, my grandson asked me to stop at the NYC news as they were talking about a shooting. He asked me if I had ever been in a school shooting, not just a drill. I said no, but truth is, as a 6th grader in elementary school, I was 4 blocks away from Minnesota's first school shooting 60 years ago. My sister was at the school and my husband's bus was arriving just after the incident when it was still chaotic. They stopped the bus and had the kids hide down the hill in the ravine by the convent. The shooter was my cousin's cousin.
I hate these shootings. My heart goes out to the people in Krakow.
and I was just there four weeks ago, and it breaks my heart as well...
Side note to Mary above: thanks for all your help with planning out the visit to Wawel Castle.. :)
I read the St Mary’s Trumpeter didn’t play the evening/night of the shooting in honor of the victims. It seems the first time it paused since WWII.
You're welcome, DK.
Krakow is a wonderful city. I've been there six times in recent years. The killer has died, and the young policemen are on the mend. Please do not instantly believe the propaganda coming out about the killer's political views. The left-leaning deputy minister who claimed the killer was influenced by the far right spoke too soon in the first hours of the shootings. He has since walked back his incorrect words. Consider that the government is going through a major crisis and the truth is still coming out. The killer also killed his parents and sister before the Krakow shooting.
I went to Krakow once, spent 5 nights there in June 2001 after taking the train from Warsaw. Bottom line line : not enough time, wish I had had an additional 2 full days. Three would have been even better for a day trip or two from Krakow.
I was shocked at hearing this shooting incident on the radio, would not have expected such an event to take place.
A few days ago, maybe a week by now, 575,000 folks showed up a massive march in Paris. The CNN reporter in Paris was among the masses .
The original student protests have now gained the support of the unions, thus swelling the ranks taking to the streets....bravo. The last trips I have seen the trade union buildings. One I recall was in Thionville, ca. 25 minutes from Metz in 2024.
