MAGNIFICENT RAVEN’S TOWN | Saal-Digital

MAGNIFICENT RAVEN’S TOWN
Anastasia Riechyn is recommending a day tour and Saal-Digital Fine Art Prints.

Magnificent Raven’s town! Oh, sorry, it’s actually Kraków I’m going to tell you about. I was lucky to visit this city two weeks ago, and it still keeps vibrating with its colors, hidden in the streets, tiny cafes and bars, and unexpectedly beautiful graffitis. The place where history is reframed and converted into art objects, which you can literally see everywhere you go.
The place where traditions meet the modern world and create something original.
Kraków (originally from the ancient Slavic word Krak – Raven) is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century and was the official capital of Poland until 1596 and has traditionally been one of the leading centers of Polish academic, economic, cultural, and artistic life.
The city is considered one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, its Old Town with Wawel Royal Castle was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, one of the world’s first sites granted the status.Here are some tips on exciting locations you should visit in Krakow. So you won’t be bored, hungry, or out of budget.
Take bus number 130 and step out on the Rynek Glowny station. Any route you’re going to take from there, it will lead you to the different quarters of the historical part of the city.

■ My top places in Krakow start with The Wawel Castle; the Castle presented a building that is a splendor of baroque architecture. You’ll be ‘wowing’ all the time being there.
I’d recommend you visit this spot in the first place because it shows the view of Krakow and prepares your eyesight for the type of architecture you’re going to meet with next. Think of it as a meeting with the spirit of Krakow that welcomes you as one of his honorable guests.

Without my help, you can wander to the main square of the city – the Main Market Square, just follow the crowds of tourists or the narrow streets that lead to the main square as they always do in each European city.

Next to the Main Market Square is a lovely Georgian restaurant, Khachapuri, serving traditional Georgian food. Take your time trying Polish food; it will be everywhere anyway. Georgian cuisine is exceptional, associated with mountain valleys, the fire, the deep colors, and charming eastern voices. Order Shashlyk if you like meat, and if you don’t, you’ll be offered vegetarian salads and pastries with pomegranate, nuts, and cheese.
Krakow is remarkable for its diversity, whether it goes for food, architecture, or nationalities. At the beginning of the 20th century, 70 percent of Krakow’s residents were Jews. Take a Walkative tour – a free walking tour service around Krakow and Poland if you want to learn about the history of Polish Jews, Jewish Poles, and their relationship through the centuries. I’d say that the Jewish quarter is an exciting one. It’s not perfect but so alive. You might be lost and find yourself somewhere at the beginning of the previous century. Oriental Hebrew and Yiddish letters are everywhere; flea markets bursting with menorahs; synagogues, modern and traditional Jewish food, many Israeli tourists, and loud sounds.
That is another Krakow to see. So how do you get there? Just follow the six-pointed star.
And make sure not to walk out of the Jewish quarter without tasting thick hummus at the Hamsa café. Tehaneh Mehaarukhah or enjoy your meal!

You don’t see any difference between Polish and Russian vodka, but it’s not the point of the next paragraph. Polish pirogi confused me when I got Ukranian vareniki, and none of the Russian pierogi was served on the plate. So be careful while reading the menu at Polish restaurants, especially when you’re familiar with Slavic languages and cultures. Ask a waitress what the dish looks like and how it tastes because your choice might really surprise you in the end.
Believe me or not, I couldn’t find any gallery in Krakow worth going to. Even though, The National Museum gives you the excellent opportunity to see Leonardo da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine.
A piece of Italy in Krakow! As I say, it’s the city of diversity!
Finally, don’t follow any rules established to be so-called a proper tourist. Sunbathing on the benches in parks, drinking coffee, and enjoying the present moment is the best way to get the spirit of Krakow!

Being an enthusiastic traveler means reminding myself of being alive. Sipping coffee in an unknown beautiful spot, observing people’s faces, birds, European paved roads, and hearing new sounds – it all expands my perspective on the life I know. It makes me want to freeze the moment, so I could stay here, under the scorching summer sun, for as long as possible.
The burden of every enthusiastic tourist is knowing that the present moment vanishes too fast. It’s too subtle, and here you are again, returning to your daily life routine.
But this time, after returning from Krakow, I couldn’t stop thinking, what if I refused to come back?
I mean, physically, I’m at home, but my thoughts still escape to the beautiful Krakow streets. I keep seeing myself in a café with a mug of coffee, feeling so free-spirited and happy.

Anastasia Riechyn is recommending Saal-Digital Fine Art Prints.

“After a profound check, I was highly impressed to discover that Saal Digital is one of the few labs approved by Hahnemühle as a “Certified Studio for Digital Fine Art Printing.”
This a guarantee for the best quality of the prints as well as the professional team that’s going to work on your projects.”

That’s when I decided to go to Saal Digital’s website www.saal-digital.com and order posters with the sights of Krakow. Imagining being home but still looking at these posters with Krakow’s Castle or a small café from the ceiling to the floor filled with books brought me comfort and hope that my big adventure’s still not over.

Your own photos of different events can make a great poster. One can also use it more traditionally – a poster to give publicity to campaigns or other activities. Saal-Digital offers classic as well as premium Fine Art posters.
After a profound check, I was highly impressed to discover that Saal Digital is one of the few labs approved by Hahnemühle as a “Certified Studio for Digital Fine Art Printing.” This a guarantee for the best quality of the prints as well as the professional team that’s going to work on your projects.
I downloaded Free Saal Design Software to design and order my posters, which you can find easily on their website.
The application itself lets you know whether or not the image is good in quality.

I’ve ordered three posters in black frames with different surfaces: Hahnemühle Fine Art Baryta, Hahnemühle Bamboo Natural Line, and Hahnemühle Hemp Natural Line.
The first surface I mentioned is perfect for B&W photography due to its high color density, sharpness, and rich gradations of grey. The rest are made from bamboo fibers. It gives a natural look, and the colors look warm.

I also ordered one Fine Art with the surface Hahnemühle Museum Etching. This poster was supposed to be the biggest one.
I liked an image of Krakow’s Main Square with the church in the middle. I was amazed by the colors and contrasts – a bright sky and a tall, slender church made of red brick. It really created an artistic impression.
The surface is a natural cotton art paper with an inkjet coating. It’s soft to touch, and I was impressed that Saal Digital’s paper is sustainable.

To remember the Jewish quarter, I ordered two posters with the sights that reminded me of my favorite part of Krakow – one view on the narrow street where I’ve tried the best hummus in Europe and another just a row of little shops with signs.
The posters were made in different sizes but both with Silk photo paper.
As I ordered fast shipping, I received my posters in two days and was pleasantly surprised by their outstanding quality. They brought all my memories of Krakow to life and looked better than I would’ve imagined!

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