By Elizabeth Kotz
Above our fine city it hovers, an omnipresent sphere teasing the clouds. Every day without fail it goes up, down, up and down, carrying bushels of tourists into the sky. This balloon is not a traditional “hot air balloon” dependent on warm air and lucky winds- rather it is tethered to the ground, a rope wound at its base. Once a small group has gathered in the basket and is ready to go up, the rope is unspooled like a giant thread. Gradually it ascends, ultimately reaching a height of approximately 300 meters. From such a height the balloon affords an incredible view of Krakow. It’s positioned in such a spot that one gets a unique look at Wawel, the Wisla, Kazimierz, and patches of hidden urban-garden greenery. The sunsets in Krakow are slippery things, though the sun begins to dim at 4:00, the sky can hardly hold onto its pinks and violets before plunging into total darkness. Taking a “Wawelloon” trip during this brief but incredible moment (…usually around 5:30) is a perfect way to snap some extraordinary photos and see the city basked in a golden light. Up so high, you are the sun yourself! Or you might as well be, perched beneath a big round ball peering down at the surging crowds below.
At night, the balloon is a different thing entirely- it joins the cosmos, a low flying star or wayward moon. The red light in the basket blinks like an airplane’s warning flash. Riding the “Wawelloon” at this time of day is a surprising experience. There are few lights, and those that are visible bleed and disappear into the shadow of the looming Tatras. Wawel is illuminated, and so are several modern shopping centers, but from above it is clear that Krakow is a city of “the past.” It lacks aggressive fluorescent streetlights and skyscrapers, comprised instead of dark alley mazes and black cobblestones.
Above our fine city it hovers, an omnipresent sphere teasing the clouds. Every day without fail it goes up, down, up and down, carrying bushels of tourists into the sky. This balloon is not a traditional “hot air balloon” dependent on warm air and lucky winds- rather it is tethered to the ground, a rope wound at its base. Once a small group has gathered in the basket and is ready to go up, the rope is unspooled like a giant thread. Gradually it ascends, ultimately reaching a height of approximately 300 meters. From such a height the balloon affords an incredible view of Krakow. It’s positioned in such a spot that one gets a unique look at Wawel, the Wisla, Kazimierz, and patches of hidden urban-garden greenery. The sunsets in Krakow are slippery things, though the sun begins to dim at 4:00, the sky can hardly hold onto its pinks and violets before plunging into total darkness. Taking a “Wawelloon” trip during this brief but incredible moment (…usually around 5:30) is a perfect way to snap some extraordinary photos and see the city basked in a golden light. Up so high, you are the sun yourself! Or you might as well be, perched beneath a big round ball peering down at the surging crowds below.
At night, the balloon is a different thing entirely- it joins the cosmos, a low flying star or wayward moon. The red light in the basket blinks like an airplane’s warning flash. Riding the “Wawelloon” at this time of day is a surprising experience. There are few lights, and those that are visible bleed and disappear into the shadow of the looming Tatras. Wawel is illuminated, and so are several modern shopping centers, but from above it is clear that Krakow is a city of “the past.” It lacks aggressive fluorescent streetlights and skyscrapers, comprised instead of dark alley mazes and black cobblestones. 
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