“The protective gear helps defend against the city’s dangerous air pollution — and can make a fashion statement”, according to this article written by Dimitra Kessenides for Bloomberg Businessweek. “The protective gear might lose favor once a law that bans household coal burning in the city, which faces resistance from the local coal for industry, takes effect in 2019.”
Smog Masks are Essential in Kraków? I Had No Idea…
Perhaps I did not spend enough time in Kraków to notice anyone wearing smog masks — even though I stayed overnight at the Hilton Garden Inn Krakow Airport hotel property and rode as a passenger on the clean and comfortable train from the airport to the city center in order to attempt to visit the Fabryka Emalia Oskara Schindlera, which is also known as the Schindler Museum…
…but I also got to visit the Old Town area of Kraków; and I never would have known that the city apparently has such a dire air pollution problem.
Nope…no smog masks were worn by anyone here.
There was no signs of smog here either…
…or here.
October through April are supposed to be the worst months pertaining to the smog problem in Kraków.
I visited Kraków in April.
I looked high and low.
I saw no smog.
Summary
Kraków is a beautiful city to visit — more so that I expected — and if it is indeed plagued with a smog issue serious enough that some people feel compelled to wear masks to protect themselves, then I hope that the problem is resolved as quickly as possible…
…but I enjoyed the vibrant blue skies with clouds, great visibility and cool air with which I explored the city.
If you get the chance to visit Kraków, seize that opportunity — even if only to walk around the city at your leisure.
All photographs ©2017 by Brian Cohen.
