We flew into Krakow. Going for another 3 hr flight straight after my 28hr journey from Canberra was a good idea at the time…but at least we were there now.
The most striking thing on arrival was the agriculture. The place was so amazing from the air.
All land was in long thin strips with the houses at the very end and farming right up to the back door. Land was issued in these strips but the Soviets and it has remained so. It looked amazing.
The next amazing thing was that we exited the plane through the rear – haven’t done that for many years.
The flight was very festive. People with picnics and chatting away. They cheered when we landed.
We took a taxi from the airport to the hotel. We were staying in the centre of Old Town and it was a fairly long trip. Lucky we didn’t get a bus. The taxi was $30 Australian and was in a luxury HUGE black Merc. The car was sooo wide. 3 adult could sit on the back sea in luxury. A bit like a limo.
We got to our hotel which was lovely. An old boutique hotel in a beautiful building. Perfect. Helen kept looking out the window and flipping out over how beautiful it all was. And really all we could see was the building across the road. She would go insane the next day as we went touristing.
We went don to the bar and had a quick drink to welcome ourselves. $5 AU Mojitos. Lovely – and the getting them was half the fun. The young bar lady was on her first day, so wasn’t very sure. The ice was ground with a hand grinder, the mint from a plant in the fridge.
One of the best things about the bar was Helens reaction when a horse and carriage went past. Yay. We chatted to many people then crawled off to a well earned sleep.
It had been 41 hours since I walked out he front door – so a bed was glorious.
Bring on Krakow.
Thursday 27th July – Krakow
After a lovely sleep and a relaxed morning we headed down for a fantastic breakfast. Then off to the Wieliczka Salt Mine.
Amazing. We booked a private driver and headed off for the 40 minute drive.
The mine opened in the 13th century, the worked continuously until 2007. It’s now one of Poland’s official national Historical Monuments as well as a UNESCO site. It had dozens of statues and four chapels carved out of the rock salt.
The mine is ginormous. We walked over 5 ks (while underground) and only saw a staggering 1% of the mine. And so deep. We walk 1200 stairs. Yep, that right. 1200 stairs. So much fun, but worth it! The mine was amazing. We started with around 400 steps down – straight down a timber staircase. Then toured a few of the caverns. And then down another 400 steps – many of these cut into the salt and quiet step. There were also many stairs up and then back down to see various things.
The timber frames and supports have been impregnated by the salt from the air, so are perfectly preserved. Much of it is hundreds of years old.
We were encouraged to lick the walls in many places.
The mine had many huge caverns, many cathedrals, even a ball room. Catholic mass is held every Sunday. Music concert are held down there, with huge name stars.. There are giant chandeliers made of rock salt that has been dissolved and reconstituted to achieve a clear, glass-like appearance.
And a number of lakes of totally saturated brine. More so then the Dead Sea. I tasted it and it was horrid. Really made the tongue tingle.
A group of German soldiers were partying on a boat on one of the lakes one night. They capsized the boat and were stuck under it. The water is so buoyant that you cannot duck dive – not even enough to escape an upside down boat. They all suffocated.
Trouble working the above photo out? It’s a lake with a reflection of a boat tunnel.
The area was a sea 15,000,000 years ago and huge salt deposits were laid down. Stone Age people worked out how to evaporate salt from the spring water that flowed to the surface. They eventually worked out how to dig salt out. It became an extremely valuable trade commodity.
Although it is no longer a working mine, there is a large staff of miners who work on maintenance. The temperature should be around 15 degrees, but the visits of over two and a half million people a year, make it much warmer.
The mine worked with Pit Ponies. Terrible life but at least better then the coal mining ponies. They lived their whole lives underground. We went to the stable area. As well as pulling salt wagons the ponies drove the giant Whim or windlass that lifted salt blocks. They stopped using ponies just before the mine closed. They had almost all died off. One was left and a huge battle ensured where some thought she could not survive on the surface, others wanted her brought up. She was eventually brought up and survived another three years, seeing sunlight for the first time since a foal.
OMG. How happy were we that there was a giant lift to bring us up. I think I would still be down there crawling up those steps.
Back into town we headed and off to the shops to purchase a few camera item. Of course my card reader died, as seems to happen every trip. I have now bought an expensive card reader is Ushuaia Argentine, the north of Spain and in Krakow.
In the afternoon we went to visit a medieval castle – beautiful.
Stare Miasto – the 13th-century merchants’ town on the edge of the city wall.
After that it was a walk around….that ended 5 hours later after many fun things such as a Wodka tasting. Yes Wodka is the name here.
First stop was a trendy amazing little bar/coffee shop/cafe.
Stunning. A beer was drunk. Local of course.
A bit farther down the road we found a place selling Medieval Honey Mead. And since we had just been to a medieval castle it was only fitting. Delicious.
As we were about to leave we noticed they had Wodka tastings. So Wodka was tasted.
The Wodka was not wasted.
Then down the the main square for more sights.
Poland seems to be the happiest place I have been. Everyone was absolutely delightful.
Friday 28th July
Another relaxed start to the day with breakfast and internet time. But first – the morning started with a strange noise. “Was that a fire alarm” But then it stopped so all was good. Ten minutes later we heard the fire trucks arriving – burnt toast in the kitchen.
All good.
Look at out lovely hotel. We expected Scarlett O’Hare to come walking down.
We then headed out for a walk. Our hotel is in a lovely area. So pretty.
On the first night, Helen – without glasses, looked out the window and saw a lovely marble wall. She ran out to look and found a temporary wall of particle board. Funny.
Then around the most beautiful park. The trees were so old and big. A stunning place.
Then down to the markets – A visit to a city is never complete without a visit to local markets.
The fruit and veg were amazing. It was berry season. So after looking around we got berries – Blackberries. Huge, juicy and so sweet.
We had a great picnic in the park. Berries and Creme Puffs. YUM!
Then Adam our driver collected us and off to the airport. Onto the flight and back.
So there we were in England.
Now click on The Channel Islands page.