Greetings from Krakow where our first 24 hours have been dreary and cold and drizzling. But what a lovely city nonetheless. Our little airbnb apartment is one block from the main square, a square that is every bit as pretty as an Italian piazza. I imagine, and hope I will be able to confirm that it is even lovelier in the sunlight.
We figured that a dreary day was perfect for catching the train out to tour the Wieliczka Salt Mine where the temperature underground was a relatively balmy 60 degrees so I actually had to peel some layers off. Learned lots about salt mining and came away with three questions that I will have to research at some point if I ever remember. (1) why doesn't all the metal corrode inside a salt mine? (b) Did the horses that lived their whole lives underground suffer from vitamin D deficiencies? and (3) Was tourism really a big thing in the mid-1800s?
As we ponder those mysteries here are some photos:
Here's a little bit of what held the world above our heads.
And here's an altar in the cathedral ...everything carved out of the gray salt walls.
And how about a chandelier made of over 2,000 pieces of cut salt?
And then at the end of the day we found a kitchy little local restaurant and had our first goulash and pierogis....all of this for $12 total, not a piece, total. Ummm Ummm. Ummmm.
We figured that a dreary day was perfect for catching the train out to tour the Wieliczka Salt Mine where the temperature underground was a relatively balmy 60 degrees so I actually had to peel some layers off. Learned lots about salt mining and came away with three questions that I will have to research at some point if I ever remember. (1) why doesn't all the metal corrode inside a salt mine? (b) Did the horses that lived their whole lives underground suffer from vitamin D deficiencies? and (3) Was tourism really a big thing in the mid-1800s?
As we ponder those mysteries here are some photos:
Here's a little bit of what held the world above our heads.
And here's an altar in the cathedral ...everything carved out of the gray salt walls.
And how about a chandelier made of over 2,000 pieces of cut salt?
And then at the end of the day we found a kitchy little local restaurant and had our first goulash and pierogis....all of this for $12 total, not a piece, total. Ummm Ummm. Ummmm.
Wow! Great photos. Gerry's favourite food is pierogis!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it crazy how cheap the food is compared to the US? Not to mention the drink....
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ReplyDeleteThe cathedral is pretty amazing - I'm sure the pictures don't do it justice.