Krakow

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 Tosh: I'm totally surprised how much Krakow has to offer. It's a beautiful, affluent city, and I had no notion of its history as the royal seat of Polish kings for many centuries. The basilicas, cathedrals, royal castle and city square are as ornate as they are grand. 

After arriving and checking into the hotel near old town, we go out walking around the ancient city to find dinner. Johanna picks the best meal, some mushroom and beef pierogies. The next day we visit the Wieliczka Salt Mines. These are so deep and extensive that our guide explains the entire Eiffel tower could fit under the earth here. People have been mining here for nearly a millennium and made some amazing things underground. The most impressive, I think, is the chapel hundreds of feet below the ground. 

The next day we tour Auschwitz. A stark contrast: visiting something that took humans nearly a thousand years and cooperation across a hundred generations to build, and the next day visiting a place nearby that was the seat of the destruction of an entire civilization in Europe in only 5 years. The best of humans followed by the worst. More on Auschwitz later. 

After the Auschwitz tour, we come back to Krakow, tour the castle a bit and go to a string concert in one of the cathedrals. Krakow has been quite an emotional ride.

Johanna: Knowing what eastern Germany looked like before the reunification, I was expecting the same or worse of Poland. I could not have been more wrong. Poland is a modern, vibrant and wealthy country. Krakow is absolutely amazing, full of life, beautiful and fashionable people, great food, music, history and color. With over 20 universities in town and many companies providing jobs, this city is a true eastern European hub and I can highly recommend a visit. 

Tut: Krakow was really interesting and different. at the consentrashon camp i saw how evel people can be. we also saw a lot of cool and beautiful church and i thougt it was really cool.


Miles: I got to experience at Auschwitz how evil humans can get and it is a level that will make you terrified. anyway the town had nothing much some cool old churches and castles but that's about it. The salt mines were pretty awesome because it was so very beautiful.


Krakow town square

Dinner in Krakow

Touring old town

Bazylika Franciszkanow

Bazylika Franciszkanow again

Miles in front of the foundations of old city wall

Saints Peter and Paul Church

Saints Peter and Paul Church. We heard the organ play at the concert the following night

Polish Street musicians

Salt carvings in the Wieliczka Mines

More carvings in the Salt Mines

Another salt carving

The carving were fantastic. Kind of felt like we were in the dwarf kingdom in the Lord of the Rings

A chapel hundreds of feet underground. This room was absolutely huge.

This room was even bigger and deeper.

The support structure in the mines were all made of wood. The salt ensures the wood stays dry. The guide says the supports have gotten harder and harder over time. 

An banquet room; nearly 1000ft underground. 

Distant view of Wawel Castle in Krakow

A concert in St Peter & Paul Cathedral. 

In the salt mines

Decorative door in Krakow

Krakow: there were a lot of churches. Many nuns & priests walking around in friar robes

One of the cathedrals in the Salt Mine

An underground lake in the Salt Mine. The water was 100% saturated with salt; therefore, it couldn't dissolve the walls, which are all made of rock salt. 

Bastion guarding the gates to the ancient city of Krakow

Somewhere in Poland

Polish beer is pretty good. Sweeter than German beer, though. In general, food and drink in Krakow had a lot of added sugar; maybe it was for tourists? Jo thought not. 

Same artists playing just outside the city wall.

The Mines of Moria where Gimli now rules the Dwarven Kingdom. Or maybe the salt mines?




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