Krakow (pop 758,000) is Poland's third largest city and very interesting. The 900 year old Wielicka Salt Mine, approx 10km from the city was a thrilling introduction. Paul and I descended 135m (800 steps) underground and visited several cavernous rooms (along 2km of passages) filled with sculptures from the salt. The top photo shows an entire cathedral sculpted from the surrounding salt - even the chandelier chrystals are solid salt. Poland is covered in salt mines and it is a very important industry.
Krakow is very European, a little old but still grand: The Old Town has the largest medieval plaza in Europe (Rynek Glowny, almost one by one kilometer!), The first Baroque Church in Poland, The Oldest Alterpiece in Europe (500 yrs old), a fabulous Royal Palace and Castle and the Cathedral that Pope John Paul II served in as bishop before he became Pope. Poland is even cheaper than Slovakia. A three course meal with drinks is $10AUD per person!!!
Enjoy the cheap meals because it'll be a different story once you hit Scandinavia!!
ReplyDeleteHa - we have the exact same pic of the cathedral in the salt mines, except of course chris & i are in the photo.
ReplyDeleteSay "checht" to my uncle Stan, he is the 70yo in town always asking 20-somethings for directions!!!