The Salt of the Earth (or NaCl Overload)

We started off our day today by touring the Wieliczka (approximately pronounced as "Vee-LEESH-ka") Salt Mine, about a ten minute drive from our hotel. We started off our tour with a 300+ step descent into the mine... 54 landings (they were numbered), seven steps to each landing. Down and down and down we went... it was a little dizzying actually. I never thought we would get here... but hey, it's better than going up.


FINALLY we reached the first level, where we were able to view many sculptures carved out of salt... such as this one of a queen...











and this one of a friendly salt mine gnome, with his light up piece of pinkish rock salt. Because who doesn't love friendly salt mine gnomes?
















There was also a group of sculptures of the seven dwarves. Our guide helpfully explained that Snow White was at home cleaning, since she never came into the mine.










There were even chapels and a cathedral carved into the salt. Everything is made from the salt... even the beautiful chandeliers are made from salt crystals!










The cathedral was decorated with many sculptures and art... such as depictions of Mary and Joseph, the birth of Jesus, and even the famous Last Supper, seen here to the left.










We all decided to avoid the cost of having a random Polish guy take our photo, and just have our tour guide take it on my camera instead. (P.S. It cost ten zloty to take pictures in the mine... luckily everyone pitched in, and I took as many pictures as I could without getting left behind!) So, here's the entire gang in front of the altar in probably the only salt cathedral in the world!







After the tour of the salt mine, we went to lunch and then had a three hour tour of the city of Krakow. We visited the castle/palace and cathedral on Wawel Hill, from which Krakow had its beginnings as a city.









Then, we went into St. Mary's Church, to view the famous medieval altar, as Jeremy explained in his post. I was trying to be a good citizen and looked at the sign on the way in to see if I could take pictures, and it only said we couldn't take pictures without flash. So, I took this picture without flash, and then a guy came up to me and explained that I needed to pay 5 zloty in order to take pictures in the church! Needless to say, I didn't pay and I kept this picture. So... everyone can enjoy this free picture (even if it is a little fuzzy) of the altar of St. Mary's Church!









Well, that's it from me for today! Hope everyone enjoyed the post and continue to do well at home!
-Sarah