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Krakow
I'm a little ashamed...after reading my mums group emails I feel like I've been completely lacking in informative stuff. I'll try and fix that ;-)
This morning we did a free walking tour of Krakow. It was really interesting to hear a locals perspective of the area and we were taken to some places that we would never have found alone.
Part of the old town wall was only saved because one politician; seeing its importance; came up with a plan to save it. He told the rest of the politicians who wanted to tear down the wall at the beginning of the 19th century that doing so would allow the wind to blow directly down the street and to the church at the end. This would result in the women's dresses being blown up revealing their feet and legs, a highly improper thing and thus part of the old town wall and gate was saved...
The guide explained how Krakow had been one of the places Pope John Paul II studied and later was bishop and so he has been memorialised in several statues and paintings.
We walked for 2hrs (about 3km in total) listening to her descriptions of places. It was most interesting.
We headed home, via a pastry shop and enjoyed a yummy lunch followed by delicious pastries and cakes.
Realising the time we raced around to gather all our gear together ready to head out to the Wieliczka Salt Mine. OMG words cannot describe that place. My favourite part was the chapel of St Kinga. They had frescos of the life of Jesus calved into the rock salt. Several times we were told we could lick the floor or walls to prove it actually was salt. The guide said that we were welcome to lick anything but quickly added except two things - the statues and the other tourists!
Someone did actually lick the floor....eew!!!
The place was amazing. We walked down and down and down stairs (590 in total) and ended up at a depth of 130m below ground. We only saw 3% of the whole place as well. I'm not sure how far we walked....but it was 3 hrs worth so tonight our feet a very sore.
We have a very big (emotional) day tomorrow. So it is time for bed.
Love to all...
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