Day 36 - Kraków

Began the day with a walk to Market Square to get a feel for the city.  We were fortunate that today is a once a year "policemen's day" so we saw lineups of police, certificate presentations, and the police band.  All were shining bright in their uniforms.

We then visited the "Wawel" Royal Castle for a good view of the gardens and over the city.

This afternoon was the tour to the Salt Mine, which is not far from Kraków.  We walked down 400 steps to a depth of 135 metres, where the temperature was a constant 15C degrees.  This was an extremely impressive experience, where we saw many separate chambers, carved statues, and working models of the hard labour required by both men and horses.  We were surprised to see that the surface of the salt walls were almost black.

Have no idea where this photo came from as it is one we took in Ireland.  Too late tonight to start again, it has been placed over the photo of Market Square, sorry for my lack of technical ability, just pretend you have seen Market Square !!!!

we expected them to be white.  The mine was  operational until 1996, but then closed because of a previous flood and the much lower price of salt made its production uneconomic.  One million tourists visit this site every year.

We are very tired after all these steps, but it is not something to be mi

Market Square in the old town of Kraków.
Fountains and beautiful women dominate Market Square.

It was Police Day today and a celebration in the square with bravery presentations to the Police was performed by the Police Commissioner.

A strange and large but impressive piece of metal artwork at Market Square.  Somebody seeing this will know what the bindings across the nose and face symbolise.  We could not read the Polish plaque on the marble base.

Another lunch on a beautiful day in Kraków.  The temperature was 34 degrees and the view from the 6th floor across the Wisla river was amazing.

Then off to the salt mines.  Walked for 2.5 kilometres through these tunnels - a fantastic tour well worth the effort.

These chambers have been dug out of the salt and formed into huge rooms for church services, weddings, concerts and tourism.

This carving was of the Polish Pope.

This is the largest chamber and everything is made of salt - ceilings, walls, floors and even the chandeliers.

Dropped into a beer hall on the way home for dinner.  Noisy but cheap with lots of atmosphere.