Day 8: Beauty Carved in Salt (Sun, Sept 2)

We rode down in the miner's elevator

salt statue of Copernicus

We were encouraged to taste the walls

Even the floors were carved salt

Josef Pizsudski, restablished the Polish country in 1918

Salt is essential to life. In ancient times it was used as currency, thus the word salary. On our last day in Poland we  experienced another aspect of salt. In the Wieliczka Salt Mines the walls are covered with beautiful carvings and statues made from salt. Wieliczka is Europe's oldest salt mine and one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Cathedral carved from salt

Pope St John Paul II

Yes, this is salt

There are several chapels and even an entire cathedral carved out of salt, right down to the chandeliers.

St Andrew's Church, the oldest in Krakow

The Archbishop's residency

Church where John Paul's parents were married

Our last afternoon in Poland was spent walking around Krakow. 

Wawel Hill

Kościuszko, Polish hero of the American Revolution

The palace

The Cathedral

Wawel Castle is impressive, as is its beautiful Cathedral.  This Cathedral with its Coronation Chapel is the coronation site of the Polish monarchs. We were not allowed to take pictures in the Cathedral.

Legend has it that a fire breathing dragon lived under Wawel Hill. You can still see him today!  

While here, we unexpectedly ran into my nephew Henry again!  He was having one last visit to Wawel Hill before leaving Krakow.

Krakow's Market Square is absolutely charming and the largest in Europe. It is full of life! Untouched by World War II, it's buildings are original.

St Mary's Church

St Mary's Church is a masterpiece! 

A trumpeter still appears from the tower of St Mary's to commemorate the trumpeter shot in the throat by an arrow as he sounded an alarm when Krakow was being attacked. Today the trumpeter still cuts his song shot at the exact spot the original trumpeter stopped playing.

This trip to Poland was a dream come true for me. I'd long wanted to connect to my Polish roots. 

A few thoughts:
Poles are fighters - if they're not fighting someone else, they'll fight each other.

Poles are a very proud people. Even during the 123 years that Poland did not exist as a country, the Poles kept their national identity.

Poles are an extremely religious people. The crowds at each religious site, the strength of their singing, all attest to the their strong faith.

The Poles fly the flag as much as Americans do.  Everywhere you looked, the flag of Poland was proudly flying.

I have always been very proud to be Polish.  This trip has strenghtened that pride.

'Niech zyje Polska (Long live Poland)'