{"id":2980,"date":"2017-03-13T23:09:09","date_gmt":"2017-03-13T23:09:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/?p=2980"},"modified":"2019-01-09T13:53:56","modified_gmt":"2019-01-09T13:53:56","slug":"eastern-europe-day-5-krakow-salt-mine-poland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/2017\/03\/eastern-europe-day-5-krakow-salt-mine-poland\/","title":{"rendered":"Eastern Europe – Day 5 – Krakow Salt Mine, Poland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 5 – Krakow Salt Mine, Poland<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today we headed to Poland. \u00a0I have a Mongolian friend living in Poland but she is living in Warsaw, the capital. \u00a0She is one of my best buddy in University in Japan. \u00a0It was ashamed not able to meet up with her since I was in Poland. \u00a0 Krakow is in the southern part of Poland and it’s near the Czech Republic border.<\/p>\n

From Prague to Krakow is about 6 hours. \u00a0Today we were travelling almost whole day in the coach. \u00a0It was a sunny day with blue sky but quite windy. The coach stopped for some gas and we had a break in the freeway rest area.<\/p>\n

Toilet Charges\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is always toilet charges to enter the washroom in Europe. \u00a0We normally paid\u00a0around 1 Euro to use a clean washroom. \u00a0In some shops, especially in the freeway,\u00a0we needed to purchased a slightly higher cost, usually 2 to 3 Euro ticket to enter the washroom. \u00a0 Once\u00a0you entered the washroom, there is a machine which will return the remaining\u00a0Euro in voucher form for you to\u00a0spend in the shop. \u00a0If you do not spend the remaining ticket\u00a0voucher, then you were paying 2 -3 Euro for the washroom. \u00a0I normally spent on drinks and snacks, of course in many cases, I have to top up the remaining voucher. \u00a0I think this system is quite smart to make the customers spend more in their shops once we used their washroom facilities.<\/p>\n

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“Wieliczka” Salt Mine in Krakow, Poland – Unesco site<\/strong><\/p>\n

When we arrived at the Salt Mine in Krakow Poland, it was almost 5 pm. A\u00a0Polish female guide explaining in fluent English throughout the whole salt mine trip. \u00a0The mine is visited every year by over 1,000,000 tourists from all over the world.<\/p>\n


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Wooden stairs – few hundred steps below underground<\/strong><\/p>\n

First, we have to go by a wooden stair few hundred steps down to the first floor. \u00a0It was quite challenging for the old people but there is handle for you to hold on to. \u00a0It was lucky to learn that we will come up by lift on the way out. \u00a0First level was 64 meter deep as shown in below picture.<\/p>\n

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It is quite dark when you reach the bottom but there are some dim lights. It was a 2 hour tour, the guide explained everything in details.<\/p>\n

Salt Mine Rehabilitation Clinic<\/strong><\/p>\n

The mines has been in operation since 700 years ago. \u00a0Long time ago many people wanted to work here because the pay is very good but the job is very dangerous. \u00a0Unlike coal miners, this is a lot better because the air you inhale in salt mine is\u00a0non-polluted air. \u00a0There is actually a salt mine\u00a0rehabilitation clinic deeper than this floor, people come here to inhale good air and get treatment from their illness.<\/p>\n

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Salt stalactites can be seen on top and on the side of the wall. \u00a0The guide asked us to try to taste if these are really salt. \u00a0So I did, it was indeed salty.<\/p>\n

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The Polish guide told us these salt statues were carved by miners, I think these miners were quite artistic and talented, they would use their imagination to carve during their spare time. \u00a0May be life was too bored in the dark mines.<\/p>\n

Legend of the Salt Mines – Princess Kinga<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The guide also told us the legend of the\u00a0salt mine and how it was discovered many years ago. \u00a0There was a Princess named Kinga and she was going to marry King of Krakow. \u00a0Kinga’s father gave her a salt mine in Hungary as a dowry. \u00a0She threw her ring\u00a0in the salt mine and went to Krakow. \u00a0When she was in Krakow, she asked the miners to dig a deep pit until they found a big rock of salt. \u00a0The miners split the big rock salt and found the ring was there. \u00a0The above picture show a miner hand over the ring to Princess Kinga.<\/p>\n

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Scary tunnels in the mines<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are few tunnels\u00a0here and there, like a maze. \u00a0It is impossible to walk on you own as you may get lost. \u00a0I was quite nervous staying deep underground so I always stay closely with the guide.<\/p>\n

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Little salt statue dwarfs\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

7 cute dwarfs statue carved from salt can be found in this Salt mine as well. \u00a0Children would find it interesting to see these little dwarfs in the mine. \u00a0After all, the 7 dwarfs were all miners in the snow white story. \u00a0It is so appropriate\u00a0to be here.<\/p>\n

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Horses and Horse Stable<\/strong><\/p>\n

We also saw some horses and the stable in the salt mine. \u00a0The guide told us that many years ago the miners used the horses to help them do the tough and heavy job underground. \u00a0It was very troublesome to bring the horses up and down so the miners built the stable for the horses to stay in the mine. \u00a0It is quite amazing to learn that the horses\u00a0did stay few hundreds meter below ground. \u00a0One thing I was wondering, I know the air is non-polluted and the air quality is very good here, how about the sunlight? \u00a0Can the horses survive without sunlight?<\/p>\n

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St. Kinga’s Chapel<\/strong><\/p>\n

St. Kinga’s Chapel is the crown jewel of the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine. Very impressive the moment I step in. \u00a0The English guide told us some important function, such as wedding ceremony, Holy Mass and classical concerts were organised in this unique location.<\/p>\n

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The guy in orange is Daniel – the 180+ cm hunk!<\/p>\n

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I could not believe we were at 101 m underground in the salt mine and there is such a beautiful Chapel down here. \u00a0Took the above picture from a balcony at the top.<\/p>\n

Salt Crystal Chandeliers – made from salt<\/strong><\/p>\n

The glow of chandeliers complete the whole ambiance, and of course the chandeliers are made of salt-crystal too. \u00a0Daniel told us one of his tour member from the past tour bought the salt-crystal chandelier home and the chandelier eroded a little and went out of shape. \u00a0I guess the Singapore weather is too humid and not suitable for such decoration at home. \u00a0The salt-crystal chandelier or salt carved statue needed to be kept away from the heat or water, else it would be easily eroded.<\/p>\n

Rock-salt statue of Pope John Paul II<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am standing in front of rocks-salt statue of Pope John Paul II. \u00a0We have to pay a little fees to take photography in this chapel and no flash light is allowed.<\/p>\n

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Salt\u00a0for bath scrub in the Gift shop – must buy!<\/strong><\/p>\n

After we exist, Daniel suggested us to buy the Salt for bath scrub product for souvenirs. \u00a0I specially interested in the salt for bath scrub and purchased quite a few back home for gifts and my own usage. \u00a0I wanted to get more but the salt is actually very heavy. \u00a0One bottle is almost 500 g so I added up few kilos for my luggage.<\/p>\n

Compare to Body shop salt product, the salt scrub sold here is way cheaper, at least 3-5 times less. \u00a0Strongly recommend to try the salt bath scrub. \u00a0I really feel the difference after using them. \u00a0Available in many kind of fragrance too.<\/p>\n

I remembered we had our dinner very late that day, slightly after 9 pm because the salt mine tour was taken us 2 hours and by the time we arrived in our hotel it was already 9 pm.<\/p>\n

Day 5 – Itinerary ( June 2015 )<\/strong><\/p>\n