We drive thru high evergreen forests to the Polish border in the Tatra mountains, where the crossing time is less than an hour, then on to Zakopane and find a hotel. Supper is excellent; roast duck, wine, soup, salad, and dessert. It costs a little more than in the other countries, but is still a good value.
Leaving Zakopane we see a small wooden house shrine where Lenin lived in 1913-1914. On to Pieniny National Park where we see a 1400’s wooden church, painted and carved inside and explained to us by a priest in Polish and interpreted for us by a man from Chicago. On thru green fields, and leaving mountains, we arrive at the luxury Cracovia Hotel in Krakow. Supper in the hotel includes some Polish specialties; borsch, sausage, red cabbage, and Italian salad. Then to our room for maalox and to bed.
The next day we see the Cathedral, the palace royal apartments, armory, and treasury. There are many tour groups - we try to stay behind one and ahead of another. The palace is pretty, but quite dark; tapestries are dull and paintings dark; ceilings are coffered and fancy. The afternoon we are in the market area and St. Mary’s; we hear the trumpet play, stopped in mid note, as it was originally when the player was killed by an arrow.
The Salt Mines at Wieliczka were the biggest industrial establishment in Poland, and in Europe, for several centuries before the 19th, but are not now as important. The tourist area is 64 to 136 meters deep and 2 km long, accessible by elevator. There are many salt carvings, chambers, lakes, and museums of machinery. All of it lacks adequate lighting.
The infamous Nazi extermination camp, Auschwitz, is near Krakow. There 4.5 million people were put to death. The barbed wire fences enclose brick barracks with exhibits of living conditions, evidence of crimes, etc. Then the gas chambers and crematories - gruesome!!!!
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