From the outside, it doesn't look like much...but don't let that fool you! As we entered the mine, we walked down 54 flights of stairs to get to the 1st (!) level of the mine where we started our tour.
Guess who needed a little help?
As you tour the mine, you enter several big caverns where miners have sculpted statues of rock salt with their bare hands in their spare time. There are even underground lakes!
But the Chapel of St. Kinga is the most breathtaking! (Again, pictures don't do it justice!) Every single element in this church is made from salt....even the chandeliers which are made from the purest salt. There are actually ceremonies held in this church....especially weddings. But you need to book them way in advance! After having your wedding in this underground chapel,
you would most likely move to this huge ballroom also located deep within the mine. Right now, the room is full of school children who were touring the mine who are eating their lunch. Talk about one unique wedding!
This was one of the tallest chambers we went in to. There is over 300 million cubic meters of wood in the mine to keep it secure. That is a forest of trees!
Riley-not taking our guide's word for it and checking out to see if EVERYTHING was made from salt. It was a great tour....but it was nice to once again be above ground where the sun was shining brightly!
Back in the tour bus, someone couldn't stay awake....maybe it was the salt?
But the Chapel of St. Kinga is the most breathtaking! (Again, pictures don't do it justice!) Every single element in this church is made from salt....even the chandeliers which are made from the purest salt. There are actually ceremonies held in this church....especially weddings. But you need to book them way in advance! After having your wedding in this underground chapel,
you would most likely move to this huge ballroom also located deep within the mine. Right now, the room is full of school children who were touring the mine who are eating their lunch. Talk about one unique wedding!
This was one of the tallest chambers we went in to. There is over 300 million cubic meters of wood in the mine to keep it secure. That is a forest of trees!
Riley-not taking our guide's word for it and checking out to see if EVERYTHING was made from salt. It was a great tour....but it was nice to once again be above ground where the sun was shining brightly!
Back in the tour bus, someone couldn't stay awake....maybe it was the salt?
Our next stop was Wawel Castle...a place that is steeped in Polish history.
It was the seat of kings for over 500 years, and is supposedly the most visited site in Poland. Many national heros and leaders are buried here.
At the entrance of Wawel Castle......and look who woke up! Someone wants to see how 'real' princesses lived! We did tour the Royal Chambers, but Riley was disappointed that she did not see one princess dress or toy!
We climbed the tower and got an incredible view of the grounds of Wawel. Upon leaving the castle, we decided to leave the grounds through the "Dragon's Den"! It is the former home of the legendary Wawel Dragon. After stumbling through a cave and descending many stairs...
...you find yourself on the bank of the Vistula River with a cast iron dragon. Look VERY closely and you can see that it is a FIRE-breathing dragon. Riley was very brave to get so close!
It was a perfect day with a perfect ending........
...sharing a chocolate ice cream cone with Grandpa!
It was the seat of kings for over 500 years, and is supposedly the most visited site in Poland. Many national heros and leaders are buried here.
At the entrance of Wawel Castle......and look who woke up! Someone wants to see how 'real' princesses lived! We did tour the Royal Chambers, but Riley was disappointed that she did not see one princess dress or toy!
We climbed the tower and got an incredible view of the grounds of Wawel. Upon leaving the castle, we decided to leave the grounds through the "Dragon's Den"! It is the former home of the legendary Wawel Dragon. After stumbling through a cave and descending many stairs...
...you find yourself on the bank of the Vistula River with a cast iron dragon. Look VERY closely and you can see that it is a FIRE-breathing dragon. Riley was very brave to get so close!
...sharing a chocolate ice cream cone with Grandpa!
It is so nice to see you guys enjoying some "down" time (probably totally gruelling in its own way, but defnitely less demanding in others. :) I've hardly seen you guys breathe since you came to Poland! And you just missed David's class. They went to Wieliczka last week! That would be so funny if you were there on the same day.
ReplyDeleteHello great blog :) I was wandering if I can have your email, I am a member since 1999 from Bulgaria.I am doing the advertising for the church in Bulgaria and Germany , and would like to exchange some ideas with your mission.
ReplyDeleteHere is my email: stoyan2006@katinov.com
Thanks and good luck with your mission.