After leaving the camps we faced another hour-and-a-quarter ride to the Salt Mine, during which time Filip tried to break through the wall of silence in the bus. To no avail. Though we all agreed we'd be drinking during the evening.
Filip had made us a mid-afternoon reservation at a Polish cuisine restaurant across from the entry. Our table saw all manner of Polski fare (and pseudo-Polski fare) including several variations of pierogi, goulash over potato pancakes, breaded chicken cutlet, breaded pork chop, cole slaw, and a Chicken-Kiev-esque cylinder stuffed with butter. Mr Brexit and I had nice beers to liven up the mood. Nostrovia!
And then we were off to the Wieliczka Salt Mine (again, I implore you, do not call it the Krakow Salt Mine!!).
A large deposit of natural salt in varying levels of purity, this UNESCO Site was discovered around 1280, with the village of Wieliczka was growing up around the saltworks by 1290. Local lore has it that Copernicus was the first "tourist" to visit the mine.
Going down over 350 steps in wooden stairwells, our tour took us through a mere 3 kilometers of the over 300 kilometers of caverns located below this town.
The sections were well marked, showing when each area was being mined. Also there were interesting vignettes educating us on horses in the mines, life for miners, transporting the salt to the surface. Below the surface are chapels, sculptures, lakes, ventilation and de-humidification systems. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable -- and her English was great!
There's even a sculpture of John Paul II, Krakow's favorite son!