This morning I was booked on a tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine and was picked up at 8.30 in the morning. We joined a larger English speaking group at the Mine and spent the next, nearly 3 hours, descending, walking and descending. 1000 steps down in all, to a depth of 135 M. The initial 380 steps left my knees feeling like jelly but then the descent continued relentlessly. 3 kms. Thank god a lift took us up or I’d still be down there. It was interesting, indeed fascinating, but maybe my expectations were a bit different, it wasn’t the greatest thing I’ve done but nonetheless incredible to imagine them working down there and hauling up the salt.
I was dropped back at the apartment and collapsed on the bed for 2 hrs before I could gather the strength to move on again. I hadn’t eaten so off I went to find one of the restaurants recommended and had a delicious pork roulade thing with Gorgonzola sauce. The restaurant was Gospoda CK Dezerter. (*** Just as a footnote the Restaurant for yesterdays yummy meal was Marchewka z Groszklem**). I then went off to see the Basilica of St Frances. There was a mass in progress so too much wandering wasn’t a good thing. However I have to say the Polish Catholics do their churches very nicely. Like St Mary’s, this one also had a gorgeous starry ceiling and beautiful friezes.
I have been telling myself I had to have one serve of the delicious-looking Polish cakes while I was here and today, it seems, was the day. I took myself off to have a coffee and cake. Well now I’ve done it I’m more than satisfied and feel no need to do it again. It was totally delicious but I ended up feeling a bit sick, it was SO rich.
I was glad to get back to the apartment after a long and exhausting day. Tomorrow is a potter/ sightsee day so I’m not going to move too quickly. Monday is a big one going to Auschwitz, so I’ll need to gather my strength.