Day 235, 24 February 2013, Wieliczka Salt Mines, South of Krakow, Poland. This is one of the "must see" locations when in Krakow. Auschwitz-Birkenau is the other, but we confess to missing that off our itinerary. The Salt Mines were excellent. James now understands what Margaritas feel like - he was positively crusted in salt after 4 hours underground. The mines were established in the 13th century and continued to produce salt until 2007. We both thought salt came from salt pans/lakes above ground. As it turns out, this area was an ocean millions of years ago, which eventually evaporated leaving behind massive salt deposits. The mines have many of the original workings and equipment scattered about, along with 1000 odd tourists in low season (now!) and 6000 a day in high season - phew! There are chapels, chandeliers and many statues (including at least one of John Paul II who visited the mines frequently) - all made of salt. They have in fact been a tourist attraction for around 200 years already. The stairs are often made of polished blocks of salt and cauliflower salt crystals protrude from the wall. There were three underground lakes which are 10% saltier even that the Dead Sea in Jordan. Having been for a swim in the Dead Sea we can confirm it's impossible to sink. It's impossible to almost get wet. We can only presume these lakes make it almost possible to walk on water. Our guide invited us to lick the walls - salt being an antibacterial agent and all, but there weren't many takers. The whole tour involved about a 1000 stairs (all down) and 3.5 kms of walking and finally, a ride up the lift shaft in a miners elevator taking 9 people. That was crowded after me, James and one other got in. Very snuggly and jolly funny when we reached the top of the shaft and found the doors opened inwards. Real funny as I was almost squished. Great day out and apparently breathing all those minerals was incredibly good for our health and longevity. The guide promised us at least an extra day on our lifespans. Must get her email address. Back to town for a freshen up and packing. The hotel was inundated with a massive tour group who had infested the restaurant, so we were forced out into the cold. Which was good in the end as we headed to Kazimierz, the old Jewish quarter and had borscht and pork and cabbage rolls. Have truly enjoyed Krakow. It was then home to bed - not one, but two alarms set for 3.45 am. Taxi at 4.15. Train to Warsaw at 4.55 am. Early O'Clock.
(PS - pictured is St Kinga's Cathedral - the chandelier crystals are pure salt and the polished floor is a single slab of salt - the greyish colour is due to gypsum, an impurity that gets processed out.)