We arrived in Krakow Saturday evening, and were excited to walk through the city to reach the Old Town. Deborah, Serenity and I looked at one another in shared expressions of joy and contentment...we had arrived in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We spent a few hours walking the Rynek to watch the people enjoying the square and shops filled with jewelry and icons. We saw the deepening evening and promenaded down the streets to enjoy the shops and listen to the many languages of the other visitors to Krakow.
This morning, Deborah and I woke early to attend Mass at the Mariacki Church on the Glowny Rynek (Old City Square). The interior is overflowing with art and painting and sculpture - everywhere I looked, I saw images and color. It was cool to attend Mass sitting in the nave closest to the altar, and to try to understand the Mass in Polish.
Later in the morning, we visited the Salt Mine at Wieliczka, a deep mine with amazing history of over 750 years of operation. We descended into the mine down 380 steps, and enjoyed the cooler dry air, compared to the almost 90 degree weather in Krakow. The salt mine was not only a working salt mine, but miners used their talents to create images of art and homage to religius and historic figures.
When we emerged from the mine, it had begun to rain. We returned to Krakow via Podgorze to see the Ghetto Memorial and the Schindler "Emalia" Factory...it was sad especially since it was raining... Although the Factory was closed, we were able to appreciate the Ghetto Memorial and its chairs placed in the plaza (and in the tram station) as the rain fell.
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