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Guided Tour In Snowy Krakow
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Sunday morning there's a guided tour for the early birds. There are 5 from Egypt, a Frenchman from Australia, a Brit, a German couple, a Romanian lady and me. It is a walking tour and it is very cold with snow and wind. The Egyptians aren't used to cold like this and the others suffer too because they aren't dressed for this kind of weather; only the guide, the Romanian lady and I wear sensible clothes. <br/>

Cracow - part II.

Eric
2005-12-08 18:54:32

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Guided Tour In Snowy Krakow

Sunday morning there's a guided tour for the early birds. There are 5 from Egypt, a Frenchman from Australia, a Brit, a German couple, a Romanian lady and me. It is a walking tour and it is very cold with snow and wind. The Egyptians aren't used to cold like this and the others suffer too because they aren't dressed for this kind of weather; only the guide, the Romanian lady and I wear sensible clothes.
The tour is quite interesting. The guide knows a lot and tells with obvious pride about his city and its history. We see the old castle, Wavel, and some churches. Some of the architecture is clearly influenced by architects imported from Florence. It is time for mass and in the churches I feel like a voyeur, but you have to follow the guide who genuflects with practised ease. In front of the art museum is a cold line, but we get in at last to admire the city's Rembrandt and Leonardo da Vinci.
It has stopped snowing and at noon the tour is over. I get a light lunch at a café and relax in my room, where someone has put the dry-cleaned clothes in the closet - now spotless. In the evening there's a welcome reception and with all the snacks I feel no need for supper.

The Wieliczka Salt Mine

Old lift The conference begins Monday morning and there's a gala dinner in the evening. We go by bus to an old salt mine, Wieliczka, where salt was mined from the 12th century. Today the mine is a tourist attraction and on UNESCO's long heritage list. There's also a hospital 200 metres down; the air down here is said to be very healthy (the rock emits some chemicals) and good for people with respiratory problems.

In a miner's lift - like sardines in a pitch dark can - we go some 100 metres down and are guided through tunnels and galleries, where the pious workers once made chapels, altars and statues. The salt rock is a bit harder than marble, says the guide. ...