The Salt Mine is one of the top tourist attractions around Krakow, but you need to drive to get there. A tour company (the same that took me to Auschwitz) had a bus that took me there, with an amusing guide to show us around the mine. By chance, I was also with a couple of Belorussians that I met in the hostel, so we all went around together.
This is the entrance to the mine. Most of it is underground, of course.
And it's a long way down, too. Fortunately we took a very fast lift to go up, but going down was by stairs. So glad I didn't drop my phone, given that I don't have a wrist strap like cameras do...
The first chamber in the mine. Not that interesting, but it gets better.
This is Copernicus, one of many famous people who visited the mine. 99% of the mine is made from either salt or timber, so this whole statue is salt.
This is St Kinga (or Princess Kinga maybe), demonstrating the legend behind the creation of the mine.
These guys are burning away the methane in the mine, a dangerous business.
This guy's pulling a cart.
And this guy's pushing one. It could be a Hungarian Dog (strange name).
This guy with a Davey lamp in his hand is walking around with a horse. Horses apparently could sense trouble better than humans so they were handy.
Ancient people getting the salt.
Some of these photos are a little dark, but I had to use night mode on my camera phone, and resisted using the light. Maybe I should've used it.
Damn it, I didn't listen hard enough about this guy.
Too dark... horses used to operate the lift.
This is, apparently, the first family who went on a tour of the mine.
You can just about make out the original steps, which were very slippery being wet salt and all. Thankfully we used wooden steps.
Operating the lift by hand (I think).
Gnomes! Or dwarves or whatever.
Religious people in the mine - no surprise, it's a dangerous business.
On the other side of that previous chapel.
We reached a shop in the mine, with this very communist-like statue.
Another famous person who came here (read the inscription). The guide said JRR Tolkien came here before writing Lord of the Rings, and believes the Mines of Moria were inspired by here. I don't blame him upon viewing.
Famous Polish general. Shame it's out of focus.
This pool used to be part of the tour, but was closed twice thanks to two separate incidents, both involving German soldiers getting wet or drowning. Shame, looks nice.
Finally, the end of the tour (before going up in the crazy lift) consists of a huge chamber with stuff for sale, followed by a concert hall and a restaurant. This awful pic doesn't really convey how big the room was: apparently the world's first indoor bungee jump and first indoor hot air balloon ride were right here.I didn't show you the magnificent church with statues and 'paintings' in salt (the latter is more of a relief, including an excellent rendition of The Last Supper). They were selling photo passes and I didn't have the cash handy, so I decided not to take pictures there in case I got in trouble.
Upon returning, me and the two Belorussians went out for a meal. It wasn't far from the northern end of the Old Town, and it was quite spectacular inside, with paintings and fancy furniture, plus a live pianist. This photo, however, was taken in the top floor of the place, a very different-looking room indeed. It was too hot up there, so we headed downstairs, and were very surprised at what we found.
Sadly, we didn't make the most of the evening, as we walked around unable to find somewhere we wanted to go, it occasionally rained, and by the time we found a 'banging' club, we were tired and needed to return due to our leaving the following day.
So, Day 6 is a travel day. Not much time to have fun, so I won't bore you with too many details when I get there.
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