Salt Mines and the final day in Krakow!

So, now we’ve come to our last day in Krakow. I so don’t want to leave yet, but I know more awaits me!

So I have to confess, I think I basically messed this day up. I definitely need to go back to Krakow one day in the next couple of years to make up for it, though. I decided to go to the Salt Mines instead of Auschwitz because I didn’t want to do that on my own. I’d seen the Jewish Quarter the first day, then Schindler’s Factory the next, and I think Auschwitz is something I’d rather do with someone. Now I regret it, but I do plan to go back. I couldn’t fit both into one day.

So, I checked out of my hotel, they stored my stuff for me, and off I went! I bought the ticket, transportation, and guide all at once through a company that does the tours, and that ended up being the best way to do it, I think. However, adventure #1 of the day was a bit unexpected. The driver had never driven an automatic vehicle before! It was a new experience for him! =) That’s a huge difference between just about anywhere else and the States—they ALL drive stick shifts; very few people drive automatics!

We rode over to the mines with two Canadians, and one of then was of Polish descent. I think we enjoyed each other’s company. It was nice to be with other Americans, even if it’s not the same country in North America!

Salt was very important WAY back when they didn’t have any refrigeration. People needed salt to preserve their food so they could live. Therefore, if you owned a salt mine, you were a wealthy man! Only kings owned them, and their noblemen managed and operated the mines. The mines go and go and go, but we were only allowed to go down 135 meters. And the only way down was to walk the wooden steps—380 of them! While the steps are not original, the path we followed going down is original—from hundred of years ago!

The mines are not used for salt mining anymore, mainly just for a tourist attraction and educational opportunity. There are lots of rock salt statues down there—some of kings and queens, some of famous people who visited the mine (such as Goethe and Chopin)—and there are even a few chapels down there! The people of Poland are very Catholic, and so any place that’s important where people go often, there needs to be a church! People still hold regular Masses there, as well as weddings, parties, conferences, and concerts! There are these huge chandeliers down there to light the important rooms, and they’re made entirely of rock salt.

So, how did the miners get down further and further into the depths? It was quite dangerous. People and horses alike were lowered down by ropes, with only a make-shift harness to keep them from falling. They actually sang funeral songs on the way down and back up, just in case one of them fell to his death. There was an exhibit down there demonstrating this, which was a little bit scary to tell you the truth!

So why would men risk their lives like this? There are several different kinds of salt, ranging from the most mineral-rich, which is darker, and the purest (least minerals), which is a translucent white color. People called this “white gold” because it was so expensive and so important to their lives. People needed to keep their food stored, and they needed salt to do this. People were not very well compensated for it, but it was certainly job security for them.

Another fact I found interesting about the whole situation is that, since salt is such a fabulous preservative, all the salt stautues and other things that have been in the salt atmosphere are incredibly well-preserved! I wish I could have gotten some pictures, but it was so dark that the pictures didn’t turn out very well.

After spending about three hours in the mines, we were all very hungry! We stopped in a tavern-type place that serves traditional Polish food, and I got something that was exactly like schnitzel, plus potato soup with bread—it was WAY too much, and I didn’t mean to get it all! But it was very tasty. =)

Back in Krakow, I called my mom for her birthday and left a voicemail (silly time difference), then walked around a bit and made it my final mission to find the one food I’d wanted to try but hadn’t found yet: Pickled herring! I found it at a cute little café-restaurant, and I liked it a lot! Pickled herring is one of my most favorite types of sushi, so I was excited to know they have something similar here! =)

After that I needed to get to the train station. I changed the time for my ticket from Bratislava to Prague, to allow me to have a second full day in Bratislava, and then I waited on my train. I was actually pretty excited about the train ride! More on that in the next installment! ;) If you didn't see the pictures from the last blog post, or if you just want to see them again, here they are!