2013 European Adventure June -July
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Wednesday 26 June
Today we explored Zakopane, Poland. This town has been a real surprise. The scenic splendour is amazing. The houses are reminiscent of Swiss mountain towns, and the buzz of the town is exciting.
We were a bit concerned at weather today- started drizzly. Nevertheless we set off and by the time we had walked into the centre of town it started to clear. We took the funicular to the top of one of the ridges. A great view back over Zakopane. Coffee at a little bar/cafe overlookingthe valley, next to a chairlift.
After going back down we wandered off through the markets, and an old wooden church and graveyard before each couple had some time wabdering around by themselves, althiugh we all ended up at the ski jumps.
Fabulous swim and spa in the hotel before a great dinner in a restaurant. Food is so cheap here- particularly compared to Denmark, Sweden and Finland.
An evening card game of Canasta evolved into a marathon sitting.
Thursday 27th
Set of from Zakopane for Krakow via the Wieliczka Salt Mines. We had heard a lot about the mine, and it was great. This mine is almost 400 years old. There are over 300 klms of tunnels, but we didn't visit them all- obviously! Our tour took about 2 1/2 ours though -800 steps down into the mine, but fortunately a lift cage up. They have some amazing caverns, all excavated by hand in the hard rock salt. A number of the caverns were use as churches and lots of sculptures and wall carvings in the rock salt.
The afternoon was an introducingto the old town of Krakow.
A minor glitch getting into Krakow- as we approached the city, amidst building peak hour traffic, the GPS decided it didn't have the map for Krakow!! Fortunately the car also has a gps but we hadn't programmed it. After finding a quieter spot to pull over, checked maps, reset car GPS and arrived at our hotel. In checking our portable GPS it was found the memory card had come loose. Reinserted and now already for tomorrow.
After dinner sitting around the Market square wewent to a concert in St Peter's and Paul Church. A 6 piece chamber orchestra. Was absolutely beautiful-the accoustics were sensational.
More tomorrow after we visit Auschwitz. Will probably be a very sobering experience
Greg
Today we explored Zakopane, Poland. This town has been a real surprise. The scenic splendour is amazing. The houses are reminiscent of Swiss mountain towns, and the buzz of the town is exciting.
We were a bit concerned at weather today- started drizzly. Nevertheless we set off and by the time we had walked into the centre of town it started to clear. We took the funicular to the top of one of the ridges. A great view back over Zakopane. Coffee at a little bar/cafe overlookingthe valley, next to a chairlift.
After going back down we wandered off through the markets, and an old wooden church and graveyard before each couple had some time wabdering around by themselves, althiugh we all ended up at the ski jumps.
Fabulous swim and spa in the hotel before a great dinner in a restaurant. Food is so cheap here- particularly compared to Denmark, Sweden and Finland.
An evening card game of Canasta evolved into a marathon sitting.
Thursday 27th
Set of from Zakopane for Krakow via the Wieliczka Salt Mines. We had heard a lot about the mine, and it was great. This mine is almost 400 years old. There are over 300 klms of tunnels, but we didn't visit them all- obviously! Our tour took about 2 1/2 ours though -800 steps down into the mine, but fortunately a lift cage up. They have some amazing caverns, all excavated by hand in the hard rock salt. A number of the caverns were use as churches and lots of sculptures and wall carvings in the rock salt.
The afternoon was an introducingto the old town of Krakow.
A minor glitch getting into Krakow- as we approached the city, amidst building peak hour traffic, the GPS decided it didn't have the map for Krakow!! Fortunately the car also has a gps but we hadn't programmed it. After finding a quieter spot to pull over, checked maps, reset car GPS and arrived at our hotel. In checking our portable GPS it was found the memory card had come loose. Reinserted and now already for tomorrow.
After dinner sitting around the Market square wewent to a concert in St Peter's and Paul Church. A 6 piece chamber orchestra. Was absolutely beautiful-the accoustics were sensational.
More tomorrow after we visit Auschwitz. Will probably be a very sobering experience
Greg