Well, that was eventful just then. As I was beginning to write my blog in the lobby of the Etap, a man on crutches came in and his left crutch slipped on the wet (from the rain) floor and he fell over. It looked bloody painful but luckily he was OK.
Today began nice and early, we were outside the Novotel opposite our hotel for 8:30am. Our bus was a bit late (due at 8:50am, about 9:05am it came). But eventually, we set off on the hour long journey to Auschwitz. It was a really enlightening, yet harrowing trip. Some of the things we saw really showed how many people passed through the cynical and evil gates of the German saying “Work sets you free” The trip, in my opinion was well organised by our tour operator. The only downsides were the amount of people there (although on the other hand you could see that as a good thing and it was only really at Auschwitz 1 and not Auschwitz 2 - Birkenau). The other thing that I was disappointed about was the fact we were on limited time and it was only a 4 hour trip to Auschwitz and the Birekenau complexes. I would like to return again to explore myself, but that can be done in time.
We got back to Krakow at about 3:40pm, 25 minutes before our trip to the Salt mines just outside of the city began. We grabbed a quick coffee across the road from the bus stop with a guy from Wembley in England who seemed nice enough.
The salt mines trip was also good, although I think myself and Laura were a little too tired to appreciate it all. We met an Irish couple about our age that were on the Salt mines tour, who were travelling around Europe. They were nice too, and we gave them some advice on Krakow as it was their first full day here. The tours particular highlights were the main chapel which was absolutely beautiful (all made with salt structures) and the lift back up to the surface, which went at an alarming speed of 4 metres a second, 9 people crammed into a little cage. I can only imagine what a battery chicken being thrown into the air in its cage felt like at that moment - minus the steroids, obviously!
We got back to Krakow for the night at about 8pm, headed to a restaurant and had a nice filling plate of perogi each. We then walked to the bus stop in the pissing rain, and here I am now.
This is our last night in Krakow tonight. Warsaw awaits tomorrow, our train leaves at 12:15 and hopefully better weather will await because its cold and wet in Poland at the moment!
Pictures
Salt carving of the last supper
The main chapel in the Salt mines
Me getting very excited about 300 steps down into the mine
Salt mine front
Auschwitz 2-Birkenau outskirts with watchtowers
Entrance to Auschwitz 1
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