it's 2am and I'm writing this post...because I'm dedicated like that.

word for word from the log...pictures to follow sometime when blogger doesn't suck.

Wednesday May 13th "Wieliezka." (it's a giant salt mine)

Left Zakopane for Krakow, by way of famous salt mines. one of 12 original UNESCO world heritage sights. 3 hour tour. in polish. I don't understand polish. Nice guy waiting in line at the ticket booth thinger made fun of K's polish but in a kind-hearted way. 20 minute wait for the tour, but 50 something steps down into the the 1st level of the mine...

[okay, I should point out that I was really tired when I wrote this one originally and I'm tired now. Two wrongs make another wrong and all that. also, it was 53 levels of steps. over 150 actual steps.]

...Poppa Ski didn't go, he's done the tour once before, and frankly once is enough.

Mine was relaly cool. Some really neat rooms carved right out of the salt. The "salt lakes" were kind of a disappointment, however our tour guide was wicked. kept calling us "loved ones." get this: there's a complete church carved into the salt. it's amazing.

Krakow

first impression of the city = meh. Kinda slummy or dirty or something. I can't explain it. drive to the apartment was okay but it seemed as though it was in a slummy area. [first world problems, I know] Our building is really nice on the outside, unlike some of the others in the area. apartment is on the top floor (of course) with no elevator (of course) and 70 steps to the top. Totally worth it: 3 floor apartment. nice new ikea kitchen and bathroom on the 1st. living area with full double bed, pullout and really nice full bath on the 2nd, little sitting area, bedroom and roof walkout on the 3rd. steps from the old town. took about an hour to ourselves then walked to the old square.

second impression of the city = um...wow. seriously. really big and impressive old square. largest enclosed square in europe and it's huge. Loved every second of it. we walked around a bit, bought some worthless touristy stuff, then it was time to eat. we were looking for some restaurant recommended by the apt. lady but we couldn't find it. left the old square and eventually went back to eat at the "best steakhouse" in krakow. [for the record, poles don't really cook steak. they do pork.] food was okay, but the drinks were better. super cheap though. poland is like a dollar store for canadians.