We had a very small group of people. A woman from Australia traveling the world and hiking in each country (in over-the-top aerobic shape and downright nasty), a young man from the U.K., a women fireman from Detroit, Michigan..(or to be correct, do I say fireperson?), and one other woman from Canada. Peter was our Polish guide from Wonderlands Tours, a Polish agency based in Katowice. Young but experienced and he instantly arranged a meet-and-greet dinner at one of the Jewish-style restaurants in Krakow that is known for klezmer music.

Klezmer music developed from secular Jewish music originating in the villages and ghettos of Eastern Europe. Bulgaria, the Ukraine, Romania, Russia, Czech, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, to mention a few countries. The musicians known as “klezmorim” played at weddings and other joyful occasions.

A klezmer orchestra/band usually included violins, bass or cello, flute and clarinet with many other instruments added in time. From my standpoint, a little klezmer music goes a long way (been there, done it) and the group was not at all pleased to discover that this dinner was not included in the tour after the fact. Not happy.

A fast tour the next day of Wawel Royal Castle, one of Europe’s Renaissance royal residences. We visited the famous Audience Hall with a coffered ceiling adorned with 30 wooden heads, a collection of 142 tapestries and the Treasury with its Polish royal memorabilia and jewels.

Checked out of the Hotel Pollera and loaded on a mini-bus, we set off for the Wieliczka Salt Mine, only nine miles out of Krakow with a fast stop for lunch. …View image… Traditional Polish and Central Europe food is delicious but heavy, stick-to-your-ribs portions. Lunches are never “light.” Cabbage (sauerkraut – fermented cabbage), potatoes, lots of pork, kielbasa (sausage), and potato and cheese pierogi (a stuffed dumpling).

lunch stop on way to Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland
This was our first trip into an actual salt mine and the Wieliczka Salt Mine has been in use since the 11th century. This mine was the source of the Poland’s wealth and is Poland’s most famous attraction. A guided tour took us down steps, tunnels through chambers, past underground lakes, a museum, gift shops…of course, and even a chapel carved entirely from one huge block of salt. Only a 3.5k/2.1mi section is accessible for tourists at 64-135m/209-409 ‘ below ground level. Incredible how men originally hauled huge salt blocks up extremely steep stairs and slopes carved out of rocks and later used horses to draw up little cars. Now I know where the term “send you to the salt mines” originated. Not a fun way to make a living (if you even survived this brutal ordeal)…

salt mine statue at Wieliczka Salt Mine, Poland
Continued on from the Salt Mine to Zakopane, capital of the Polish Tatras, for a 4-night stay.

Zakopane, Poland map