June 3
The big event for the day was to tour the salt mines. The salt mines at Wieliczka. The salt mines have been in operation since the 13th century and were discontinued only 10 years ago. Miners would stay in the mine for weeks at a time and like the coal mines at home, they used pit ponies and canaries. The work was difficult, hence the saying “another day in the salt mines” to describe a hard day.


This man showed us how to get a tram ticket.

We went down around 400 wooden stairs ao start the tour and then down even more and came up an elevator

[

These stairs made from salt


Down into the mines even further







Salt mine tour



The miners tour – we didn’t do


We met these Canadians on our way to the salt mine tour. We rode the train back to town with them.
We also learned how to get a tram ticket from this man

After the salt mines we walked around town and the square.





Another bachelor party


"Be safe in Krakow." We found this in a souvenir shop


Tram back home after picking up breakfast. Pack up for early start to Auschwitz.
Individual tours of Auschwitz needed to be booked weeks in advance. The choices we had were to take a tour from one of the many tour companies, or go early and be there by 9:00 and get an early entrance. Our hotel Krakow was booked for tomorrow night so we decided to go early and get a hotel in Oswiecim near the museum.