salt gnomes at work

DSCF0268, originally uploaded by metaphorge.

You wouldn't normally think that a salt mine would qualify as a must-see location, but if you're in the Kraków, Poland, area the Wieliczka Salt Mine that tyrsalvia and I visited Friday certainly qualifies.

The mine has been in continuous operation since the 13th century, and still is producing table salt today. The mine stretches to a depth of 327 meters and is more than 300 km long.

In addition to its ancient purpose as a mine, Wieliczka features a 3.5 km tourist route lined with statues of historical and mythical figures, all of them sculptured out of salt by miners.

Click here to see more.

BTW, I lied in my last post. We're going to Auschwitz tomorrow; there's been so much to do here in Kraków that we'll be departing on Monday night for Budapest, instead of tomorrow night as originally planned....

church after church

DSCF0351, originally uploaded by metaphorge.

There's no shortage of amazing architecture in Kraków. Here you see the statuary from Kościół śś. Piotra i Pawła w Krakowie (completed in 1619) in the foreground, with the Kościół św. Andrzeja w Krakowie (completed in 1098) right next door....

Auschwitz I

DSCF0485, originally uploaded by metaphorge.

What's commonly known as "Auschwitz" is actually three separate concentration camps.

Auschwitz I was first established in 1940 and served as the administrative hub for the whole complex (and is the current site of the museum exhibits).

At any time, the camp held between 13,000 and 16,000 inmates; in 1942 the number reached 20,000. It was the site of the deaths of roughly 70,000 people, mostly Poles and Soviet prisoners of war.

There are more photos of Auschwitz I here; obviously, some of you may find them trigger-y.