Poland: Wieliczka Salt Mine

Our Europe trip isn't over yet!  We still had a few hours to kill on Saturday morning before our flight left for Japan.  We decided to do something truly touristy... just don't tell our boss that we had so much spare time!!

We thought about going to Auschwitz, the former concentration camp that is nearby, but we weren't quite up for such a depressing event and we heard it's more of a full-day experience.  Instead, we settled on the historical Wieliczka Salt Mine!

Wieliczka Salt Mine was in operation for over 900 years and claims to be the biggest & most profitable industrial establishment ever.  Back in the day, salt was the medieval equivalent to today's oil industry!

The Krakow area of Poland used to be part of the sea.  When the water receded, it left rich and vast deposits of pure salt.  The Wieliczka mine was in operation from the 13th century to 1996.  It closed due to low salt prices and floods in the mine.

Here are authentic sculptures made purely from salt.  All of the works we saw were done by professional miners over the past several hundred years, not professional artists!!

This is what happens when there is moisture in the mine: it turns into cauliflower-like salt deposits.  This is caused by a water leak and is one of the reason why mining was discontinued in 1996.

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is made up of 2,040 caverns, is over 300 kilometers long, and is 327 meters deep.

The 2-hour tour consisted of descending 378 steps to a depth of 135 meters, and then a 3.5 kilometer walking trail.  (That means less than 1% of the entire mine is open to the public!) 

Here is our tour guide who gave us all of these brilliant facts. 

Horses were even used to help run the mining apparatuses!  Once a horse descending into the mine, it stayed there for the remainder of it's life.  Even though the mining ended in 1996, the last horse lived in the mine stables until 2002! 

Here is a dimly lit salt staircase.  I am thankful they also built a wooden staircase next to it for visitors!!  They used only wood in the construction underground because wood absorbs the salt and becomes harder than steel!

Old mining shaft.

A ladder leading up to another mining shaft.  Ladders were much more popular and less dangerous than the salt staircases.

One of the underground chapels.  The miners got together every day to pray because it was such dangerous work that they needed God's protection.

The most impressive Chapel of Saint Kinga, not surprisingly this is the world's largest underground chapel, and it entirely made out of salt from the staircases, railings, sculptures, and even to the chandeliers!! 

The Chapel of Saint Kinga is a very prestigious wedding spot in Poland.

Keep in mind this entire thing was created by the miners!!

Salt railing that looks and feels like granite.  (Unless, of course, you licked it, and that was completely acceptable if you were in doubt.)

The Last Supper based off of Da Vinci's masterpiece.  Still blows my mind that the creators were miners by day and did this for a hobby at night when they were done working!!

The floor was one of my favorites... you would have never guessed it was pure salt!!

I told you they loved their Pope John Paul II!

 

Kerri getting ready to leave the mine and leave Europe for good!

Poland: Krakow & Slawkow

The last stop on our European itinerary was Poland to visit a railroad terminal. 

I am fascinated by any operation that deals with international shipping containers, so I thought this place was great!!  Here is the rail yard of the EuroTerminal.

Do these railroads below look the same to you?  Because they are not.  The one on the right is the European rail, and the one on the left is the Russian rail, which is 10cm wider.  Thus, all freight that travels between Russia and Europe needs to be transferred at a terminal.

Ironically, the two different sized railroads made this area the perfect location for the notorious concentration camp of Auschwitz.  It was easy to round up the Jews and bring them to one central place.  Poland was full of sad tales of history.

Silly Pepsi ad.  I do like this guy's name featured at the bottom left of this ad: Kaka!

After the visit to the rail terminal, Krakow isn't exactly a thriving airport, so there were no flights going home that evening.  We had some free time to explore the city center, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here is the Town Hall Tower, which leans 55cm since a strong wind storm in 1703 made it unstable.  Honestly, I couldn't really tell it was leaning.

Creepy sculpture in the Grand Square of Old Town.

The Grand Square is probably quite grand, but everything was under construction the day we were there.  I was disappointed to see so much scaffolding and very few beautiful buildings.  We did go inside to Cloth Hall, which is claimed to be the world's first shopping mall.

St. Mary's Basilica (a.k.a. Mariacki Cathedral) built in the 13th century.  It is famous for it's bugler who plays an abbreviated tune at the top of every hour from the taller of the two towers.  Accordingly to legend a bugler was warning the city of approaching danger in the 1300's and was shot in the throat during mid-tune.  But the villagers still awoke and defended their town.

Close up of St. Mary's Cathedral.

Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. 

The sculptures of the 12 disciples standing out front were breathtaking!

Wawel Royal Castle and Cathedral.

The former pope is from Poland, and lived in Krakow for many years.  The city is very proud, and we saw many references to Pope John Paul II.

This is the hotel that Nishimura stayed at last time he was in Krakow.  I'm still trying to decide if I'm disappointed or relieved that we didn't stay here.  Disappointed because I love old stuff, it's in the heart of the city center, and most likely has old world charm.  Relieved because it's in the heart of the city center, theefore might not have been able to get any sleep since there were tons of people milling around waiting for a concert to start.

Polish meat-stuffed pierogis for dinner.  I still wasn't very hungry, but these were so yummy!  Poland is also known for an excellent soup called, Zurek with sausage and egg in it.  We had to walk around for over an hour finding the perfect restaurant with the perfect Zurek soup for Kawakami!!

I was getting tired of all the crazy beers, so when I realized Poland was known for vodka, I gladly ordered a cocktail instead!

Served with a crazy green cherry!!

But oddly my dessert was served with a red cherry!

Nishimura with his after dinner vodka shot.  Apparently it aids in digestion.  But I feared that if I had a bite or sip of anything else, I might explode!!

To me, Poland was a sad place.  They have such a terrible history related to the Nazis, and everything you read about was rather gruesome. 

In addition, I was puzzled by the complete lack of vowels in most of their vocabulary.  How they pronounce anything is beyond me.

When driving between Krakow and Slawkow, I noticed that every house and every window was covered in sheer white curtains.  A few had patterns on them, but none were pulled back to let the sunshine in.  I was trying to decide why every single house was like that.  Maybe a preference for privacy, but why not regular curtains then?  The fact that they were all so bizarrely similar was somewhat unsettling to me.

Kawakami also noticed several billboards for push lawn mowers.  We realized that most people in that area didn't mow their yard, and basically had overgrown grass every where.  Perhaps it's a new status symbol to be able to afford a lawn mower and care for your yard?!

Also rather odd, every thing in Poland was served in a glass bottle, even water.  No plastic could be found any where, even in convenience stores!

I noticed that short hair for women was very popular, while many of the men had long hair!

Since Poland was our last stop on the map, I was tired of trying to convert zlotys into a currency value I could understand.  I am always thinking in terms of dollars and yen, then throw pounds, euros, and krohns in the mix all week... I was exhausted!!  (Which bring me to another point of contention: Why is it called the Euro when 3 out of the 5 European countries I visited did not use it as currency?!)  As it turns out, everything in Poland was super cheap!!  When I looked at my credit card bill this week, I was shocked by the charges for some of the things I purchased.  I should have done more shopping, especially since they are known for amber jewelry!  I remember giving our taxi driver my last 150 zlotys when dropping us off at the airport, thinking we probably just got hosed.  But he had driven us around for the last 3 hours for like $50!!  Deal!

Czech Republic: Prague & Kolin

The last 2 stops during my week in Europe were a good experience because I am positive I'd never visit them if it weren't for work.  I have truly never thought to myself: I'd like to go to Czech Republic or Poland.  Call me kooky, but they are just not at the top of my vacation list.

Czech was a true quick trip.  We arrived in the morning and flew back out in the evening.   

I know Japan likes to be "green", but the Czech airport was taking things to the max.  The taxis aren't allowed to be turned on unless they have passengers in them to save on air pollution.  So once the taxis get in the queue for passengers, they have to put them in Neutral and get out and push them to the front of the line!  Yeah, seriously, this is what I saw to welcome me to Prague!!  I actually felt really bad for the drivers.  Sometimes that queue line is really long and if they're in the back of the line, they are pushing for a l-o-n-g time!!

Here I am at Transfreight office in Czech, pictured with the local manager Daniel. 

After several hours of meetings and learning about the joint venture plant Toyota-Peugeot-Citroen Automotive, we decided we could probably fit in dinner and a quick look around Prague before our plane.  (Just remember that Mitsui likes to arrive for things at the last minute...)

Here's my dinner in Prague: goulash with potato cakes, bread, and the local brew.  I ordered it basically for the potato cakes, but sadly they were nothing like Izzy's (a yummy Cincinnati restaurant).  Also, that wasn't anything like I was expecting for goulash.  Truth be told... this is the meal when my stomach started causing me problems on this trip!

Oh yeah, while eating I also spilled some gravy on my shirt.  No big deal because I also had a sweater to cover it up with.  But I just pulled that shirt off the laundry line tonight, and I see the stain is still there.  For a girl who has about 10 outfits total, I really am not happy about losing my shirt to this meal!

Now for some sightseeing on the streets of Prague.

Here is Old Town Square.  I am still loving all of the amazing building and distinctive architecture.

Gothic-looking castle

Sometimes the building details are the best, like this balcony.  It's so ornate.

Bridge Tower of the Charles Bridge.

The Clock Tower, where we happened to be at the top of the hour, and a bugler came out to play us a tune!

While weaving through the crowd to get a better look, Nishimura reminded me to "protect" my purse.  Good advice because I take the safeness of Japan for granted these days.  It did make me a little paranoid though, but perhaps with good reason.  Towards the end of the evening, while Nishimura was haggling with the taxi drivers trying to find the best rate to the airport, I saw one driver had a huge knife attached to his car door!  Needless to say, I wasn't getting in that taxi!  The ironic part is that the driver gave us the highest price out of them all.  I have a feeling that knife is used more as a weapon for threatening unsuspecting tourists into paying than to protect himself.

How about a Harry Potter marionette?!  LOL.

So what else is unique about Prague?!  (You know, besides the knives carried by some taxi drivers?)

• 
  
  Dogs were all over the Old Town area with no leashes on, and they were very well-behaved!
• 
  
  Prague has a cable car system that runs through the middle of the street, but people can use those lanes to pass the slow traffic or in general drive recklessly.  I found it amazing that people just "know" when the cable car is coming and get out of the way.  Even with all of the pedestrians wandering around, no one seems to get hurt by the cable car and it just whizzes through town every few minutes.  Granted it doesn't go as fast as a train, but there are no railings or protection gates any where to be found!  All you see is a billion cables overhead and wheel tracks on the road as a warning.
• 
  
  The McDonald's that had drive thru's said "McDrive" on the sign instead!!
• 
  
  Shop owners stand in the narrow doorways of the shops and stare out into streets.  They don't look too friendly, and no one ever smiles (not just the shop owners).  I wonder how they make any sales?  I certainly wasn't going to approach these people and ask them to step aside so I could go into their shop that may or may not have a giant knife next to the register...
• 
  
  They do have cool cars names.  I saw a Citroen "Picasso" and Skoda "Favorit". 

The Czechs are crazy about their beer. 

Kawakami kept telling me that Budweiser was the famous beer from here, but I knew that couldn't be true.  As it turns out, it is true!  They started making beer in the city of Budweis in 1795 with the name Budweiser.  It wasn't until 1907 that a trademark war began with the Budweiser we know, owned by Anheuser-Busch.  The resolution was that both countries can sell their beer with the name "Budweiser" in their home region.  Europe for the Czechs, and North America for Anheuser-Busch.  The Czech version is actually called "Czechvar" when sold in the US, and Anheuser-Busch just calls theirs "Bud" in Europe!

In addition, pilsener beer was also developed in Czech in the 19th century in the city of Plzen (spelled Pilsen in German).

Finally, we make it to the airport.  All of the while, we are worrying we are going to be late because the city of Prague prefers to pick up their trash at 7:20pm on Thursday and block narrow streets.  As it turns out, there is no one at the airport.  Seriously.  No one was in the terminal checking in.  (We already had our tickets anyway.)  No one was in line for security.  No one was in the terminal.  (More people did eventually join us at the gate.)  But it was rather spooky.  I used my few extra minutes to go shopping without the creepy store owners staring at me.  Czech is known for glass, so I bought a glass bowl. 

Kawakami thought I was crazy.  He vividly remembered the laptop incident which occurred just that morning and was sure this thing would never make it back unharmed :)  I proved him wrong!

Belgium: Brussels

We didn't actually have any work to do in Brussels, but that was the closest airport in and out of Onnaing, France.  Brussels is one of the favorite cities of the president of Transfreight Europe, so he suggested we ditch France on our last night in town and go check out Brussels instead :)

The TF Europe President, Nishimura, took really good care of me while I was visiting Europe.  You will notice the pictures get increasingly better the rest of the week because he takes me to all of the hot spots!!  He even gave up a French holiday to travel to Czech and Poland with us.  You can't help but wonder if the president of TF North America would extend the same kind of hospitality for a visitor?

Here's the hotel lobby that Nishimura picked out for us.  It was a beautiful place called the Le Palace Hotel built in 1908.

It's a good thing I love old world charm because this hotel probably would have irritated me otherwise.  It had an extremely narrow tub, as in I couldn't turn around in it without falling over.  It also had a separate room for the toilet. (That's way too Japanese for me on a week where I am supposed to be enjoying life away from Japan!)  And the bed sagged in the middle like it, too, was from 1908, but still I slept fine and I loved the whole experience!

We rushed around Brussels sightseeing before eating dinner.  Thank goodness that Europe has Daylight Saving Time so it stays light past 7:00pm there (unlike Japan!). 

First stop was Grand Palace.  It is the city center of Brussels and known as one of the most beautiful in Europe.  It really was unbelievable.  Pictures will never do it justice.  The Grand Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Don't know what that is?  Don't feel bad, I didn't either until about 2 weeks ago.  They are crazy for World Heritage Sites in Japan and Europe!

Here is the Town Hall in the city center.  The original was built in 1455.  It's been destroyed and rebuilt several times since then.

These are called Guildhalls, homes built by wealthy merchants back in the day that surrounded the city center.

These wealthy merchants obviously liked their gold...

Kerri touching some statue on the side of a church.  Nishimura has no idea why people touch it, but everyone does.  So he makes it a point to stop by and "pet" the dog whenever he is nearby.  (The dog is hiding behind the woman's leg, just to the right of my hand in this pic.)  Maybe I will have eternal life or beauty or luck now :)

Next stop Manneken Pis (originally from 1619 but stolen several times over the years), which is Dutch for "little man urinating".  This tiny statue is only 24 inches tall, but the most popular in Belgium.  He is often dressed in costumes, which people send to him from all over the world!

I knew he looked familiar... the Huvaere's used to have a replica of him peeing in their swimming pool when I worked for them! I always thought they had a twisted sense of humor, but now I know they were really art lovers :) 

There is also a rather new (1987) "Jeanneke Pis", little girl urinating, statue in Brussels, too.  She's not as popular (no doubt why that is...), and she is behind a total gate.  I tried to take a picture, but it was after dinner, totally dark, through a fence.  No such luck!

Kerri is hungry for a Belgium waffle :)

This is Kawakami's favorite Manneken Pis, filling up the stein of beer!

We went to a special "mussels" restaurant where we only ordered seafood for dinner.  That includes snails (escargot), oysters, shrimp pockets, and each of us got a giant bucket of mussels.  I got mine "au gratin" style, thinking that if they were covered in cheese and butter, I could handle a whole plate of them!!  

Brussels in known for beer, but I couldn't resist trying the raspberry beer.  It's hard to tell in this pic, but that beverage is bright pink :) and fruity like a cocktail.

I also saved room for dessert: a warm Belgium waffle smothered in ice cream, chocolate fudge, and whipped cream.  This dessert made my whole trip worth it!!  The 3 men were making fun of me the whole time because I was eating this thing like it was about to be snatched away from me, but I didn't care... it was so yummy.  I told the guys half-heartedly before I started eating that they could try some, but thank goodness no one actually took me up on my offer!! 

Belgium is also known for their amazing chocolates (Godiva, anyone?), so I love this town just for it's food!!

People were out partying in the streets late because the next day was a holiday in Belgium and France, but we were moving on to Czech, so we had to get back to the hotel for some shut eye.

The airport had the most amazing sign at the entrance to the parking garage that indicated how many parking spots were available on each level.  Then when you got to the level, it told you which rows had spots.  Then when you got to the row, (you guessed it) there was a green light above every open space!!  It was awesome use of technology that I wish Cincinnati would adopt so I don't have to drive around in circles so much!!

Finally, we arrive at the airport, and it's busier than expected because it's a holiday and many people have decided to take a 4-day vacation!  Going through security I was (of course) asked to step aside to be patted down.  But that wasn't the worst of it. 

While my belongings were left unattended on the security belt, someone went by and pushed my laptop off of belt.  Yeah, on to the floor.  Where it promptly snapped into 4 pieces!!  Seriously...  Airport security weren't too reassuring or helpful.  They gave me the email address of their insurance agent in case I had any complaints!  Uh, yeah, like there was a doubt in anyone's mind I was pissed off. 

So my laptop has a cracked cover, is missing a few pieces, and sounds like an Etch-A-Sketch when I pick it up, but I'm still using it right now.  And shocking... I still haven't heard back from the Brussels insurance email people yet and it's been nearly a week!

Because of this little issue at security, the real tragedy is that we nearly missed our flight, so I had no time to go shopping for more waffles and chocolate :(