Day 36 - Vilnius, Poland - Picking up the Bike

Joan's View

We "bolted" using Bolt to the Krakow airport early this morning with the DeLands. Their flight left around 9 am for Prague and ours left around 10 for Copenhagen then Vilnius. 

We are back in Vilnius for one night at the same Airbnb that we stayed at previously to pick up our bike bags and will head out early in the morning. The host was super receiving our bags from the beginning and then holding them while we went to Poland.

Kind of feels like coming home.

Tony & I walked and visited a few sites that we enjoyed last time. We ate dinner at an Italian restaurant and had bruschetta in honor of Cara who is picking us up tomorrow. She makes the best bruschetta!

Looking forward to going home and seeing this wonderful people to give them a big hug (along with their parents 😍)!

Day 35 - Krakow, Poland - Jasna Córa

Joan's View

Lots of travel time today to get to the Shrine and Monastery in Czestochowa. There are about 121 Pauline monks that live at Jasna Córa. Our lady of Jasna Córa is one of the black Madonnas in the world. According to our guide, this is the second most visited Catholic shrine in the world after Fatima & Lourdes. Many miracles are attributed to those who visit here.

The entrance

The many crutches donated in thanks.

The holy shrine, Our Lady of Jasna Góra

Eleven vestments are worn by the black Madonna at different times.

The basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The largest organ in Poland.

Cannon balls still in the wall from earlier battles.

The crowds venerating the image of the Holy Mother.

We stood for almost 1.5 hours in the packed crowd on the other side of the gate for the lifting of the cover over the Madonna followed by mass. Following mass we visited the gift shop and the "Pilgrimage Bar."

One more thought for the day, especially for the Eagle Scouts (Nick). This was on one of the history panels outside in the courtyard.

Theresa's Extras

Special spiritual day.

A One Time Special Update - Bud's Extras

What a great trip we had with the Schroeders. Each place we visited was more memorable than the last one. We prayed, looked and walked then prayed, looked and walked so more. Then laughed and ate and drank a beer then it was time to go to bed. Such full days. We are so happy they asked us to share this version of the World Catholic Tour.

Day 34 - Krakow, Poland - Zakopone, Poland's Alpine Treasure

Joan's View

Today we traveled 2 hours to the Zakopone region of Poland. Our first stop on the way was the National Fatima Shrine of Poland. It has amazing wood carvings even in the pews.

A view from the pews

Tony's next door to make?

In the original chapel

Stations of the cross & the view

An outdoor chapel

Mary, name that amazing flower?

Fatima National Shrine of Poland

From there, Alex took us to Stara Bacówka na Poland Bialy Potok. It is a unique little store that sells a cheese known to Zakopone. The cheese is called Oscypki and is made from sheep milk and cow's milk. Alex grilled some slices for us and we followed his recommendation to eat it with cranberries preserves on top. Believe it or not the cheese did not melt. 

The sheep that make it

The store where you buy it

The cheese choices

Grilling it in the building behind the store

Topping it

We loaded up to head to the mountains. On the way Alex explained that this area also has unique houses made from very large logs. This logs have to be cleaned once a year.

There was another small chapel on the way up the mountain made entirely of wood. No metal nails were used.

In the cemetery next to that chapel, there was a drone following Bud around. It's kind of ironic considering Bud was so concerned about the drones that Russia sent over the border into Poland right before we came and Poland shut down all air traffic for a morning.

A possible Russian drone tracking Bud?

Another Zakopone feature - Jesus sad

We ventured then to the top of the mountain for the great view and a beer.

Tony playing the part of Cara
who played the part of Chip in high school.

Stepping into the Gondola

The view

Another beer break

We ate dinner at a restaurant in the shopping district in the town. They had useful axe shaped menus. 😁

Theresa's Extras

Beautiful day in the mountains.  The churches we saw today had intricate wood carvings that were amazing.  Poland has such natural beauty and many talented people who use their talents to add artistic statues and paintings.  We are so fortunate to be able to enjoy it.

Day 33 - Krakow, Poland - Auschwitz & The Salt Mines

Joan's View

We got an early start so that we had the best chance to get tickets for the DeLands to Auschwitz. When we got there, the line was extremely long. We waited in line anyway since Tony & I had tickets for 10:30. After several options presented by our guide, Alex, the DeLands decided to forgo Auschwitz and get a bite to eat.

Auschwitz #1

Where people were hung by their hands

The crematorium 

Pots & pans filled train cars

The line to get in

Thousands of shoes. The red ones came from wealthier people.

The firing squad wall

The plaque to Maximilion Kolbe

The entrance to the gas chamber

The gallow where Rudolf Höss was hung

The entrance to Auschwitz. It was made to look like it continued through a woods.

Auschwitz #2 - Birkenau

Auschwitz Birkenau was 346 acres and is several miles from the first Auschwitz which was much smaller. It was built by the Nazis for greater killing.

The fence and some barracks

The end of the rail line

The rubble of a crematorium after the Nazis destroyed evidence of it

Barracks

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Stopping at a restaurant before the salt mine

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The Wieliczka Salt Mine

This salt mine still is working today. The sculptures were all carved from salt by the miners. The ornate floors in the mine are even salt. Only a tiny section of the mine is open to visitors. If you were to go through the whole mine it would take 9 months.

The DeLands on the way down 40 flights.

The Antonia chamber

Horses lived in the mine.

Water had to be pumped out because it was a danger to the miners.

The seven dwarfs work there too.

The chandeliers are made from salt crystals.

Pope John Paul II in salt

The wedding at Cana in salt.

More of the chapel area.

The water is saltier than the Dead Sea.

The stairs lit up to music by Chopin.

Somebody's gotta taste it.

Theresa's Extras

My favorite of the day was the salt mine chapel. It had beautiful sculptures and beautiful salt crystal chandeliers all done by the salt miners.  It was amazing work that they did on their own after work hours.