Avg pace = 8:29/mile
Total distance = 3.24 miles
Elapsed time = 27:33
Avg heartrate = 153 bpm
Took a shower when I got back, then we walked over to the Jewish Quarter to see what it was like. Saw Jewish Square, oldest synagogue in Krakow, and lots of familiar Jewish names. We walked by a basilica that was extremely ornate inside, but no pictures were allowed during the service. Walked around some more, then we had a quick lunch (pork sandwich for Ann, fries for me) before heading to the train station to catch the train to the village, Wieliczka, where the salt mine is located. Couldn't buy tickets from the kiosk, but we were able to buy them from an agent on the train. We arrived in the village a little early and walked up near the entrance, finding a park bench to sit on for a bit since we had some time to kill. The tour started around 2:00, and there were about 35 people in our group. Here are my notes from the tour.
Margaret was our guide.
Over 300 steps to level 1, 64 m down. 9 levels in all. 1% of the mine will be covered on the tour.
Ropes and hoists with pulleys were used to move items up, down, and around the mine.
13M years ago there was a salt lake that eventually evaporated and formed the salt dome that has been mined, starting in the 17th century (I think).
Legend of Princess Kinga throwing engagement ring in hole.
Methane burners were employed in the mine to search for pockets of methane, this was dangerous work.
Horses were used to move salt in wagons and sledges. They lived in the mine, didn't come out.
Active until 1996, after which it was no longer profitable, lost mining license after 1992 flood.
Horses used to move ropes up and down to bring items into and out of the mine. Reverse directions, and the rope directions would also reverse.
Sandstone chamber forms passage down to level 2.
Water pumped and moved around with human labor.
Level 2 is about 90 m down.
Only free men worked in mine, all got paid for their labor.
Wood is preserved pretty well in these mine conditions of relatively low humidity and consistent temperature. 60% humidity and 15-18 deg C year-around.
Main chapel is 120 years old. Floor tiles made out of salt. Chandeliers have salt crystals. JP II sculpture finished in 1999. He visited mine several times but not as pope. It took 60 years to finish wall sculptures by two carvers, they tell the life of Jesus.
Salt water lakes are saturated with NaCl.
9th level is 327 m deep. Third level is 110 m deep. Elevator available for church goers in the main chapel and wedding parties.
Goethe was a mineral and crystal collector who visited this mine.
Explosives were tried in this mine but they weren't effective. Large domed room was formed this way.
Used to be a boat trip for tourists but it was stopped during WW I.
Third level is 135 m deep.
After the tour, we walked back to the train platform and caught the train back to Krakow. We stopped at the supermarket on the way to the flat to stock up on items, since it will be closed on Sunday.
I finished Tiamat's Wrath in the evening. The crew of four were reunited at the end. Bobbie is killed when she guides an antimatter torpedo into the Magnetar-class warship in Sol system, destroying it. Alex was the pilot of the Gathering Storm, which launched Bobbie's small ship in the first place. Naomi is now the head of the underground after all the ships in the ring void were destroyed by the gamma ray pulse from the neutron star turning into a black hole. She leads the attack on Laconia that destroys the orbiting stations that could build advanced warships. Amos, aka Timothy, befriends Teresa Duarte and ends up being killed, then reanimated by proto molecule repair drones. Holden is freed by Teresa in her attempt to barter his freedom for passage off the planet. It was a pretty good read. Now I am starting Fantastic Numbers and Where to Find Them, by Antonio Padilla. Will update more on what it's about once I get into it.
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