To: All
Continuing with the travelogue
Monday, June 19th, Wieliczka Salt Mines and Divine Mercy Shrine.
We drove on to Krakow today by way of the Wieliczka Salt Mines. When I heard that there were 500 steps down to the first level I decided not to make the trek because my ankles were all swollen and I was so tired, both emotionally and physically from Sunday's trip to Auschwitz, Birkeneau and the top of the hill at Our Lady of Calvary. Isn't that a wonderful name to name a church at the top of the hill???? It just hit me that Christ had to walk up a hill, Golgotha, for his execution!!! Lord, have mercy!
The 350+ steps in Prague made a believer of me too! LOL!
I got a book about it and some postcards -- and everyone who went said it was strenuous but that it was so beautiful. Everything is carved out the rock containing the salt, most of it a light orange to burnt orange color. the group visited the chambers of the Blessed Kinga and St. Anthony of the Holy Cross. There are rooms with statues, ladders, a ballroom, a church with an altar, The Holy Family all carved out of the salt rock. And it was about 40 degrees cooler -- 56 F. while we were sitting up on the surface in near 90 degrees heat. Our pastor and spiritual director was looking at one of the salt lamps in the gift shop/ museum and we had taken up a collection for his Jubilee since it occurs in August and we wanted to give him something.
We went on to the very modern church -- the shrine of Divine Mercy. The outside of the building looks like a ship with a high tower in the center. We could not use the main church for a Mass so took a ramp down to the St. Faustina Chapel in the basement. Even though modern in architecture, it had a very holy feeling about it. Again within 10 minutes of having contacted the nuns who operate the shrine, we had Mass. Most of these places have a special liturgy all put together for you in many languages. This liturgy of course, had to do with the mercy of Christ.
We then drove on to our hotel, -- another Novotel. Our bus driver was fabulous. He would drive around for a short time, get his bearings, talk with our tour guide, Mariola, and Voila! There was our hotel!!!! We had a free afternoon to give the bus driver a much needed afternoon off.
113 posted on
07/02/2006 2:27:22 PM PDT by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: All
Some additional information and pictures of the Salt Mines.
Wieliczka Salt Mine, Poland
The salt mine at Wieliczka, near Kraków in southern Poland, is a World Heritage Site. This mine has been worked continuously since Medieval times. Miners have carved elaborate underground rooms and sculptures within the Miocene salt. Photo date 9/97; © by J.S. Aber.
Great cathedral, a large chamber carved entirely within salt, including floor,
walls, ceiling, and decorations. Chandeliers are made with salt crystals.
![](http://academic.emporia.edu/aberjame/ice/lec14/wielicz1.jpg)
in southern Poland
114 posted on
07/02/2006 3:02:48 PM PDT by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: Salvation
115 posted on
07/03/2006 5:51:50 AM PDT by
gadrael
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