Wieliczka and Zakopane

Sometimes you just need a break. In a beautiful place. Alone. To

figure everything out.

Last week the Erasmus students, European students studying abroad in Europe, arrived in Krakow. Because the others and I came from America, we aren’t Erasmus students but we have joined their Facebook and Whatsapp group so we can make friends and join their adventures. This week they had an event at a karaoke bar so a few of us went to sing and meet new friends. Bella and I sang California Girls, You Belong with Me and Dancing Queen. We made friends with about a dozen people from all different countries. I might attach a short clip of us singing on the YouTube Videos page.

On Friday, USAC took a trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine! The Salt Mine was only a 25 minute train ride away. Our tour guide, (underground) Anna, was amazing. She told us all about the history of the Salt Mine and gave a great tour. The best thing she said was “You can lick anything here!” and I said “Ok bet.” I had been talking about licking the salt walls since I got to Krakow so I had to do it. (Check the photos page for proof.)

Some fun facts about Wieliczka:

• We reached 135m below the surface, but the furthest point is 327m below the surface
• We climbed more than 800 steps
• They starting mining in the 13th century
• They kept producing salt until 2007
• They don’t mine salt anymore because the cost of production outweighs the income
• The chamber is 178 miles long
• Most of the salt is 80% pure, there was a small section that was 95% pure NaCl
• King Casimir the Great was the king who made labor laws about working in the mines
• Miners used horses to send salt to the top, they were the only animals underground
• We only saw 1% of the mine in the 90 minute tour
• There are about 90 different chapels in the mine, but we only saw 4
• The miners would great each other by saying “Szczesc Boze” which means God bless you

When the mine was active, only really famous and important people were able to visit, with the king’s permission of course. Those people include Nicolaus Copernicus, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and King Casimir the Great, who then had salt statues made of them.

The most famous salt statue is more like a scene. The legend says that Hungarian Princess Kinga was about to be married to the Prince of Krakow, Bolesław V the Chaste. She wanted a lump of salt for a dowry so she asked her father for it. Her father, King Béla, took her into the salt mine where she threw her engagement ring into one of the deep pits. When Princess Kinga got to Krakow, she wanted the miners to find her ring. The miners were able to and she became the patron saint of the salt mine! The scene displays her receiving the dowry.

Each chapel in the mine was really beautiful, but the church was absolutely gorgeous. Besides a little bit of wood, the whole thing is carved out of salt! I hope all my readers like destination weddings because I W I L L get married in a salt mine. I just haven’t decided if it will be the one in Colombia or the one in Poland.

Since we had a really early wake up call to get to the salt mine everyone crashed when we arrived back in Krakow. When I woke up, the homesickness that I kind of felt on Wednesday hit me hard. I had plans to hangout with Bree, Bella, and Mae but I just wasn’t feeling up for it anymore. Then Mae came into my room and suggested we go to the Czech Republic. We booked our tickets to leave that night and started packing. Then Bella came in and suggested that we go to Zakopane, Poland instead. So Mae and I changed our tickets and Bella and Bree booked theirs. We had 45 minutes to pack and get to the bus station. The four of us were running around like a chickens with our heads cut off but we made it to the bus stop on time and 2.5 hours later we were in snowy Zakopane.

Don’t ask how we managed to find a place to stay in Zakopane at the very last minute because it was a pure stroke of good luck. All I have to say is thank God for mountain mom and grandpa. Also shoutout to Molly, the cute dog that decided to like us on our last day there.

Zakopane is in the very south area of Poland, almost in Slovakia. It is surrounded by the Tatra Mountains. Zakopane is known for skiing, its a big tourist area for the Polish. Zakopane had a lot of snow, I almost went all winter without seeing snow. Even though it was cold out, it didn’t feel cold. It felt really refreshing.

On our first full day, Bree, Mae, Bella and I took a hike around our cabin, took pictures, and headed into town. We took pictures in front of the beautiful mountain in the snow. Centrum (city center) was about a 30 minute walk from our cabin but it was a beautiful day out so it was a nice walk. While in the centrum, we shopped for souveniurs and walked around enjoying all of the sights. We had Zakopane’s famous smoked goat cheese. That cheese SLAPPED. Poland is a really cool country because different cities will have foods specific to them that only certified businesses can sell. Krakow has obwarzanek. Poznań has St. Martin’s Croissants. Zakopane has goat cheese.

After a full day of exploring and walking, we spent some time relaxing in the evening. The next day, we hiked to the top of a hill and filmed a TikTok. That’ll be on the YouTube page soon too. By the time we were done, it was time to head back to the bus station.

Zakopane was exactly what the 4 of us needed. All of us were suffering from a bit of homesickness and some part of Zakopane reminded us each of home. For me, the mountains, ski slopes, nature, and tourists reminded me of my cousin’s house in Boyne City, MI. When I’m in Boyne, life slows down and I get to enjoy the outdoors and spend quality time with people I love. I am so glad Bella suggested Zakopane and we were able to make the trip work out last minute.

I got from Zakopane on Sunday, unpacked, repacked and headed back to the bus station on Monday. I’m writing this as I’m sitting on a train headed to Warsaw with Mae and Brian and we will meet up with Cedric once we arrive. We’re only here for a day and a half but I’m still thrilled to be visiting another Polish city. I’m not totally sure what we are going to do in Warsaw yet but we’re going to take it hour by hour and enjoy ourselves and the city.

Someone said to me “I feel like you’re in a new city every 2 days” and he isn’t wrong. This is exactly what I imagined my study abroad experience to be and words can’t express how happy I am that it’s happening. I’m a nomad and I’m living for it.