New Year holidays. Part 2. Wonderful Krakow and surroundings.
After a good night's sleep, we left the hospitable house in the village of Borisovo, packed our things and headed towards Poland, to the border crossing Domachevo. The distance to Krakow is a little less than 500 km. As a rule, it is easier to cross the border in Domachevo (no trucks, no buses), especially when the path lies not to Warsaw, but to the south. The full passage of the border did not take even half an hour: standard questions about the purpose of the trip, the presence of products prohibited for import. To the question of the Polish border guard: "- What will you eat if you do not carry food? ", I answered with a smile that there are many roadside establishments in Poland where you can eat delicious food! In fact, I didn’t dissemble!
Our way through Radzyn Podlaski and Radom. Just this section of the road is less busy. We don't have a lot of snow, the track is dry. Not far from Radom we stopped to eat and rest a bit from the road. Unfortunately, after Radom, the road turned into an ordinary Polish drag, and the remaining half of the journey stretched for several long hours.
Krakow. Cloth stall
In Krakow, we booked apartments TWW Stary Browar in Grzegorski district. 50 km from Krakow, we phoned a representative of the apartments, and by the time we arrived, a young man was already waiting for us. He showed the apartment, handed him a card from the underground guarded parking lot, accepted payment from the card, and we never saw him again. The apartments are as in the photos presented when booking, with everything you need, with furniture and all the "contents" from Ikea. Located in the complex of the old brewery. The exterior interiors have retained their historical appearance. There are many offices on the territory of the complex, a very cozy brasserie. Apparently very popular by the number of visitors.
The same evening we walked towards the shopping center Gallery Krakowska, located 5 minutes walk. The evening atmosphere of the city was reminiscent of the past Catholic Christmas and New Year. On the square in front of the Gallery, stalls with sausages and smoked cheese, sweets and mulled wine. We enjoyed tasting the presented "menu".
In Poland, we planned a small excursion program for ourselves, so the next day we went to Wieliczkato get acquainted with the salt mines, the development of which began in the 13th century. The journey from Krakow takes about 20 minutes.
Now it is a very popular and visited tourist place with corridors and galleries, shops and cafes. 800 steps immediately take you to the underworld.
Next to the mine
In the mine
Following the guide, you walk through the labyrinths of the mine, learning the history of its origin and development.
Gallery in a mine at a depth of 120m
At the end of the tour, there is free time that you can spend using the children's playroom, buying souvenirs or in a cafe. The exit from the underworld is carried out by lifting in a mining elevator.
Walls of salt
Velichka. Salt Mine
Evening Wieliczka pleasantly pleased with the soft illumination of houses and streets.
Initially, our trip was planned in Zakopane, to a ski resort, but at the last moment it was "redrawn" into a tourist study trip. Nevertheless, we could not deny ourselves the pleasure of climbing into the Tatras.
Therefore, the next day we started with a trip to the foot of the Tatras in Bialka Tatrań ska, where the Terma Bania thermal complex is located.
The convenient location next to the ski slopes ensures the constant presence of a large number of visitors. Inside, the territory is divided into several zones: active, where there are slides and a children's area; relaxation area and bath area. We saved up tickets for the first two. I would like to note the high temperature of the water in the pools of the complex, so after 20-30 minutes of stay you turn into boiled fish with a desire to freshen up. Outdoor swimming pools contribute to this.
We devoted the third day of our stay in Krakow to the city itself, or rather its historical part. We walked along the streets of the old city, visited the Wawel Castle, sat in a cafe.
Krakow. St. Mary's Church
The last day of our stay in Poland was remembered by a long return to the border and a 4-hour wait to cross it. And no wonder, because there were a huge number of cars with Russian numbers at the border, people were returning home from the traditional long New Year holidays.
Like us!
Travel with pleasure!
