We had an early start to the day as our bags had to be outside our room by 6:30. We got up at 6:00 and set the bags out on the way down to breakfast. We left the hotel at 7:30 and had a long day on the bus on our way to Krakow, Poland.
We stopped at a highway rest area. There was a McDonald’s but I didn’t walk over to it. We went into the petro store. They don’t sell Diet Coke here – I tried a Coke Zero but never again. I took two sips and had to throw the rest away. Gas is over $7 a liter of gas here. Not sure how they afford to drive.
Our first stop of the day was at the Jasna Gora Monastery where there is a Black Madonna icon. This is a very popular stop in Poland with millions pilgrims from all over the world coming to see it yearly. We got lucky and it wasn’t crowded today.
We had a local tour guide take us into the chapel where the icon is. They were conducting mass and at the appropriate time we were able to walk up to the altar and see the icon. They were still having mass but evidently expect tourists to go through during mass.
We were told that many that come as a pilgrimage walk on their knees as they approach the Madonna. Reminded me of the cathedral in Santiago, Spain where people end their Camino walk by walking on their knees into the Cathedral.
The outer part of the church was adorned with lots of gold as was the alter itself. I had seen another Black Madonna in Brazil. I liked that one better.
They have 100 monks who live in the Monastery. There were lots of nuns and priests coming and going. It felt like a sacred spot and there were plaques commemorating the miracles of healing that have happened here. Not being Catholic, I’m not sure I understood all of the meaning of the place.
A stole the Pope was wearing when there was an attempt to kill him was hanging by the icon on the alter. It still had his blood on it. I think he was the Pope that was from Poland and is still revered to this day.
It was a foggy day all day today. It felt like snow can’t be too far away. I swear I could smell snow in the air today. It wasn’t too cold if you weren’t in the wind.
We didn’t get a lunch stop today. I had a chicken stick that I ate as well as a local candy bar the tour guide passed out for us.
After another bus ride of a little less than two hours we got to our hotel in Krakow. About an hour after we checked in, Nicole left to go on the optional tour of a salt mine. I stayed behind and took a nap and went down and had dinner. There is a group dinner tonight at 8:00 but that is way too late for me to eat. I promised Nicole I would go down and get a glass of wine for her and then I will come back up to the room.
Tomorrow we have a mainly walking tour of the City. I am thinking I might skip that. A little before lunch we have an optional tour of Auschwitz. I guess that will take most of the afternoon as it is over an hour bus ride away. We have dinner on our own tomorrow night when we get back from Auschwitz.
Sunday we have a long bus ride to Budapest, Hungry where our River Cruise begins. I don’t think the cruise ship will be leaving dock but we will be using it as a hotel for three nights. After that we bus to another River Cruise ship and do the same thing for another three nights.
The countryside was beautiful with the fall colors. They have a lot of aspen trees whose leaves were shimmering in the light wind. It was mainly flat with a few small hills and valleys. I saw lots of farm land but no animals in pastures.
Smooth trip so far. Still haven’t found many others to talk to. I am not good with small talk and I haven’t heard any discussions get beyond that yet.
This trip doesn’t feel quite as foreign to me as the trip to India and Nepal did. Although you hear different languages being spoken, one doesn’t see a lot of diversity in the color of the people around you.
What a privilege it is to travel the world. We were told about their education system and healthcare system today. For a long time, their public schools have been regarded as much better than the private ones. College is free as is the public schools. Healthcare is provided through their taxes they pay. Maternity leave is paid for one year and then you can take a second year without pay and your employer must bring you back to your job at the same level and wage. If you have a premature baby, your paid time is extended for the amount of time the baby is in the hospital. Why can’t the USA get its act together and offer the same?
The hotel rooms so far look like I am in the USA. They even have wash cloths most of the time. Nicole went to the workout room yesterday and was impressed with what they offered. Hard to know I am in a foreign country over 4,500 miles from home.
I was surprised to see that they drive on the same side of the road as Americans do. I thought all of Europe reversed that.
More grand adventures tomorrow.
Grateful for a safe travel day on a bus, grateful for a quiet afternoon in my room, and grateful to experience a different way of living on this planet we share.