Day 8&9 Krakow and out of Poland into Slovakia

Day 8&9     Krakow, Salt mines and on to Slovakia

The centre of Krakow is as good as its made out to be, better ....

Krakow centre...rain

Prague 

Wherever you are on a trip like this, parking up does make you worry a little.....here in Krakow our parking area was clearly a temporary area  - right in the middle of the city a small flattened ( and rain flooded) area where a building had recently been knocked down had been ‘acquired’ by a couple of ‘entrepreneurs’ who  had settled in with their tiny caravan and were charging 75p/hour...so we left all our belongings in their charge and made our way in to the centre, to a bar right in the middle off the Square. 

Coffee and cake, then rain came, so a quick look on the internet to check out the drink driving regulations........ 0.2mg/ something vs. 0.8 mg in UK, never knew we were so liberal compared with the rest of Europe – so a diet coke for me and a beer for S L

We took the van south to the Salt Mines – a bit touristy but spectacular.....we walked over 2km and over 130 m down underground....then the highlight – they pack 9 of you into an almost pitch black lift and fire you half the height of the Eiffel tower up to the surface in less than a minute.....made oh so much better by having some arrogant American dude have to expose his chronic claustrophobia to us all

Rain was horsing it down as we set off towards the Slovak boarder

Hotel was an absolute necessity and after a few rejections/dodgy conversations with unfriendly Hoteliers,  we finally got ourselves into one about 30 miles short of the border......60 quid buys you a lot ... 3 rounds of drinks, B&B for 3, meal for 3, waiters in Tux’s...... and nice grub too.

‘Alcohole’ – there are many ‘Alcohole’s’ in Poland – positioned erratically in out of town locations as well as suburbs – doing exactly what the name says.....24/7 alcohol providers to those that need and can’t plan their needs around the abundant Tesco’s and Lidl’s......I saw these first in Russia in 2001 on a lucky work exchange trip to Smolensk ( Nuc. Power station) where I can vaguely recall ‘using’ the said Alcohole in the early hours of the morning after a fantastic evening receiving the unbelievable hospitality of a Russian family, course after course of pukka food all accompanied by repeat vodka toasts.

The hotel room gave us access to Polish TV that was full of the after affects of flooding...we left and went down to look at the river – the water levels had dropped and numerous Poles were cutting up and removing trees that had been washed down from on high. Tesco’s and we laugh like drains as at how £20 can buy you more stuff than £70 would in Booths !

The Tatras mountains that sit on the Polish/Slovak border were shrouded in mist....we had planned cable car trips up and walks down but these were a clear non starter – mist plus recent snow putting  a stop to us.

Being a closet train nutter this Slovak station just does it -....... one carriage, grass covered tracks and a dilapidated station – doesn’t get much better

Slovakia so far looks quite different from CZ and PL – again vast areas of land with an absence of hedges,walls – fields that go on and on but a good proportion are not cultivated – left fallow to meadow grass in what is clearly great ‘growing’ land.....the towns have more of the 6 to 9 story flats and many less houses however the chavs are still chavs ....those grey tracky bottoms know no borders.

So a week since we first camped in Germany and we have now driven 2000km from home and seen so so much.....it feels properly eastern block on this campsite that is in such a beautiful spot – you can get a ‘bungalow’ here for £7 if you are on your own ( £20 for 3)  - a bed, a heater, a roof..... kitted out many years ago they are basic indeed and in the UK they would have been skipped back in the 80’s....we opt for the van. I have just gone to do the washing up and the camping reception has somehow truned into a mini nightclub – 30 arseholed Slovaks are dancing, cans in hand, makeshift red flashing lights..they, with smiles, tap Charlie on the head as we walk through the middle of them to get to the kitchen........

Charlie, and I , watch a Jay only a few yards away land and properly tackle a snake..his eyes are so wide.....mine too.....tomorrow we will try the ravine walk where there are plenty of photos and signs showing bears.....game on  !

Day 8            Krakow ( PL) to Myslenice ( PL)           58 km      Total     1856 Km

Day 9           Myslenice ( PL) to Hrabusice (SK)       141 km     Total     1997 Km