We showed up at the Auschwitz Concentration Camp only to discover it was closed because of a Survivors Parade. To them I would defer a visit any day; we'll try again on the 7th (Saturday).
We traveled back to Krakow, found a "Pilgrims' Price" hostel very close to the center ($15 per person per night!) and reserved it for two nights, and took a 2-hr "free" walking tour of the old Krakow City. Also made reservations for a pickup for the Salt Mines tomorrow at 9 am to go to Wieliczka (a short bus drive away).
We won't bore you with dozens of beautiful pictures of this impressive city except for two venues: (1) the Residence that St. John Paul II used when he came back to Krakow as well as the basilica where he would pray (he was archbishop of Krakow 64-78) and (2) the The Jagiellonian University founded in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kraków--it's the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world. And, its two most notable alumni are Copernicus and St John Paul II.
I had to include two pics of Eddie and me on the largest medieval market square (200 m. x 200 m.) standing by a row of carriages waiting to take tourists through the city and a second of us enjoying kebabs on the square with throngs of others.
