Dzien Dobry

A good day in Kakow. After a good night's sleep, I came down for breakfast (a buffet of meats and cheeses and salads and breads and jams and...) and decided to see if I could extend my room. Check-out time would be Noon, and my train doesn't leave till 9pm, which means I would have to find a place for the steamer trunk or haul it around. The room was available, so all was taken care of, and I could launch into a leisurely day.

I went to the Marian Shrine Church in the center of the Old City for the 10am Mass. This being a Holy Day, it is therefore a holiday here in Krakow and lots of places are closed. The place was packed. At the end of the Mass there was Exposition and Procession with the Blessed Sacrament around the Church (I fell in with the people who followed in procession) and concluded with Benediction. Most of the Mass was in Polish, but some parts were in Latin. It was quite the religious experience ... I loved it. It was a wonderful way to mark the 22nd Anniversary of my Solemn Profession.

After Mass (which went about an hour a half) I walked to Wawel Castle and the Cathedral. I had to stand in line in the sun for about 20 minutes for a ticket, but it was worth it. Unfortunately, the Cathedral Museum was closed for the Holy Day. From the Cathedral, I went to the Archdiocesan Museum which is basically a John Paul II Museum, located in a house where he lived for about 20 years as Priest then Bishop. There were lots of JP2's personal effects from throughout his life ... very nicely done.

I came back through Szczepanski Place for another visit to the Pierogi Festival, then stopped off at another little shop for nalesniki ... Polish crepes with jam ... for dessert.

Now I'm back to the hotel to shower, rest a bit and pack up for the train. These have been two days (and money) well spent ... I'm glad I decided to make this trip.