salt mine, frog strangler, plums and cherries

last nights train from prague was about 30 minutes late...literally a train load of people were hanging out by the departure monitor waiting for the line to post...hadnt seen anything like that, trip to date. prague train station wins prize for the dirtiest yet.

waited with new friends from cinncinati...joe and tracey....they were on the same train...cars split during the night taking them to warsaw...my car and others to krakow. they are in poland for a about a week, joe on business...trying to get some fun in along the way...just emailed them my day here for their benefit...it really is great sharing and stealing ideas from fellow travelers along the way.

arrived about an hour later than scheduled in poland...krakow...about 745 am...locked george in locker number 122...hit the street...immediately approached by older gentleman...looked like a cross between my uncle raymond paynter and lysle misenheimer...76...driving cabs in this city for 50+ yrs...negotiated fare...sure i still got taken...to the wieliczka salt mine...thought i'd just left the salt mine...humor...great tour...2 hours...about 130 meters below surface...didnt buy any salt as i have rock, kosher, pickling, canning, iodized and non iodized in the pantry at home...plus it weighs a lot...KC dropped me at a traditional polish restaurant...yummy bread with 2 spreads...cottage cheese...more like cream cheese, onions, herbs...and lard...yes lard...with fried lard, apples, herbs and more onions...i thought you used lard for frying chitterlings...will have to add this to my cocktail party buffet next time

followed by beet soup with dumplings...unbelievably good...and then veal with mushrooms and more dumplings...mighty find lunch

castle was closed to tours...did see st marys church and wandered town...market...city center, etc...

huge storm...still going on...break 30 minutes ago...sought refuge in internet cafe...it is more than a frog strangler...more of a frawg strangler...ducked into first open doorway once the downpour was underway...a vodka bar...fate

hadnt had any vodka in 23 days...can still say that about coke...but not vodka...so many choices...like a 3 yr old in a candy store...sampled: lime, peach, honey and spice, plum, cranberry and more...opted for plum and cherries...meeerrrrcy..MERCY. mighty fine, mighty fine. sippin, not slammin shot. learned they also served salads...had a great salad...then, yes, another sippin shot as a digestive afterwards...man of habit, plum and cherries

tonight, overnight to budapest...late tomorrow heading to vienna...2 nights in a hotel...yes...time for laundry