Rob and I got up at 9:30 and ate another great breakfast. My laundry had been delivered inside my room in the morning, so I head fresh clothes from the start of the day. While Rob got ready to go for the day, I went and got a haircut at a highly recommended barber shop right next to the hotel. I think they did a wonderful job, and the hair washer lady at the shop was gorgeous. I did not mind her washing my hair at all.
Rob and I headed slowly over to Wawel Hill where the Royal Castle and Cracow Cathedral are located behind fortified walls. We stopped in shops and admired street painters on the way. Once there, we bought tickets for the Dragon’s Den and for the Armory. It would begin to be much more than that to see the apartments. The cathedral was free. Tickets are in high demand and limited by the hour, so Rob and I were very lucky to get the tickets we did (many on our tour did not get a chance to see anything but the Dragon’s Den). We went into the treasury/ armory, and I saw a marvelous collection of armor, swords, guns, cannons, pikes, maces, horse armor, shields, and a variety of jewelry, china, and gifts to the king. The most beautiful armor was plated and had attached feathered wings to the back breastplate that came up as high as the head. The most interesting weapon was the pistol sword. It was a full-length sword with a gun that would shoot out down the side of the blade. I thought it was strange those were not more common. We went from the armory to the Dragon’s Den. At the entrance of the Den was a great view of the city and the nearby river. Down a spiral staircase, we came into an actual cave that was said to have housed a dragon. It was beautiful, but it hardly cost the dollar I spent to go in. A fire-shooting statue of a dragon lived just outside, and a whole fieldtrip of kids surrounded it with smiling faces.
We left then to eat lunch. We happened upon a Polish fast-food place called “Kebob”. It was similar to a Moe’s in that you ordered the type of meat and fillings you wanted for the gyro-like sandwich they created for you. It was really good.
We headed for St. Mary’s Church in the town square near our hotel. We somehow snuck in with a tour group that was watching the noon reveal of The Assumption of the Virgin
(a huge wooden centerpiece) and avoided paying, which was unintentional but nice. I really hate the idea of paying to go into a church. It seems wrong. The church was gorgeous with huge blue ceilings and a beautiful altarpiece. I saw the Slacker Crucifix; apparently it is a very famous crucifix made by Veit Stoss. We left to go back to the hotel and rest.
Rob and I missed the other guys for dinner, so he and I went back to the restaurant from the night before. I got a filet of beef that came out on fire (for effect). It was delicious. Then we had some apple pie that was also great. With such an early wakeup call for the next morning (5:30), we headed back and packed. I went to bed.
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