Logan Canyon

Linking to: Weekend Reflections

   A drive through Logan Canyon, Utah. My college buddy from Boise, Idaho and I met at Lava Hot Springs, Idaho -  soaked in the hot mineral water and spent the night. The next day we drove through Logan Canyon, Utah all the way to Bear Lake and back. Then we each went our separate ways, me to Salt Lake City and she to Pocatello to visit her grandson. 

   Pleasant Grove, Utah

Reflections in the lower windows.

Wieliczka Salt Mines

Did you know that salt comes in different colors? We are all used to white salt but in this mine there is blue, green, black and red salt as well.  This mine was built in the 13th century and is still operating.  It has dozens of statues carved from salt, three chapels and an underground lake.

Salt Mine Building

The first set of stairs in the building.

Be aware there are massive amount of steps going down into the Salt mine - I felt like I was in a Dr. Who film where there was never ending steps - well over 300. But in the end, you get to ride up the very old elevators to the exit.

Endless tunnels exist and much of the mine is closed to tourists but you still spend a good 2 hours seeing many statues and interesting areas.

The last supper carved in salt.

Linking to: Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Foods of Poland

Linking to Friday My Town Shoot Out

Breakfast in Augustow - best deviled egg ever! Huge selection of foods for breakfast - the only item I did not care for was the pickled fish.

Shrimp appetizer in Krakow - yum.

 Fresh tomatoes and mozzarella. - Smachna

 Chocolate tort with mandarin oranges - Krakow

 Torts, cheese cake, pound cake, chocolate cake, apple and rhubarb tort, berry tort - they were all yummy - Klobuck

Polish donuts in Warsaw - paczek.

 Hot chocolate with ice cream and whip cream - Krakow - Wawel Castle.

 Every display of ice cream took my breath away - mall in Warsaw.

 Grilled polish sausages in Klobuck on my cousins's grill.


Pyzy z miesem (potato dumpling and meat with salad - just south of Sztabin.

I wish I had taken more photos of the food but I forgot to take my camera or forgot to take pictures because I was anxious to eat. I never ate one thing in Poland that wasn't to my liking except that pickled fish.

 Inside the Miode & Vino Restaurant (Honey & Wine), they served Boars Head, Venison, Beef, Pork and Chicken.  I opted for a salmon and spinach periogi - yum! It was delicious.

A fabulous desert in Warsaw with a rich creamy filling between moist chocolate cake and fudge frosting on top.

Krakow Fence

Linking to Good Fences

Down to the last of my photos from Poland.

 Green fencing. I think it must rain a lot here because it was so green next to the Vistula River.

 Krakow - no fence here but a railing on top the building with faces.

Notice the Hard Rock Cafe. This was just outside of the gigantic mall in Warsaw.

 Tree fencing. We fence trees to keep deer away, this fencing must be to protect trees from cars.

Fence made from carved salt. Everything in this photos was carved from salt except the chandelier, the light and bouquet of flowers.

Jadwiga King of Poland

Jadwiga (Hedwig) was crowned King of Poland in 1385 at the tender age of 11 and remained King until she married Jagiello, Grand Duke of Lithuania.[1]

Jadwiga was the youngest daughter of Louis I of Hungary and of Elizabeth of Bosnia. Jadwiga was descended from the House of Piast, the ancient native Polish dynasty on both her mother's and her father's side. Her paternal grandmother Elizabeth of Poland, Queen of Hungary was the daughter of King Władysław I, the Elbow-high (the short), who had reunited Poland in 1320.

Jadwiga died at age 24 in 1399 giving birth to a daughter who also died. She is buried in the Cathedral of St. Stanislaw and Wacław at Wawel Castle in Krakow.

When I took this photo, I noticed that a dog lies at her feet and is part of her sarcophagus. This sleeping dog is a symbol of fidelity. She is buried among the royal tombs where most of the Polish Kings lie in rest.  

Some of these photos are not mine but a few of them are which were taken inside the Cathedral at Wawel Castle. I was not sure that I was allowed to take photos there but I snuck in a few.

You notice, it is slightly slanted, it is one of my photos.  This was King Wladyslaw, the short.  I noticed that almost all of the kings have little endearments with their titles. This would have been Jadwiga's great grandfather.

[1] Information and some photos from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jadwiga of Poland

 Vasa Chapel in Wawel Cathedral

Zygmunt 1, the Old

Warnenczyk

Apparently, there is a dragon's lair underneath the castle, which I missed and I also missed the staterooms, which one have heads on the ceiling.

Old Town Krakow

Linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Old town Krakow

St. Florian's Gate,  built in 1307. Krakow's royal route begins at this gate and winds through the Old City to Wawel Castle.

Krakow Barbican - this is the original fort built in 1498, one of three in Europe that is still standing.

Looking inside the Barbican

Originally, the barbican was attached to the city wall.

 This is what the barbican looked like when it had a moat.

 Carriage rides within Old Town Krakow.

 Another gate

 Music at the entrance to the Old Town

City wall interior.

Utah Lake and the Rocky Mountains

Linking to Friday My Town Shootout

and Skywatch Friday

I am surrounded by mountains. I feel lost without them and I get my bearings of north, south, east and west from them. This stunning view is on the west side of the valley from where I live looking east over Utah Lake at the rockies. I went to a Luau that evening and was treated to some Island dancing.

I am very rarely on this side of the lake so was caught with awe and wonder at this extraordinary view.

Later that same evening, the moon popped out.