The first meal provided by the conference was mystery sausage. I can't wait to see what's next.

Along with this wonderfully free trip are free excursions. One of the choices was the Wieliczka Salt Mine, which I've seen time and time again on the Discovery and Travel Channels. Unfortunately, this trip was already full when I registered for the conference. For that trip I am going to Auschwitz. I have been reminded several times already that this will be a deeply emotional experience and that I should be mentally prepared for it.

Because I couldn't go to the salt mine with the tour group, I went today.

First, let me say that the fact that I know no Polish is really a hurdle---a really high hurdle. I had to get on a bus and go to another town to get to this place. I went alone. It was an interesting experience. Somehow or other I managed to get to the salt mine. I then got to stand in a ridiculously long line (over an hour) to get an English-speaking tour ticket. I could have skipped most of the line and jumped on a French tour, but I was worried I wouldn't understand too much. When I got into the tour, I quickly found out that I was seemingly the only American and there were a handful of British thrown in, but the vast majority were actually Polish who spoke English and didn't want to stand in the ridiculously long Polish line. Clever. Anyway, I somehow made it back to Krakow. I don't question this.

Here's some salt growing on rock salt. I like crystals. This is a cauliflower growth pattern for obvious reasons.

This museum was absolutely ridiculous. It was so over-the-top tacky; I loved it.

Aside from just the salt deposits there were lots of salt carvings from over the years.

My favorite statues include a plethora of gnomes.

I have another FANTASTIC picture of the gnomes that you just have to bear witness to in my presence because I want to see reactions. I wish I had a video of the display because it was priceless. Unfortunately, I didn't think that fast.

However, I did think fast enough at a mechanical model. I apologize for the camera angle because I was covertly trying to take the video without being blatantly obvious...as it's ridiculous. This is what I'm talking about with the tacky (as well as life-sized models of miners that were just so awful I laughed a bit harder than appropriate when I saw them).

The main draw to this place are the salt chapels. This is the most famous. It's the chapel devoted to Saint Kinga. She's all over Polish legend, but apparently was a real princess. Pope John Paul II also made her a saint. Because of that, the fact that he visited the mine three times (none while Pope), and he was Polish, there is also a statue of him in the back of the chapel. Apparently, they have services every Sunday morning in the salt chapel, as well as concerts and weddings. Nifty.

Everything in there is made of salt...floor, walls, alter, statues, chandeliers, etc. Yes, those chandeliers are made of salt crystals...obviously with light bulbs.

That about sums up the salt mine. It was ridiculously amusing for me. The bus trip back involved some amusing English tourists.

I got back to the dorm to find out that a small detail had been left out at my registration yesterday. I was to return the key to the front desk before I left. One would think that this would be an important detail to share. This means that the two other Americans that I won the award with that were supposed to room with me couldn't get into the room. I got a very condescending lecture from the registration people until I stated that they didn't tell me that and then I got no apology. Not surprising. Presently, I have no roommates, but I moderately fear returning tomorrow to find that I have a roommate.

What remained of the day was dinner and the Welcome Party. The Welcome Party was entertaining as we got coupons for drinks that said "Enjoy your beer! :)"