We left Krakow after breakfast for Zakopane, which is where JP2 would go to the skiing. It was a 2 1/2ish hour trip; we stopped for a bit o' lunch. The important thing to know about our drive is that we watched the movie that I will be henceforth be forcing everyone I know to watch - Karol: A Man Who Became Pope. I have it; we will watch it. I even have it in English, though it is PAL2. I'm going to find a way to convert it. And then have you watch it. It's the 2-hour summary of Karol Wojtyla's life from young adulthood to being named Pope (so... 25-30 years). Oh, I cried and cried. It was awesome. There's a second part (The Pope Who Remained a Man), but we didn't watch that until Roma, so hold your horses.
I would love to go back to Zakopane, just for the record.
We stayed at the Hotel Sabala, which is The where to go when you're in Zakopane, and it was fan freaking tastic. I seriously could have stayed there for a few weeks.
I would like to model Whispering Winds' permanent Dining Hall (when that day comes) after the restaurant here. I took video for this very purpose. I'm on a mission.
Our room
View out our windows
We went walking around in Zakopane a bit before loading up.
We through the Zakopane countryside to a church a few miles away which was built for JP2 and dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima.
St. Peter was manning the gate, which I think is just the coolest thing. I love this picture.
Ok, so I stood outside looking at the these main doors to the church for quite some time. They're hand carved wood and just gorgeous. I was in awe, not even getting into the symbolism. Sandy stopped with me for a moment and I oohed and ahhed to her. She said I "ain't seen nothin' yet," which I thought meant "just you wait until we get to Rome." As it turns out, she meant "just you wait until we go inside." This church was beautiful. None of my pictures came out very well, but it was full of the same hand-carved wood. It was very intricate and very overwhelming, the amount of work that must've gone into building this church. It was amazing.
After Mass, we went back to the hotel for dinner. This hotel was so awesome; have I mentioned?
Pierogi soup = yum
Cabbage rolls (golabki) = yum
The best part of the restaurant was the House Band, which you don't get to see until "tomorrow".
