Wawel Cathedral, Krakow, Poland

At the meeting point at 7 am, for a three hour drive to Krakow. During the journey we telephoned our hotel in the city to check our Saturday evening booking, to hear it is within the security zone for the funeral. Our rooms are safely booked, however, we will have to walk a distance from a drop off point and there will be security checks. Seemingly rooms in Krakow are now going for around £2,500 each!

We also had a text this morning from my family to say that UK airports are closed due to an ash cloud from a volcano in Iceland. As we have not been on the internet and the Polish news is reporting the air tragedy and funerals, we didn't know about this. "Hope the cloud moves by Sunday" was the comment.

We walked up to Wawel Hill, to the Cathedral and the Royal Castle. We had a tour of the Castle and saw the famous "Heads" looking down on us. The Cathedral will be the burial place for the President and his wife on Sunday. Preparations were already beginning for this important state event. Lots of press and TV vans around.

We then had a walking tour of the city, along the beautiful streets, to the University, to the area where John Paul II held audiences when he lived in Krakow, and to the Main Market Square. We saw the trumpeter on the hour at the top of St Mary's Church and I treated myself to some amber jewellery in The Cloth Hall market. The city was saved from bombing during WW2, and so much has been well preserved. After lunch, I visited St Mary's Church with KE, as we wanted to see the famous Altarpiece by Veit Stoss (Nurnberg, Germany,1483-1533) - huge and very elaborate. This will be the venue for the Funeral service on Sunday. I enjoyed watching the trams, the bagel sellers and the quaint cafe life.

We then travelled south to the famous Wieliczka Salt Mines. Definately worth a visit. 801 steps down and about 2.5 km of tunnelling. Everything is carved out of the salt, including the vast chamber of the Chapel of the Blessed Kinga. It is lit by salt-crystal chandeliers, the altar is carved out of salt as are the reliefs carved on the walls of the Last Supper etc. There was also a life size carving in salt of John Paul II. Even found a wi-fi connection underground. The lift back up to the surface was very small - I am not good in tightly packed lifts, so just shut my eyes.

Another journey into the mountains to Zakopane, arriving at our chalet hotel around 10 pm in the Koscielisko Valley. A late supper and a very welcome bed. What a wonderful day. Thank you to RL who had arranged this special day for us.