Church time

After my organic coffee and date, poppy seed, orange cake, I headed off to do 2 churches.  The first was St. Francis Basilica, which is a gothic church and was Pope John Paul's church when he was the archbishop.  

It is so difficult to put into words what this place is like. There was a fire in the 1850s, so the church had to be redecorated.  These two Polish artists went after it, and it was a bit Diego Rivera and a bit Georgia O'Keefe, but is was completely beautiful and colourful.  There were simple patterns like hearts or big flowers that were repeated over and over with stained glass to match. I know this isn't the best picture, but it was no flash and gothic...aka dark.

After St. Francis, I went to St. Mary's Church.  The first church in this spot was in the 1200, but it was flattened by the Tater's.   It shares one of it towers with the townhall where the hejnal - hey now - is performed. They use the tallest tower and open one of the window on the top to do their performance.

 

Inside St. Mary's, there is an amazing wooden altarpiece created by a German called Veit Stoss.  It took him 12 years to complete, and he finished in 1489.  It is made out of oak and linden wood, and the average figure is just under 3 meters. 

I know, like wow, right?!?

I headed back to my new hotel for a bit of a rest.  Tonight, I am meeting the polish office for dinner.  The restaurant is in the Jewish quarter - I have high hopes.  I am a bit sad that the rain and humidity have given me a big blonde Afro, but what can you do.