Czestochowa

It is a smaller city outside of Krakow (approximately 2 hour train ride) that is a pilgrimmage site because it has the Black Madonna at Jasna Gora. Agatha, Nick and I took the train to Czestochowa right after we arrived by the night train from Prague. Yes, we are crazy in case you are wondering! :)

As soon as you step off the train you can see the tower of Jasna Gora and all roads seem to lead to it. There were several gates that you cross through to get to the chapel each had a different theme and some statues included gold pieces. Then as you walk into the chapel, there are so many people but it is so quiet as everyone is in prayer. Agatha and I sat there for about 30 minutes in awe until the unveiling happened (approximately 1:00 pm). You know that it is about to happen because they play some very dramatic music as the veil is rolling up away from the picture. It is enough to give you chills for a long time (even thinking about it does that to me), I am so glad that we decided to go ahead and go rather than rest. After that we went into the arsenal and some other museums (I saw a display from 9/11 of a cross made out of the rubble, again very humbling).