On Friday when we arrived Jill, Jahrielle, Tawny, Gabby, and I went and explored the center square and had dinner. I got a cheesecake and it wasn't good. No one really liked the food so we knew for sure the next night it had to be better.
On Saturday morning when we got up it was time to visit Auschwitz. I knew the site would be strong but I had no idea it would be this strong..
We started off at Birkenau. Just driving up to the sight, with no one telling you we had arrived, you knew exactly what it was. The bus just fell silent. This place is also known as Auschwitz II. It was just depressing. You could feel it in the air. You walk the same path that these innocent people did. That the Nazi's did. That even Adolf Hitler did. When you walk in through the gate you follow the train tracks the brought the people in. You see the cow cart that sits on the tracks and you see exactly where the Nazi's separated wives from husbands, mother from children and where people stood to be taken to the gas chambers not even getting the chance to fight for life. We were then led to the gas chambers. Neither one here are still standing due to people burning them down. Even though you just see the remains the weight of what happened there still affects you. We then went to the sleeping chambers. Seeing where everyone had to lay, such a small space and so many people crammed into one spot, breaks your heart.
http://www.cracow-life.com/poland/auschwitz-birkenau-deathcamp
the womens sleeping chamber
the outside looking in
sleeping chambers
where the train came in
guard stand
cattle car in which the people arrived in
gas chamber
memorial of the gas chamber
the ditch where the people's ashes would lie until they needed to be cleaned out
gas chamber
in memories of all those who suffered here (in hungarian)
women's sleeping chamber
the guards slept here
where the train came into the camp
cattle car
toilets
After visiting Birkenau we went to Auschwitz I. Auschwitz I has a museum to go with it. For me this is when it all hit me truly. With the museum you saw the realities, the hair, the glasses, the suitcases, the legs, etc. We saw where people would go for their punishment. Where guards would hang people to show an example. And walked inside the buildings people were forced to build.http://www.cracow-life.com/poland/auschwitz-death-camp
the famous sign over Auschwitz
each building had a block number
the buildings they were forced to build
shoes..
punishment rooms
the shooting area. a story we were told:
When they would kill a family the children were first to go,
One mother had to hold her baby while it was shot, then watch
her two kids get shot. After them she proceeded to be shot
followed by her husband.
This story broke my heart, watching your kids die is something I could never do.
in between the electric wires
I couldn't bring myself to take many pictures. It was just too sad/ disturbing.
After the tour of Auschwitz we went to a salt mine. We weren't allowed to take photos in it, so our head adviser did for us. It was interesting. They turned into a museum/underground city about salt mining. The walls are truly salty though! :) http://www.krakow-info.com/wielicz.htm
After the salt mine we got to go around Krakow again. We, Jill Tawny Gabby Jahrielle Maddy and me. We had a Polish dinner. They are very big on dumplings. So I had sweet cottage cheese filled. Super delicious. (Nagyon Finnom) then we took a carriage ride around the town. It was so worth it because it was raining outside. So basically we saw the whole main part of the city without walking. Perfect combination. Plus we made some new friends as we passed along. Afterwards we shopped a little. As they were in the shop I was holding umbrellas outside under a cover way. While standing out there a guy came up to me and started talking to me in Polish. And when I responded saying I didn't speak Polish he then asked if I was Russian. That was definitely a first for me. As we started on our way back to the hostel my umbrella decided to flip out the other way. Plus it was dark and since I wore TOMS my feet were pretty much drenched. I looked like Mary Poppins running through town.
Overall I really love Poland and I can't wait to go back someday!
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