Apr 22, 2010 - Day 12 - final day in Krakow

Almost half way through and I think we’re starting to get a little tired – not of each other… just the moving every few days and walking god knows how many k’s a day is starting to catch up with us. So a lazy day in Krakow was needed. Unfortunately not the best day to be walking around with an Arctic wind cold snap coming through with a vengeance resulting in icy winds, a grumbly Amanda and even snow! But we made the best of it and headed off to the Jewish quarter in the morning. This area definitely had a different feel about it… with the...

Apr 21, 2010 - Day 11 - Auschwitz

Today, even after waking up a little worse for wear from the night before we caught the bus out to Auschwitz. Over an hour later we arrived at the most well-known German concentration camps from WW2. After walking through the infamous gate stating ‘arbeit macht frei’ (work makes you free), the misty and rainy weather set the scene for what would be a sombre day of seeing footage and photos of what it was like for those housed here and being able to walk through their living quarters and even see the torture chambers and incinerators where...

Aug 13, 2009 - Auschwitz, Poland

After arriving in Krakow, Poland on the luxurious and expensive 6 hour train I met up the following morning bright and early with Nic and Sean in the main square and caught a bus out to Auschwitz; a place which is seared into public consciousness as the location of history’s most extensive experiment in genocide. Established within disused army barracks in 1940, Auschwitz was initially designed to hold Polish prisoners, but was expanded into the largest centre for the extermination of European Jews. Another nearby camp was subsequently...

Jun 1, 2009 - Auschwitz/Birkenau

Wow, No words can explain the feeling you get when you drive up to the front gates of Birkenau concentration Camp. If I look angry in these photos it was because I was in complete shock. We spent last Sunday driving from Czestochowa, Auschwitz and Krakow. The scenery and experience were amazing. Auschwitz was a crazy experience. I took a lot of photos and some of the photos, have the wrong date so please don't mind that. Walking on the ground where many victims were slaughtered and made to work under the poorest conditions was shocking for...

May 22, 2009 - Auschwitz

Hi - Here are a few photos from the camps at Auschwitz and Birkenau, just west of Krakow. I've been reading a bit in this area and recommend reading Hannah Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem or Susan Nieman's Evil in Modern Thought. Note the differences between Auschwitz, which was relatively small and early in the process and Birkenau (Auschwitz II) which was huge and late in the process. Birkenau is the site of the camp in Schindler's List. Schindler's factory was in Krakow. The hostel I'm staying at is in a building taken over by the Gestapo...

Oct 17, 2008 - Auschwitz

We spent one of our Krakow days doing what every traveler to the region should do - we went to the town of Oswiecim. Oswiecim is better known by its German name, Auschwitz. The Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps, as a day trip from Krakow. There are tour companies offering expensive daily transportation out to the camps but it is as easy and much cheaper to catch a local bus or train from the main train or bus stations. We caught a 9:00 am bus out to Oswiecim that dropped us off at the entrance to the State Museum of...

Sep 11, 2008 - Auschwitz, Poland

Today we entered Poland and visited the concentration camps of Auschwitz 1 and Auschwitz Birkenau on our way to Krakow. I have visited the Dachau concentration camp in Germany, but it was nothing compared to Auschwitz. A local guide lead us through both camps, telling us in grim detail the sheer horror of what happened here. Words really can't describe it. Even after seeing so many movies and documentaries about the Holocaust, nothing compares to actually seeing this place in person. It's hard to believe human beings could be so cruel, and...

Jul 25, 2008 - Auschwitz

Tim -- I know the numbers: 6 million Jews, 10 million total exterminated; 1.5 million in Auschwitz alone (about 2700 people a day in one camp). I've seen the films, listened to survivors, and paid attention in history class. But after visiting Auschwitz and adjoining death camp Birkenau, I will never view the Holocaust the same way. We followed the recommended route on the map, and learned and experienced as much as we could. Much of what is there matches with what I've seen in pictures before, but one part of our visit to Auschwitz...

Jun 14, 2007 - Auschwitz-Birkenau

Today we went on a tour to Auschwitz and Birkenau. It was long and very hard. The tour started on the bus where we watched a movie about the liberation of the camp. First, we went to Auschwitz. THey took us through several of the buildings which are now set up like a museum. The first one we went into showed the process of how they registered each individual. We saw the clothing, thousands of shoes, combs, and a mountain of hair. All the actual remnants of what was found after the liberation. It was all very hard to see but especially when...

May 26, 2007 - Auschwitz, Poland

On the finally few days of our trip through Europe we were given the option to take a day trip to Poland to visit the Auschwitz concentration camps. Although I knew that this trip would be a difficult one I did not want to miss out on the opportunity to visit a place that plays such significant part in world history. The trip through Poland was beautiful and the small but very tall (averaging about five story)houses were a unique suprise to see. Once we arrived in Auschwitz, originally called Oswiecim, everyones mood changed and we realized...