We left early in the morning to drive to Oswiecim, 68km away. We visited Auschwitz 1, which is a real eyeopener. It is a must see for everyone, and an experience I will never forget. It is interesting to walk around the site, looking at the buildings and displays, but the pictures of some of the victims really made the gravity of the events hit home. All the faces were expressionless and wide-eyed.
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| Entrance to the gas chamber |
For me, the tears started to flow when I saw the pictures of the children, and read their stories. One in particular caught my attention because she died on the same date as MOH's birthday. She was a pretty young girl, but the look on her face and the tear welling in her eye showed her fear and dread. She died after 2 years at the camp.
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| Auschwitz |
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| A Killing Wall |
It is heart breaking to think that people were subjected to such conditions and treatment. We went quickly through the gas chambers, and I could not continue. Luckily we did not go on an organised tour because it would have been too much. There are large displays of their belongings including shoes, luggage, clothes, pots and pans, combs and other accessories like glasses and even prosthetic limbs and hair. I could not look at this display. We decided not to go to the other site, Birkenau. No pictures of actual people out of respect. Enough said.
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| The striped pyjamas |
I am still paying for our trip to the Salt Mine yesterday - aching legs and feet, I've used muscles I didn't know I had! We came back to the apartment to decompress and have lunch.
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| MOH couldn't resist |
Later, we took a walk to the other side of the Centrum, to Wawel Castle. We passed the Cloth Hall again, and there was a lot of police officers decked out with shields. We wondered what was going on, and soon realised that the soccer fans had congregated in the square when they started chanting. We took pictures and moved on, not wanting to be involved in any kerfuffle.
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| Krakow football fans |
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| Police presence - just in case |
The State rooms of Wawel castle contain loads of furniture and huge tapestries from around the 16th century. No pictures allowed inside unfortunately. The cathedral dates back 900 years. Not sure how old the rest of the buildings are.
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| Entrance to Wawel Castle |
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| Inside courtyard |
I am physically and emotionally exhausted by the end of the day so we head home for dinner and rest.
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| Statue of Smok - the resident dragon |
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| MOH's favourite church in Krakow |
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