Day 13 - Saturday 21/09/2013 Auschwitz and Wawel Castle

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.

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.

Auschwitz

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.

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.

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.

Krakow football fans

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.

Entrance to Wawel Castle

Inside courtyard

I am physically and emotionally exhausted by the end of the day so we head home for dinner and rest.

Statue of Smok - the resident dragon

MOH's favourite church in Krakow

 

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Day 12 - Friday 20/09/2013 Wieliczka Salt Mine

After a 10km drive from central Krakow, we arrived at the Wieliczka Salt Mine. It is 700 years old and has 2,400 chambers and tunnels over 245km long. It would take about 4 months to see everything - thankfully, it's only a 3 hour tour. We descended 371 steps down into the mine (90 metres) before the tour started.

Going down the steps into the mine

Almost everything is salt - the floor, walls and ceilings. There are salt chandelliers and sculptures. The horses used to live their whole lives in the mine because it's too difficult and dangerous to raise and lower them safely. There are huge caverns in the mine where they hold events like weddings. Mass is celebrate every Sunday in the main cathedral. By the end of the tour we had descended to 164 metres. The camera coped better in the dark areas, so more photos later.

A salt statue

MOH and STS with salt statue

Definitely worth a visit if you're ever in Krakow.

Examples of salt

We left our car at the apartment, and walked to the Stare Miasta, the old town centre, to see the Cloth Hall. It was originally a trading market building, and is the oldest existing market building in Europe. These days it is full of souvenir stalls - lots of amber, jewellery, small trinkets like keyrings and figurines. Outside are more stalls with antiques and collectables, handmade crafts and bits and bobs.

Cloth Hall

Inside Cloth Hall

It is surrounded buildings and sculptures. In the evening there are lots of horse drawn carriages for the tourists to go on a short tour.

Carriages at Krakow

On our way to and from the Cloth Hall, we passed the Barbacan and the old towns fortification.

Inside the town walls

We walk home after a big day, for some rest.

 

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Day 11 - Thursday 19/09/2013 Drive to Krakow

After breakfast and a walk around the local streets and shops, we hit the road again.

The Palace of Culture, Warsaw - built by the Russians

View of our hotel - our room is behind Franklin Templeton's right eye

This time a four and a half trip to Krakow. We stopped at McDonald's for lunch and realised we had WiFi access - an opportunity to publish another post. I'll post the rest of the entries tonight at our apartment. Some men were hanging around our car so we didn't stop for long, and rushed out before our toilet break.

Sights along the way - an hotel

Sights along the way

The drivers are crazy here, and take dangerous risks. The speed limits seem to be optional. If we have an overtaker in oncoming traffic, we are obliged to move over to the emergency lane. Motorbikes in particular, and some cars, seem to just swerve in and out of traffic at will, and some highways have arrows on the road showing where you can overtake. Risky business!

It's raining today! but not cold.

We had difficulty finding our apartment, even though we were in the right street. We ended up phoning the contact person who saw us outside. She came in the car with us, to show us the way because there are several one way streets locally.

Poster for DJ's - isn't that Dame Edna?

We had to pay up front and thought we could use our Traveller's card, which has euro on it. We were quoted in euro when we made the booking, however, they only accept zloty. (At least I'll have more spending money in Berlin!) Now we'll have fees on our credit card, which we wanted to avoid. Also, withdrawing euro at the ATM is not working here. Instead of giving the option of euros, it only pays in zloty, and converts from Australian dollars - more fees! Luckily there are a lot of money exchange places, and we have been able to exchange Australian dollars for zloty.

I am happy that we have a washing machine here, because some of our clothes can almost stand up by themselves! (Slight exaggeration!)

We went to get food items from the supermarket at a shopping complex nearby, and prepared hotdogs for dinner. We have a big day tomorrow, so need a good sleep tonight.

 

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