Auschwitz and Krakow

On the way to Poland, we stopped at Auschwitz concentration camp. Though it seems inappropriate to say we were excited for this visit, Laura and I were quite interested in this stop. Teaching Night and talking about the Holocaust will be an entirely different experience after seeing the actual place. Our guide quoted several passages from Night while on the tour. The words were haunting. 

Below is the "work will set you free" gate. This this is a replica since the original gate was stolen in 2006 and broken into parts. They are in the process of restoring it. 

Auschwitz I has been turned into a museum. The inside of the buildings have been renovated to show off the display cases. You went in different blocks to see different exhibits. 

The shoe display is similar to the one in DC. They also had displays of various other belongs,including the human hair they cut off and sold for textile purposes. When the Russians entired the camp at liberation, they found tons of hair remaining. 

After an hour in Auschwitz I, we drove over to Auschwtiz II (more commonly known as Birkenau). This was left in its original form. One of the strangest feelings to have while walking around this area was how lovely a day it was. 

Below you can see the entrance where the trains pulled in to drop off the cars of people. 

The picture below is of the destroyed gas chamber and crematorium. The Germans destroyed these as the Russians were closing in with hopes of destroying their evidence. 

We continued to Krakow after. We got there just in time for dinner and a quick walk around Krakow. I was impressed and liked it more than I anticipated. Below is St. Mary's church. 

Today we got to sleep in some and explore the city at our leisure. Laura and I found some great souvenirs at The Cloth Hall, a market that has been there since the 13th century. We then continued down to Wawel Castle. There were so many children on field trips here. There is a legend about the castle being built after the defeat of a dragon who lived in Krakow before settlers. 

In the afternoon we went to the salt mines. It wasn't the best tour, but still interesting to see all the statues they have made out of salt. Below is a cathedral carved out of salt. The only things that aren't salt are the electric part of the light fixtures and the seats/benches. 

The pope is everywhere in Poland, as they are predominantly Catholic. Here he is carved out of salt. 

Tomorrow we are off to Budapest!