Wow, what a different country but very cool in so many ways. This is my first eastern European country, or as locals will proudly remind you, they are CENTRAL Europe--not Eastern, which is why they have been at the middle of so many tussles over power and land over the centuries.
Here are some pictures of Wroclaw:
This is the view of the main town square from the kitchen window of my apartment. It was overcast and a little chilly the entire week I was in Poland.
This is another angle of the main square. It was very busy, but not packed. And definite didn't feel touristy:
About a 10 minute walk from my apartment there was a huge shopping center, that had every store imaginable (clothes, food makeup). There was a massive kiosk type thing set up in one section that had hundreds of pound sof different sausages, cheeses, and some pretty hardcore looking breads, a la Outlander style. I bought some kielbasa & a funky ass looking loaf of bread that looked like a seedy brown mushroom cloud. I tried asking if I could just buy a piece rather than an entire loaf but the salesman spoke no English-or pretended not to.
Along with some eggs, I'm ready to make my own breakfast. The apartment I found on Airbnb is adorable, and has a very cute modern galley kitchen.
Another angle of future breakfast with the view out the kitchen window. There wasn't air conditioning in the apartment but it was cool (cardigan needed) weather so I opened all of the windows. I'll take cool over heat any day.
Around the corner from my apartment I came across this pretty church. There was a weird beach scene in front, with sand and people lounging on beach chairs-despite the fact that it was only 63 degrees and sprinkling. It was like they were determined to experience the beach no matter what. I like and admire these Polish people.
Next to the church was a sausage kiosk. Sausages everywhere.
Shit, I took a picture of this guy and forgot his name already. He is one of many statues I came across in Poland. They like their statues almost as much as they like their sausages.
The building my apartment is in is on the far right, about halfway down the row. This is my first time using Airbnb, and I only tried it because the conference hotels all seemed way overpriced at $100+/night. I signed up for an Airbnb account and found my huge one bedroom apartment in the middle of all of the action for $60/night. I was able to make my own breakfast, and it had a washing machine too. I was in heaven.
Here is my conference program description. The conference is IASE, the International Association of Special Education. I first presented with them in 2011 when the conference was held in Namibia, Africa. Even though I only had 3 people show up to my session, we had a great conversation about online learning and I thought it went pretty well. Next conference in 2017 is in Australia, can't wait!
Took a break from the sausage to have a steak dinner. It was very good, with lots of root vegetables and turnips on the side.
So, I took a day to go to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. It was hard, but I felt like I had to see it, to bear witness to the evil that humans are capable of. I'd been to one other Nazi concentration camp before in Buchenwald, Germany. But this was surreal. First, as you approach the main gate, it looks like a peaceful farm.
Walking through the gate. our guide told us that as each prisoner passed thought a guard in the tower to the left called out their name. It was the last time they would hear it, once inside the camp prisoners were tattooed on the forearm and that was henceforth how they were referred to. 75% were sent to the gas chambers immediately, the others died within a few months of starvation and disease.
The buildings (called blocks) were surprisingly well made and orderly.
Almost like a campus, but there were reminders everywhere of what really happened here and why this was built.
Like this:
Mothers with their children being sent to the gas chambers:
Arriving at the train platform, prisoners were divided into two groups of men and women, then most were sent directly to the gas chambers.
You can see the boy in the middle holding a towel. They were told they were being sent to a disinfecting shower, and if they seemed nervous they were given a towel and a bar of soap. At the entrance to the gas chamber, which were all subterranean, they stripped their clothes and stepped inside. The canisters of gas were dropped down through holes in the ceiling. The chambers could hold up to 2,000 bodies at a time, and at it's peak 6,000/day were executed.
The hardest part of the tour was walking into a room he size of a small basketball court. It was filled with 2 tons of human hair, hair that had been shorn off inmates and dead bodies. When the Allies liberated the camp they found 7 pounds of human hair stored in sacks. The Nazis had been using the hair to make felt and netting. The hair was blond, brown, and gray, some still had braids and ribbons wound through it. It was sealed in a glass dome, but I swear you could smell it. The next room we walked into was full of infant & child shoes from when they took them off before the gas chamber. next room clothes. And so on.
Electrified fence surrounding a block, many prisoners committed suicide by running into it.
Exiting one of the gas chambers. They were claustrophobic inside, the terrain, memories, and ghosts.
There was a dog run on the perimeter of the camp. Dogs were trained to kill, and were fed the corpses of those who had been shot. This wasn't just an extermination camp, it was Disney for sadists and psychopaths.
Train tracks at Birkenau, about a 5 minute bus ride from Auschwitz. The difference between the two was a work camp vs a death camp. Birkenau was much larger and was built to put people to death.
Watchtower at Birkenau
Looking at the Watchtower from the end of the train tracks
More inmates being herded to the chambers. All of these pictures were taken illegally by SS soldiers, and found after the Allies liberated the camps.
"Forever let this place be a cry of despair and a warning to humanity..."
The Nazis tried destroying evidence of the gas chamber just days in advance of the Allied forces, but there was just too much to destroy
Barracks at Birkenau, they slept 7 people to a level, 200-300 in a building. One toilet they each had 30 seconds to use in the morning. Many died of disease, cold, and starvation before the chambers
Back in Wroclaw, my first try of pierogies ruskie. I was expecting something more like dumplings, but traditional pierogies are made with dough. Tasty, but very filling.
Walked to the train station in Wroclaw from my apartment, onto Poznan to see my Spinning teammate Maciej! Beautiful train station.
Umm, this was the bathroom door inside the station?
First view of Poznan, this is a huge lake in town with skiing and various sporting events.
Oldtown Poznan. It's smaller than Wroclaw but busy with people and activity.
My friend Majiec took me to a traditional Polish vodka bar. He didn't have anything because their drinking & driving laws are very strict. I tried what he gave me, first shot tasted like a lemon drop (Sue & Brandi!), second one was straight vodka. Good, and I'm done!
Next on to dinner, a famous brewery in town.
Next day in Poznan, I decided to do a walking tour of the city. I came across this curiosity. Same font and look, definitely not McDonald's.
City hall in Poznan. It was designed by an Italian. Every day at noon two goats wheel out of the top and butt heads. There's a long story about that I'll have to fill you in on over a drink some day.
St. Stanislaus church in Poznan
Town square in Poznan. the arquitecture is delightful
Poznan
Inside of St. Stanislaus church
Those two famous goats with a cool story that must be told in person :-)
Great idea for lounging around town, there was also another area set up with hammocks. People seemed relaxed and content. Lots of families and all ages mixing in
This was a tradition Soviet era office building that was round. This pic was taken in the lobby, looking straight up. There are 3 different staircases that start in the lobby, once you pick one you're committed all the way to the top, if you look carefully you can see the endpoint for each staircase
Sculptures outside the last castle built in all of Europe (1911)
#ihateselfies
Park behind castle in Poznan
Tribute to Lech Walesa and the overthrow of communist rule in Poland
I took this picture for my flower-loving sister Liza, this was the flower market in the main town square in Poznan.
I knew I was having dinner later with my friend, so I wanted a light lunch. Pea soup sounded perfect, and they brought me this monstrosity. It was delicious. I wasn't hungry again until breakfast the next day!
City hall in Poznan
For some reason I thought this building was very cool looking.
Walked through the old Jesuit campus to get to this part of town, which was very residential and quiet.
The cathedral in Poznan. Poland is 95% Roman Catholic, and Pope John Paul II is their homeboy-his picture is everywhere.
Selfie with my friend and Spinning Master Instructor compadre Maciej. Thanks for hosting me and showing me your beautiful country!
Train from Poznan to Warsaw took about 1 hr 40 mins. I was able to store my luggage at the train station since my hotel is all the way out by the Warsaw airport. I walked out of the train station and was greeted by the Palace. The tourist office was inside, they were very friendly.
Walking to old town, this is a statue of Copernicus. I forgot he was Polish. I also forgot how much Europe loves their statues. Poland seems to have a lot of them.
This looked important, but I couldn't find anyone around who spoke English and could tell me what they were guarding. Maybe a WWII memorial?
Another statue.
"Old town" Warsaw. This was completely razed by Hitler during WWII, as punishment for the Warwas uprisings. Everything has been rebuilt, pretty much exactly as it was before the war (my city tour guide had pictures)
This mermaid is the symbol of Warsaw. She swam up the river from Norway, was captured, released, and decided to stay.
Birthplace of Marie Curie. I visited her crypt last year in Paris. She was Polish, but married a Frenchman.
Fountain in front of Warsaw Supreme Court. These photos don't do the statues justice. They are beautiful (and huge, like 30 feet tall). They are called Faith, Hope, and Love.
I was walking back to the train station and saw signs for McDonald's (they are everywhere throughout Europe too) but also signs for "McFit". Wait a minute, could it be? Yes, a McDonald's Fitness club
This was the gym at my airport hotel in Warsaw. Very nice.
Last dinner in Warsaw, pork tenderloin. It was very good.
Farewell to Poland-it was a good trip and an interesting country, very different from western Europe in a good way.
