Arrived in Krakow, to be greeted by falling snow. The flight was very good ( Easyjet ) and the landing very smooth. We had booked a transfer from the airport and a wee man with a sign " John lewis " was waiting for us. We stayed at Novatel centrum, just beside the Old Town. We got changed and settled in to our new surroundings. We headed for the city centre, and I have to say that the snowy scene was lovely. The buildings are very old, I couldn't get over the how photographic every inch is. Backgrounds galore. We explored the cloth room, very much like Coventry Garden. Then went to McDonald's for tea. When we got back to the hotel it was dark. Hot bath then an early night.
We promised ourselves that we wouldn't rush so we started the day at a leisurely pace. We booked two trips for later in the week at reception and then after several wardrobe adjustments, headed off on foot to find the Jewish quarter. The weather couldn't be better, lovely sunshine and around 8 degrees.
We found a very quaint coffee shop and had some coffee and carrot cake. Lorraine had hot chocolate, but it was very different from what we are used to, almost like the chocolate you get with profiteer rolls.
From here we visited a very unique Jewish book shop. Lorraine was engrossed in the books but I was more interested in the beautiful light streaming in through the windows.
We intended to visit a synagogue but we went to the Jewish museum. Lorraine was a bit Disappointed in the Jewish quarter, she expected to see everyone wearing black hats and long beards.
We walked a short distance further to the Oscar Schindler museum, again not what we expected not the factory but another museum dedicated to the Nazi occupation.
We got a ride to the old town square and found somewhere for tea, a little bit more up market from McDonald's this time. All in all we enjoyed a lovely day, if some what exhausted.
Day 3
Auschwitch-Birkenau.
I learnt a lot today. Auschwitz was not what I thought it was, that's the mistake of taking Hollywood to literally. Although Auschwitz was a death camp it could only kill 600 Jews every two days. A second camp Birkenau had to be built and it was 25 times the size of Auschwitz. The iconic images you have seen on the big screen are more attributable to Birkenau camp. During the second world war over 1,000,000 people were murdered at these camps.
Birkenau was originally a farming town, but the town was demolished and the bricks ect recycled to build blocks to hold prisoners. When they ran out of materials, the shipped old wooden farm buildings and stables, and recycled the timber to build wooden huts to house prisoners.
Birkenau had two crematorium, and was able to be run much more efficiently as a killing machine, however just before liberation the German army blew them up to hide the evidence and only the ruins are left in tact. It's still possible to see the outline of the changing rooms and the gas chambers. Also still in tact are the steps of death that one million people walked down to meet their death. We often take a moments silence to Mark someone's death as a mark of respect, if we were to stand for a moments silence for everyone that was murdered at the two camps, we would need to stand in silence for two years!
When the bodies were cremated the ash was spread over the country side, Auschwitz-Birkenau are not two concentration camps, but the biggest mass grave in the world.
(I mentioned the Jewish quarter to the guide and she told me that there are only a few hundred Jews there now, but that number was steadily growing) .
Day 4
We had a leisurely start to the day, and headed to the old square to do some present shopping. We had a fair idea what we were after so it wasn't hard to get sorted. It was fairly cold this morning but dry. The presents weighed a bit so we decided to take them back to the hotel. The square seemed to be stepping it up a notch with the erection of tables, chairs, canopies ect. We asked one of the horse drawn coach ladies if they could go to the Novetel Centrum. She agreed for 100 pln. It was lovely, if cold on your face, along cobble streets, amongst traffic and along side the trams. The coach driver was great and the two horses didn't put a hoof wrong. The smell, the sound i just loved it. And talk about arriving at the hotel in style, turned a few head I can tell you
After lunch it was a short walk to Castle. Of course despite being a stones throw away from the castle, we left it to late to get in as the castle closes at three ( not a bad job ) We had a walk around the grounds and visited the cathedral on the grounds. More walking discovering some new streets. The hotel has a great pool so we went for a dip and a long soak in the hot tub.
We decided to eat at the hotel and get ready for a long day in the mountains.
Day 5
This morning we woke up to beautiful sunshine and ideal conditions for a visit to the mountains, the Tatra mountains to be exact. We assembled in the car park and then it was decided what transport each group would take. There were only four going to Zakopane so we had a nice people carrier and a guide to ourselves. During the two hour drive our guide gave us an in-depth insight into Poland which we just wouldn't have got by just sitting on a coach. Jack our guide was great craic and the time passed quickly. We had a terrific day and I think the scenes speak for them selves.
We managed to get back in time to take a trip in the hot air balloon,which was a very cold experience.
Lorraine and I had a brilliant holiday in Poland and we would like to thank everyone that had been thinking about us and remembering us in their prayers.
