Kind Regards Krakow!

So the pretty cool Irish guys became pretty drunk Irish guys and the one, Conlich I believe is how you spell it came back at around 3:45 and proceed to wake me up, call me aggressive and hostile, tell me he loved my accent, and tired to get into a political discussion about United States’ involvement in Afghanistan, fell asleep on the couch, and only woke up when Patty moved him to his bed. What a interesting interaction and in retrospect it was pretty fun actually… well it was pretty fun not just in retrospect but in real time as well. I went back to sleep and woke again in the morning ready to go to Auschwitz. After some computer work and my complimentary breakfast at the hostel, I set out for the tour bus. The ride was about an hour and a half; they played a movie on the liberation of the camp by the soviets. There was a lot of information I already knew but also it was almost all firsthand footage with commentary by a soviet soldier. This was interesting because almost all the Holocaust videos I have seen have been from an American perspective. Upon our arrival we had a little break and started the guided tour. For some reason the camp was congested with tourists, more than usual the guide said.  It was unreal to see this firsthand and even though I had learned much and seen many pictures in my Holocaust class the previous semester. The tour was about two hours long and then we went to Birkenau another camp about three meters away. In comparison, Birkenau was three times as large and a lot more open. Even though Auschwitz is more famous, more people died at Birkenau (Auschwitz only had one crematorium whereas Birkenau had five). Also Birkenau was the main train depo for arriving peoples and so we were actually able to walk the exact place that people doomed to death walk 70 years before. It was unreal and we also were able to see the rumble of two of the crematoriums ( The Nazis had blown them up before the camp was liberated in an attempt to cover up their atrocities). We also were able to see original bunking and latrines. I am glad I went not in a happy way but because I feel that is something I should see especially going into international relations and conflict management. My only wish is that we would have had more individual time just to walk around and process a bit more. On the ride back I slept and hit the ground running when we returned to the city. I visited six churches and the university grounds. (and yes grandma I made a small wish/prayer in each one.) This interest in visiting European churches emerged last year when I was in Italy for my professor said the best art is always preserved in churches… and most typically they are free. Both of these things are true and I am glad I learned that early on. The main Cathedral here was actually all that impressive to me but two of the smaller churches were absolutely gorgeous in very different ways (St. Anne’s Church and The Franciscan Church). I will put up pictures when I have a chance. After this round of exploring, I went back to the hostel to shower and then get some dinner but I got side tracked. I was getting my stuff together and two of my roommates that I hadn’t met yet walked in and we started talking. They are both from the Netherlands, Pieter and Freek. We had the most wonderful conversation first about politics, the middle class, economic responsibility, the schools system in different countries and more. We all decided to go out and grab dinner which gave me a chance to learn a little more about them and about the Netherlands in a more general sense. After we decide to grab a drink at a little terrace on the main square and continued to talk about philosophy, religion, and the idea of what is fake verses real and reality. It was all very interesting and mind boggling. Basically, it was fantastic. I hope that we keep in touch (we are already facebook friends!). Then I came back to shower and go to sleep, in the meantime meeting another roommate from Australia. We didn’t talk much because we were both pretty tired. Tomorrow the salt mines and hopefully a walking tour of the Jewish sector if I make it back in time. Then I will be leaving on a night train for Prague!

P.S. I really love Krakow. I have found the atmosphere comparable to Florence which is truly fantastic!