Dzień dobry! This month's installment comes to you from Poland. :-)
A short break found us in Krakow, an old Polish city famous for its resident dragon (Smok Wawelski), its castle, vodka, old buildings, its war history, Schindler's factory and the bustling Jewish quarter... and alas its English stag parties too.
Ce weekend on a fait un petit voyage a Cracow pour voir la ville renommée pour son dragon, le chateau, le vodka, les anciens batiments, son histoire de guerre, l'usine de Schindler, le quartier juif... eh ben malheureusement les enterrements de vie de garcons anglais.
Here's a little flavour for you:
the market square by day and by night
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typical architecture
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castles and dragons
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This statue of Smok Wawelski breathes fire when you least expect it!
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"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"
George Santayana
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Schindler's factory was turned into a telecommunications factory after the war, and now houses an art museum amongst other things. Schindler did many things to protect his workers. According to testimonies, one day the workers were taken to a local salt mine. Here they were each given an envelope and told they were not to open it in front of anyone else. They were told they were dismissed from the factory, and they were not to return to work. They were told that hopefully one day they would understand why this was. The following day, 2 lorries turned up with SS officers who read a list of names of workers who were to be taken to a concentration camp. As they read each name out, the reply was "dismissed". Schindler had saved their lives.
Auschwitz and Birkenau (Osweicim). There are no words. It felt wrong to take photos of a mass grave. This is the outer fence which runs around the old military camp that Rudolf Hoess (amongst others) turned into a death camp for Polish intellectuals, Jews and other innocents.
Sorry for the sadness folks. On a happier note, the trip also involved enjoying life in the now thriving Jewish quarter of the city. There was a folk festival on whilst we were in the city, and much jazz to be found too...
A short break found us in Krakow, an old Polish city famous for its resident dragon (Smok Wawelski), its castle, vodka, old buildings, its war history, Schindler's factory and the bustling Jewish quarter... and alas its English stag parties too.
Ce weekend on a fait un petit voyage a Cracow pour voir la ville renommée pour son dragon, le chateau, le vodka, les anciens batiments, son histoire de guerre, l'usine de Schindler, le quartier juif... eh ben malheureusement les enterrements de vie de garcons anglais.
Here's a little flavour for you:
the market square by day and by night- - - - - - -
typical architecture
- - - - - - -
castles and dragons
- - - - - - -
This statue of Smok Wawelski breathes fire when you least expect it!
the best view of the castle.
(It rained relentlessly all day)
(It rained relentlessly all day)
- - - - - - -
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"
George Santayana
- - - - - - -
Schindler's factory was turned into a telecommunications factory after the war, and now houses an art museum amongst other things. Schindler did many things to protect his workers. According to testimonies, one day the workers were taken to a local salt mine. Here they were each given an envelope and told they were not to open it in front of anyone else. They were told they were dismissed from the factory, and they were not to return to work. They were told that hopefully one day they would understand why this was. The following day, 2 lorries turned up with SS officers who read a list of names of workers who were to be taken to a concentration camp. As they read each name out, the reply was "dismissed". Schindler had saved their lives.
Auschwitz and Birkenau (Osweicim). There are no words. It felt wrong to take photos of a mass grave. This is the outer fence which runs around the old military camp that Rudolf Hoess (amongst others) turned into a death camp for Polish intellectuals, Jews and other innocents.Sorry for the sadness folks. On a happier note, the trip also involved enjoying life in the now thriving Jewish quarter of the city. There was a folk festival on whilst we were in the city, and much jazz to be found too...
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