Poland

Photo Essay: Auschwitz and Birkenau

December 18, 2013 by Jason 22 Comments

A lot has been said about Auschwitz and Birkenau. Evil things happened there and it is an evil place. But after visiting those places, I was bewildered. I so wanted to hate it, but I found no hate there. I found calm and peace. It is a memorial to remember those who suffered and perished. A testament to what can happen if you let hatred go unchecked. It is not evil. It is just a place…

Camera: Nikon D7000
Lens: Nikon 28mm f/2.8 AIS (manual focus)

Auschwitz Concentration Camp

Work Sets Free!

Guard Tower

Warning Sign

Fence

Barbwire

Shooting Wall

Prison

Hall of Photos

Striped prison clothes

Clothes on sink in cell

Cell

Gas Chamber

Fingernail scratches on gas chamber wall

Hole in the ceiling of the gas chamber used to drop in gas canister

Gas canister

Used gas canisters

Ovens

Luggage

Shoes

Glasses

Prosthetics

Hair

Birkenau Concentration Camp

Gates of Hell

Bunks and fireplace

Living quarters

Toilets

Bunks

Cattle car at unloading platform

Chimneys

Fence and guard tower

Electrified fence

Barbwire

Flower behind barbwire

End of the Line

Crematorium

Remembering

Taking Your Child to Auschwitz and Birkenau

December 10, 2013 by Kerri 17 Comments

Initially, our around the world plans did not include Poland, but this changed when we found it difficult to find affordable accommodation in Greece during August. Apparently everyone wants to go to Greece in August. Who knew? After some research we decided on Krakow, Poland. It looked like a family friendly city and we were intrigued by its’ history. Once we decided on Krakow, we thought about going to Auschwitz, the notorious Nazi Concentration Camp. But what about our 8-year old daughter Sydney? Would this be too much for her?

When we had talked with others about whether we should bring Sydney to Auschwitz, we got varying reactions: everything from absolutely DO NOT take her to yes take her, she can handle it.

After much discussion we decided that Auschwitz was just too important of a place and part of history to not take her. This horrible time in history continues to have an impact even today on our political landscape. The other factor in our decision was in all reality we probably would not be visiting Krakow again any time soon.

Our decision to take her was not a light one, so to help her gain some understanding of the significance of Auschwitz we incorporated WWII history into her homeschooling. To help prepare her, we had her learn about WWII and the Holocaust by reading the Dairy of Ann Frank, touring the Ann Frank house in Amsterdam, reading about WWII and the Holocaust and talking about what it must have been like.

Despite this preparation, as we took the bus out to Auschwitz, I was queasy with doubt as to whether this was the right decision. I was not sure what to expect and kept on asking myself would this be too much for Sydney? What if I traumatized Sydney? Personally, before visiting Auschwitz, shocking images of piles of dead bodies and half starved survivors from my high school and college history textbooks and documentaries kept running through my mind. My anxiety was made worse upon arriving at Auschwitz they would not give Sydney a headset for the guided tour as they said it was too graphic.

The three of us at Auschwitz

However, after visiting Auschwitz, I think my imagination was my own worse enemy. I have realized that the place is not about shocking visitors with graphic images, but is more of a memorial to the 1 million people who were murdered here. Auschwitz provides a place for people to grieve and remember, especially for those who will never know the fate of their loved ones. On the day we visited, family members could be seen remembering there loved ones by leaving flowers, candles, and notes.

Auschwitz Memorial

After visiting I realized that Sydney did not fully comprehend the depravity of Auschwitz. She saw it as just like any other historical site that we visited on our travels. She did not find it scary or overwhelming. What I am certain of, visiting Auschwitz will give her a much more in-depth understanding and empathy later in life.

Sydney in Birkenau

In learning about the Holocaust in a school setting, it can easily become about memorization of statistics, facts, and dates and thus in the process it loses its’ humanity. But actually seeing Auschwitz brings a whole new level of comprehension and empathy for those who suffered horribly. For example, I knew that the camp was large, at one point housing close to 139,000 people at a time, but standing and seeing the endless line of chimneys across the horizon makes this much more real. To actually see the size of the cattle cars that held 80 to 100 people and to realize that these people would be crammed into these cattle cars for days at a time is horrifying. When Sydney learns about the holocaust in school later on in life, she now will be able to picture Auschwitz and hopefully be able to see beyond just the facts and statistics. Seeing makes it much more real and human.

Transport car in Birkenau

I know some will be appalled that we took our 8-year-old daughter to Auschwitz and I also know that this was not a fun outing for Sydney. But I also strongly believe that one reason we travel is to gain a better understanding of our world today. Although it may be difficult, I think it does a disservice to sugarcoat or avoid talking about and seeing those difficult things in life. When we avoid talking about difficult and complex things that happen in life with our children, it gives the opportunity for things like the Holocaust to occur again. This is another reason why Auschwitz stands; to remind us what happens when we become indifferent to the plight of others.

RTW Budget: One month in Eastern Europe

November 8, 2013 by Kerri 10 Comments

For the month of September we finished our stay in Krakow, Poland, stayed one week in Lviv, Ukraine and the rest of the month we were located in Brasov, Romania. After Poland our original plan was to fly to Turkey. But then Jason suggested that we travel overland through Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria. My initial reaction was, “Absolutely not!” Now I am not sure why I was so against it. I mean who goes to Ukraine? But after much discussion it seemed like the most logical and cheapest way to get to Turkey. I must say that I am really glad that Jason talked me into it. We had a marvelous month exploring several countries that are a little less touristy, but equally as beautiful and met several very nice people along the way.

Wawel Castle Krakow Poland

Lviv Ukraine

Brasov Romania

So how did we do for the month of September? I am excited to say we came under budget. Our total costs for the month were $2691.45 USD, or $89.72 per day, or $29.91 per person per day! Not too shabby if I may say so myself.

During our stay in Ukraine, 1 USD equaled approximately 8.13 UAH. While in Romania, initially 1 USD equaled 3.40 Lei. However, with the government shutdown looming the USD tumbled and by the end it equaled 3.25 Lei. I could probably say a lot here about my thoughts on the US government, but I won’t.

Lodging

Our largest expenditure for the month was lodging for a total of $911.82. Our accommodations for one week in Lviv cost $179 and for a month in Brasov cost $693. We had one night in a hotel while in transition between Lviv and Brasov spending the night in Suceava for a total cost of $39.82.

View From Our Apartment

Food

Our next biggest expenditure was for food for a total cost of $743.41. We spent $527.75 on groceries and $205.05 on dining out. We also had $10.61 under miscellaneous category for a birthday cake for Sydney. Happy Birthday my lovely daughter! I am so glad you are with us on this round the world adventure.

Sydney Enjoying Hot Chocolate

Birthday Cake

Transportation

Our next biggest expenditure was for transportation for a total cost of $615.81. We took the bus from Krakow, Poland to Lviv, Ukraine costing $104.10. We took a train from Lviv to Suceava, Romania, which cost $133.47 and a bus from Suceava to Brasov, Romania, which cost $38.34. While in Brasov, we rented a car for 8 days in order to explore more of Transylvania region of Romania. The total cost for the car and fuel was $292. We also had miscellaneous expenditure for parking while at Bran Castle for a total of $3.02. The total expenditure for local transportation was $44.22. We found that the taxis in Brasov were relatively cheap costing about $2 to get across town. In Lviv the tram was incredibly cheap costing us less than a dollar for all of us to ride it.

Changing Wheels at the Border Between Ukraine and Romania

Our Car

Sleeping on the Train

Miscellaneous

Our next biggest expenditure was for miscellaneous items for a total of $210.44. Miscellaneous expenditures included clothes for Sydney and a new pair of jeans for Jason and I, a birthday gift for Sydney, cough medication, a road map of Romania and the cost for pay toilets. In Europe, there’s always a fee to pee!

Glorious Legos!

Entrance Fees

Our total expenditures for entrance fees were $131.58. While in Lviv, we went to several museums including the Folk Architecture Museum, the Brewery Museum, Ethnology, and Arsenal Museum. Although the museums in Lviv were in general small, they were incredibly cheap to get into. Most of the museums cost less than $5 for all of us to get in. If you ever stay in Lviv, I highly recommend seeing the Folk Architecture Museum, which contains traditional buildings from around Ukraine including wooden churches that are several hundred years old.

Folk Architecture Museum

Lychakiv Cemetery

Arsenal Museum

Enjoying a Beer at the Brewery Museum

While in Brasov, we rented a car for a week and enjoyed exploring the many castle, forts, and fortified churches of the Transylvania region. We really enjoyed exploring Transylvania, as it is truly very beautiful. But I think we would all agree that we have reached official burnout stage for castles, forts and fortified churches. That being said, our favorites were Peles Castle and the Fortified Church of Viscri.

Rasnov Fortress

Peles Castle

Fortified Church of Viscri

Prejmer Fortified Church

Bran Castle

Vlad Tepes Aka Dracula

Entertainment

Our total expenditures for entertainment were $50.16. Entertainment included watching Swan Lake in the Lviv Opera house, the walking tour of Brasov, bowling in Brasov, and a bouncy house. I highly recommend that if you are in Lviv catch a performance in the Lviv Opera House. The performance was absolutely amazing and it was a bargain costing about $12 per person.

Train tour of Lviv

Lviv Opera House

Swan Lake

Bowling

Communication

Our total expenditures for communication were $27.99. Under communication included a new Romanian SIM card for our mobile phone, stamps, and postcards.

Although Romania and Ukraine were not on our original itinerary, I am so glad that we decided to visit. We found both Romania and Ukraine to be very cheap. I am positive that Romania and Ukraine can easily be seen even cheaper than what we did without sacrificing comfort or missing out on doing some fun stuff.

Photo of the Week: Krakow’s Wawel Castle at Night

October 5, 2013 by Jason 2 Comments

One of the greatest things about traveling through Europe is seeing the castles. During the day they are fun to explore and see the insides. But at night, they become magical. Here is Krakow’s Wawel Castle overlooking the Vistula River.

RTW Budget: One Month in Poland

October 4, 2013 by Kerri 2 Comments

For the month of August we finished our stay in Florence, Italy and then our around the world adventure took us to the beautiful city of Krakow, Poland. Krakow was one of those cities I was not sure what to expect, but we ended up really enjoying it. We loved that it has lots of green spaces and parks and we also really liked how the city does not feel large despite approximately 800,000 people living there. We also found that most things, especially food and local transportation, were fairly cheap. While we were in Poland 1 USD was approximately 3.16 zlotys.

Wawel Castle

Krakow Poland

So how did we do on our budget? I am really excited because after several months of being really over budget we are back on track. Our total for the month of August was $3,154.43 or $101.76 per day or $33.92 per person per day.