Good evening from the Tatras Mountains! We are in for the evening after a long day.
The morning started off at 4:30am, which gave us just enough time to throw on some clothes, have a quick cup of coffee, and head out the door to catch our 5:20am bus to the airport. You would have never known it was before 5 because it was already so bright outside, and there were a bunch of people out and about. I'm not sure if it was from the night before or they were just early birds like us. We walked to the train station, luggage in hand, and began searching for our bus. Not a very easy thing to do at 5:00am with minimal signage. After running around and asking some very nice police officers, we found our bus and got on at 5:18am (close call!)
The ride to the airport was relatively short, and before we knew it, we had our rental car and were heading to Auschwitz. By the time we arrived, there were already masses of people and a ton of tour buses. Thankfully Adam had booked tickets in advanced so we walked past everyone and entered right when they opened. We opted for a self tour and made our way through the infamous Arbeit Macht Frei (Work Will Make You Free) gate. The first thing that hits you is all of the electric fencing. Every hundred yards or so there is also a guard tower. We walked around, taking it all in bit by bit. There were several buildings that you could go in and see exhibits. They detailed camp life, as well as initial arrival and sorting and eventually death. There are pictures lining many of the halls with the prisoners' photographs in them. Towards the end of the war, they stopped taking photos and keeping any records. The enormity of it all is overwhelming.
We left Auschwitz I and made the quick drive to Auschwitz II. This camp was built because Auschwitz I was not able to house all of their prisoners. It then took over the mass genocide of the Jewish, killing nearly 1.1 million prisoners by the end of the war. Something we did not realize in all of the pictures we've seen is how large the camp actually was. The original barracks were made of wood except for the brick chimney that each had. Those have been destroyed, with the exception of the chimney. There are rows and rows or partially standing brick that seem to go on as far as you can see. We walked from the front of the camp to the very back, where the gas chambers and crematoriums were located. It was close to a half mile walk, something that many prisoners had to do immediately after arriving to the camp. The crematoriums were all destroyed, but their rubble piles remain. The walk back to the front was somber, realizing the atrocities that occurred on the very grounds we were on. We left with knowledge and awareness.
The weather had held up all morning, but the second we got into the car, the rain started. We were on our way to Zakopane, a city located in the Tatras Mountains. The roads were windy and hilly, but Adam did a great job navigating and getting us there safely. It was just about 1:00pm by the time we arrived so that meant lunch time. We parked the car and headed to Zabi Dwor Restaurant. On the menu today was, you guessed it, Zurek, breaded pork, and sausage! Thankfully the menu was in English because the waiters did not speak any! I guess that's what happens when you leave the big cities. The food was amazing, but when has it not been? We left feeling very full and needed to walk it off a little.
Our next item on the agenda was the Strazynska Valley hike. Just a short 2.6 miles to help digest that lunch. The weather was decent again, and we made it to the top unscathed. I may have been a little winded, but nothing a short rest couldn't fix. The trees and creeks were beautiful, such a welcome change from city life. We have a few more hikes planned while we are here, and are looking forward to them.
We made it back down and to the car, ready to call it a night. There was a small grocery store by our Airbnb that we stopped in to grab some food for dinner and snacks. Pierogies are on the menu tonight! And maybe some cookies. After we checked in to the Airbnb, or should I say, chalet, we were welcomed with beautiful views of the mountains and the valleys. It was the perfect end to a long and tiring day.
Steps: 25,675
Miles: 11.6
Stairs: 68 flights
The morning started off at 4:30am, which gave us just enough time to throw on some clothes, have a quick cup of coffee, and head out the door to catch our 5:20am bus to the airport. You would have never known it was before 5 because it was already so bright outside, and there were a bunch of people out and about. I'm not sure if it was from the night before or they were just early birds like us. We walked to the train station, luggage in hand, and began searching for our bus. Not a very easy thing to do at 5:00am with minimal signage. After running around and asking some very nice police officers, we found our bus and got on at 5:18am (close call!)
The ride to the airport was relatively short, and before we knew it, we had our rental car and were heading to Auschwitz. By the time we arrived, there were already masses of people and a ton of tour buses. Thankfully Adam had booked tickets in advanced so we walked past everyone and entered right when they opened. We opted for a self tour and made our way through the infamous Arbeit Macht Frei (Work Will Make You Free) gate. The first thing that hits you is all of the electric fencing. Every hundred yards or so there is also a guard tower. We walked around, taking it all in bit by bit. There were several buildings that you could go in and see exhibits. They detailed camp life, as well as initial arrival and sorting and eventually death. There are pictures lining many of the halls with the prisoners' photographs in them. Towards the end of the war, they stopped taking photos and keeping any records. The enormity of it all is overwhelming.
We left Auschwitz I and made the quick drive to Auschwitz II. This camp was built because Auschwitz I was not able to house all of their prisoners. It then took over the mass genocide of the Jewish, killing nearly 1.1 million prisoners by the end of the war. Something we did not realize in all of the pictures we've seen is how large the camp actually was. The original barracks were made of wood except for the brick chimney that each had. Those have been destroyed, with the exception of the chimney. There are rows and rows or partially standing brick that seem to go on as far as you can see. We walked from the front of the camp to the very back, where the gas chambers and crematoriums were located. It was close to a half mile walk, something that many prisoners had to do immediately after arriving to the camp. The crematoriums were all destroyed, but their rubble piles remain. The walk back to the front was somber, realizing the atrocities that occurred on the very grounds we were on. We left with knowledge and awareness.
The weather had held up all morning, but the second we got into the car, the rain started. We were on our way to Zakopane, a city located in the Tatras Mountains. The roads were windy and hilly, but Adam did a great job navigating and getting us there safely. It was just about 1:00pm by the time we arrived so that meant lunch time. We parked the car and headed to Zabi Dwor Restaurant. On the menu today was, you guessed it, Zurek, breaded pork, and sausage! Thankfully the menu was in English because the waiters did not speak any! I guess that's what happens when you leave the big cities. The food was amazing, but when has it not been? We left feeling very full and needed to walk it off a little.
Our next item on the agenda was the Strazynska Valley hike. Just a short 2.6 miles to help digest that lunch. The weather was decent again, and we made it to the top unscathed. I may have been a little winded, but nothing a short rest couldn't fix. The trees and creeks were beautiful, such a welcome change from city life. We have a few more hikes planned while we are here, and are looking forward to them.
We made it back down and to the car, ready to call it a night. There was a small grocery store by our Airbnb that we stopped in to grab some food for dinner and snacks. Pierogies are on the menu tonight! And maybe some cookies. After we checked in to the Airbnb, or should I say, chalet, we were welcomed with beautiful views of the mountains and the valleys. It was the perfect end to a long and tiring day.
Steps: 25,675
Miles: 11.6
Stairs: 68 flights
The hills are alive. * Michelle
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