Poland Part 5: Auschwitz

 

On our last full day, we all split up for a sight seeing/leisure day. Ella, Morgan, Wes and I went about an hour car ride to Auschwitz. Dad and CJ went to the salt mines. Andi took a tour of golf cart tour through Krakow and a massage. 

As you can image, Auschwitz was incomprehensible. The industrialization of evil was really too much to bear. I am grateful to have bore witness to this grave but I don't have a desire to return. 

It started with lies and ended with lies. The thought put into manipulation.... The entrance gate stated "if you work, you will be free". Everything was left as it was minus some of the buildings turned into museums to explain and add exhibits/stories. 

The shoes (only representing a day of people killed), the hair they removed from people "for lice" but really to be used for making other products, and the cans of gas was visually powerful. 

execution site visible to prisoners to instill fear (mass killings were never public) 

first gas chamber used for testing; smaller than the ones built at Auschwitz II 

Train station for the arrival of prisoners to Auschwitz II 

and the end or "tracks to no where" that stopped at the gas chambers for the ones sent directly (no deemed able to work) 

inside the buildings at Auschwitz II 

The rumble left exactly as the Germans had it when tried to blow up evidence 

The gates separated not just the entire property but broke up the buildings so no large uprisings could occur. 

The last night we went into Old Town for dinner with Kirstin and Albert. 

we all became very savvy of navigating walk from hotel to tram

Then an early departure back to America! 

Coffee at the airport meant still real dishes and not to-go (take-away) cups which was precious 

the sisters sent me a picture from the airplane how they were all in a row and Andi was in her row, legs up!