Krakow 2005

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Today we're visiting Auschwitz I & II, the notorious Nazi death camps. It's not going to be a easy day, in fact, I'm not sure how it will affect us, we will just have to see.

Patto and John outside the Hotel Wit Stwosz

After being picked up by a small bus at the end of our street, we were swapped to a coach outside one of the larger hotels, then we were on our way. Its a grey day and quite cold, around 2°or 3°c. After around an hour's drive we arrived at Auschwitz II (Birkenau)

Here there is a small visitors centre and shop with coffee machine in the main building, we waited there for our guide. Birkenau was built purely as an extermination and work camp, people arriving here either went straight to their deaths within a hour or so of arriving, or if chosen, worked to death in a few months.  

This is the main gate buildings where the trains came in with their human cargo, the picture is taken from inside the camp.

Looking in to the camp.

For those chosen to work, this was where they slept: packed like sardines in the 3 tiers bunks, no blankets and no heating.

The toilet block, where we were told prisoners got 20 seconds, twice a day, that's all.

This is all that's left of Birkenau undressing rooms and gas chamber after the Nazis blew it up, these regularly killed between 800 and 1200 people per day

The adjoining ruins of the crematoria.

These grave stones mark the largest grave in the world, for about 1.3 million people, but no one knows for sure as no records were kept. the pond behind is one of the ash pits.

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After leaving Auschwitz II, we had a short coach trip to Auschwitz I.

This is where it all started. over the gates it says 'ARBEIT MACHT FREI' (Work makes you free).

This is the gas chamber and crematoria at Auschwitz I

Inside the gas chamber, people had to undress outside in the open before coming down here.

The adjoining crematoria ovens, originally there were 6 coke fired ovens.

There were many, many more horrors here, experimentation on living people (including children), torture, shootings and hangings, the list goes on.

None of us spoke much during the tour, or on the way back to Krakow, what can you say? I was left bewildered at the depths and scale man can sink to.

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We took our evening meal at the Sioux Restaurant on the town square, as recommended by Barry back at work, actually it was very good, though, I'm not entirely sure what I was eating, but it had goulash on top :)

Upstairs in the Sioux restaurant

How we did it.

Our trip to Krakow cost us around £150 each for 3 nights, that price included flights by Ryanair (Stansted - Krakow) food & drink, accommodation & connections.

You can contact Steve via TatraTravel or mail him at stephenk@tatratravel.pl

Here's a map showing our hotel the Wit Stwosz, and some of the places we visited

I doubt I'll ever go back to Auschwitz, but Krakow is well worth another visit, perhaps 4 nights next time? there's lots to see.

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