Plentiful Perogies in Poland

My last stop in Eastern Europe was Poland, before meeting up with Shaina (good friend from Queens Chem Eng who I am travelling to India and Southeast Asia with) in Budapest. Unfortunately I only had time to see one city in this country - Krakow. I decided to go here based on high reccomendations from Sarah¨s Polish flatmates in Barcelona. The city itself is small, which I like, and very interesting as it is one of the few cities in Poland to escape WWII largely with no damage. It is also home to the largest medieval square in Europe - 200m X 200m which is HUGE! Very neat though as it is full of life - cafes, restaurants, shops, buskers, flowers, horse and carriages. I feel I have to mention the hostel that I stayed in here as it was truly incredible - they gave me a cup of tea when I checked in, had an amazing free breakfast (so much cheese!), and did my laundry for FREE!! What a luxury...

I spent a long and emotional day at Auchwitz and Birkenau. As these two former concentration camps are only an 1 1/2 hour drive from Krakow, I felt that although it was an extremely difficult experience, one that I could not avoid. The only word that I can think of to describe it is intense. Despite the warm and sunny fall temperatures, I had icy goosebumps and shivers the entire time, and tears brimming in my eyes all day. Although we have all learned about this in school, seen pictures, read articles etc., I cannot even attempt to explain what it is like when you are physically standing on the ground upon which so many thousands and thousands of innocent people lost their lives..... I only took one picture the entire day, as I definitely will not need any pictures to remind me of the images I saw there. The picture I took was of a quote on the walls of one of the barracks which read: ˝The one who does not remember history is bound to live through it again.˝ - George Santayna. Enough said.

My last day in Krakow I went to a small town close to Krakow called Wieliczka, which is home to yet another UNESCO site - a Salt Mine. You could not visit the mine without doing a guided tour, so I joined up with the English tour and climbed down 387 stairs to the first level of the mine, at a depth of 64m underground. We were in the mine for about 2 1/2 hours, covering 2km of corridors, ranging in depths of 64 - 130m. However, this is nothing when compared with the entire scope of the mine as it has 300km of corridors ranging down to depths of 326m below ground level! I guess this is what happens when they have been mining the same mine for 700 years! Literally everthing in the mine was made from salt - the steps, floor, various intricate statues carved by the miners, and of course the walls (which I had to lick, just to make absolutely certain it really was salt...which I quickly learned there is no doubt that it is!) The most incredible sight was a huge chapel in the mine, which had been created by 3 miners only, over a time period of 64 years. It was complete with an alterpiece carved from salt, chandeliers made of rock salt, and numerous carvings on the walls reinacting scenes from the bible, as well as the one that impressed me the most - The Last Supper, carved in salt, of course. There were also underground lakes in the mine which had a salt content of 32%, making it impossible to drown in them, as you can only float on the surface. Crazy.

During my short time in Poland I also consumed a lot of periogie - soo delicious and so many different kinds! After only 3 nights in Krakow I boarded a night train to Budapest. 11 hours on the train was so long, but as least I didn´t get my bags stolen or my cabin gassed, or locked into the washroom, as I have heard stories of from other traveler´s I have met who have spent time in Eastern Europe! (Don´t worry Mom and Dad....)

Ciao for now

´It is where we go, and what we do when we get there, that tells us who we are.˝
- Joyce Carol Oates