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Krakau, Poland
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This place was Amazing
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Ive found it difficult to find a computer that actually has word or any other sort of word processing program, so now Im in Berlin, I have to summarize what I have seen in the two previous cities and expand on it later. I recently got an email from my mum who asked if I was actually learning anything about the history of the places that I have been, and experienced the culture while I am here. The answer of course is yes. Although ive been having fun with new friends and copious amounts of alcohol there has always been a serious undertone to the trip. Through the people I have been inspired to find out their history to learn where they are coming from and also to understand their way of life. Poland especially has come from a very turbulent past - not just WW2, but throughout its history. The country didnt even exist for over 100 years at one stage with its leaders in excile in other countries! WW2 of course brought worse terror than Poland has ever seen, and I attempted to understand what they went through by my visit to Auswitz, the largest NAZI extermination camp only about an hour and a half from Krakow. In graphic detail the tour guide explained about the experiments, torture and gassing of around 6 million Men, Women and Children during the NAZI regime. This included around 3 million Jews, 2 Million Gypsies and homosexuals and 1 Million Poles. Only visiting this dark place yourself can you come to terms with the scale of the crime.
On a lighter note, the salt mines at Krakow was another amazing site to see! It is the oldest and longest running salt mine in known history. 400 steps down and a fairly long elevator ride we saw large chasms with rock salt carvings and even an underground chapel! The engineering involved in such a large mine, especially in the late 18th century was an impressive feat!
More needs to said about old town in Krakow itself. One of the most intact towns after the war due to the rapid retreat of the Soviets when the Nazis invaded thereby avoiding much of the bombing and street fighting that leveled other cities. The city has personality that I will never forget. Especially walking home in what I would call a bizzard at 4am in the morning and still hearing the Golden Trumpet from the Church tower in the square. The trumpet plays a little tune four times, every hour on the hour, 24hrs a day. Two hundred years ago it was used as an invasion alarm, or when visitors were arriving. The tune is short, being cut off suddenly in memory of when the trumpetor was hit by an arrow in the throat while warning of invading Mongals.
I will update this further! I have more notes in my diary that I will add when Im not paying crazy amounts for the internet!
Ciao
Posted
Feb 06, 2007
by Bowmo
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