Poland: Krakow and Auschwitz

Katie, Lisa and I beginning our night out in Krakow. 

Enjoying Polish drinks and Bohemian home decor. 

 On Friday morning, the bus picked us up outside of our dorms at 9 am and we left for Poland. We arrived in Krakow around 2 p.m.  We went to the Salt Mines and took a tour. It was really cool to go down and see all of the statues and the church and everything that they had made underground. I felt really bad for Abby though, because she's had a really bad rash on her feet for about a week and she said it felt even worse when we were in the mine! :( After we finished touring the mine, we went to our hostel to check in. I was put into a room with 8 other girls, so it was a little crazier than I was used to.  I went with Abby and Martin to the hospital around 6:45 so Abby could get something done for her feet. I hadn't eaten anything except a croissant earlier that morning, so I was starving. Well, the Polish hospital didn't exactly cater to us, and we didn't get out of there until after midnight!  Abby was given a shot, more pills, and they did some blood work. We're still pretty unsure about what happened, or what it was, but her poor feet have been bright red and really swollen.

Inside the salt mines. This is the chapel, that is carved entirely out of Salt!

On Saturday, I was woken up by a whole barrage of alarms as everyone in my room set theirs for different times. Abby stayed home to rest today and after breakfast in our hostel, we walked to Krakow Castle.  It was beautiful outside, and we just sat around the courtyard for quite awhile people watching.We took a couple of tours but they were pretty confusing because we didn't have any kind of a guide. For lunch Katie, Alyshia, Lisa and Thea and I went to a Polish restaurant that was near the square. We were able to sit outside in their backyard garden. It was gorgeous out, and we were in the shade, so it was perfect. We all ordered different dishes, and everyone's was really good. I had chicken and potatoes, Katie had something like couscous, and Thea had pierogies and soup. Of course, Alyshia had salad and Lisa had french fries and chicken noodle soup! :) So predictable.

Alyshia, Thea, Katie and I at lunch. Photography by Lisa :) 

After lunch, we walked to the square to go to the market. There were lots of little amber shops. I bough myself a ring, and several souvenirs for friends and family.  We stopped at the best little Cupcake Shop on our way home. When we made it back to our hostel, we chatted with Abby for awhile before getting ready to go out. Abby, Lisa, Katie, Alyshia and I found a place to eat outside near the Jewish quarter.  We all got fun drinks: Mojitos, Mai Tais, Cosmos, and Daiquiris.  After supper we went to another little bar and had margaritas because it was Cinco de Mayo! Afterwards we went to another bar in the Jewish quarter and met some Polish guys celebrating a bachelor party. They invited us to join them and they had us try some of their Polish vodka. Polish vodka is honestly not bad at all!  The next stop for our night out in Krakow was close-by, and we ran into Martin and everyone at that bar.  We decided we should go home, but next to the hostel was the Aloha Bar. Katie, Alyshia and I went in and we ended up crashing this lady's birthday party.  She was super excited we were there, though. It was pretty entertaining because they were singing Polish karaoke. We finished the night with grape mojitos at the Aloha Bar.

Inside Krakow's town square. This is St. Mary's Church. 

Inside the Market. 

Amazing cinnamon cupcake and chai tea. Yummm. 

Sunday morning we met outside of St. Mary's church in the square. Next we went to the Museum of Pharmacy, which was pretty neat. The six of us girls went to lunch together. We had another delicious Polish meal - this time I had salmon.  The girls wanted to go to a shrine, but Abby hadn't been able to see the market yet, so I went with her to do that.  We shopped around for awhile and shopped our way home. We stopped at the Cupcake Shop on our way home for coffee and cupcakes. While we were there, Tara, Ann, Caleb, Evan and Laura came in, too.    That night, Thea, Alyshia, Abby, Katie and I went to eat at a Polish restaurant near our hostel. The waiter kept bringing us free shots of Polish Cherry Vodka. It was so good.  It honestly tasted like juice. And when I say he kept bringing them, I mean we each had 4.   We also got a free appetizer that had bread and meat in it.  I ordered potato pancakes with goulash for us to share, and then I got chicken breast stuffed with tomato and mozzarella  and potatoes for my meal. I also had a big beer. I've never eaten so much in my life. My total was 41 Zloty, which equals about $13. Soo cheap considering all I ate!  After supper, we went to the "Alcohole" store to buy Polish vodka to take home, because really, what better souvenir is there?

Abby and I hiding behind our mugs at the cupcake shop....

Monday we left at 9 a.m. for Auschwitz.  It was about an hour drive. We started our tour at Birkinau and then we finished at Auschwitz.  I honestly can hardly even describe the whole experience. It was heartbreaking. The whole day was sad and serious.  It was just hard to even understand or begin to fathom that literally more than hundreds of thousands of people were murdered because of their religion.  I can't find strong enough words to convey how disgusted I was.

Birkenau. 

After the tour we drove back to Olomouc. I really loved being in Poland, and especially the city of Krakow. Of course Auschwitz wasn't "fun" but I'm so happy that I was able to experience it. I really think it's somewhere that everyone should visit in order to understand our history.