This past Spring Break Shannon and I had to opportunity to travel to three new countries in Europe. They were Belgium, Hungary and Poland.
Although each had something unique to offer, Poland stuck out to me the most. After struggling to find a way to get there from Budapest, we booked a flight to Warsaw and then a bus ride to Krakow in the south. Warsaw was totally different and quite similar to the United States in its modernity. Boasting large and contemporary buildings, Warsaw looked like a typical metropolitan city in the United States. As the capital of the country, Warsaw boasted with some great food, as we dined in a delicious Vietnamese restaurant before heading off to Krakow the following morning.
Picture of the historic St. Mary's Basilica in Krakow's Main Square. Photo credit: Sebastian Sarria
Everyone talks about Krakow, and they were right about its beauty. The historic city center is well preserved, and the cultural diversity that they offer is impressive. Everyone seems very nice and eager to talk to you, and their pirogues are to die for – let's just say we had our fair share. Staying in the city center had its advantages during the Easter weekend, since we were able to visit a public market, and see for ourselves how Polish people celebrate this April holiday.
One of our goals for Krakow was going to the nearby town of Oswiecim, where the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp is located. From high school we read and saw images about what happened and the people who suffered, and to some extent we understood, but visiting the camp immerses you on a whole new level. Straight away the air feels heavier, and the ambience silent, though somehow, it is very peaceful. The wind blowing and hitting against the trees, the footsteps of the other visitors against the rocky ground, and the occasional chirping of the birds tell you that although these wounds will never heal, knowing that they are there is more than enough to prevent more from occurring.
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