A long promised trip with Eleanore (kid number 5) to Krakov and Auschvitz

As likely in most families, sometimes we get into lively family discussions on moral and general principle issues-- A number of years ago during  such a discussion Eleanore and I decided we  would take a trip to Poland to see one of  sites of the horror of world war 2 first hand. We are procrastinators at times, so this got put off and put off until this fall we decided we must make it reality.  Eleanore and I booked a long weekend and a plane ticket ... and spent a most memorable time together in an amazingly beautiful city with a heart wrenching history.
 


We had first planned a trip by car ... but after checking things out found that the cheapest alternative was airfair ... and we were also able to book very reasonable housing in an apartment hotel right in the center of the city.
 

 
Half a block from our hotel room was the most beautiful market center of Krakov .. Krakov is Polands second largest city -- after the capital Warsaw.

Our hotel room was in a serveral hundred year old building ... in the basement a cute little pub!!

The entrance gate to the infamous Auschvitz concentration/extermination camp.
It says itself!
The purchase documents and chemicals that were used in the gas chambers

The main Auschvitz facilities (a former military base)  could only handle 6-8 thousand prisioners .... so  this camp of Birkanov was built just for the purpose .. could house 120 000 prisoners .... and it had much more efficient extermination facilities. 
 Sleeping quarters for teenagers ... as long as they were capable of working in the war industry they were allowed to live ...When they became to weak to work .. they were sent to the gas chambers.

 
It happened to be the Polish national day when we where there to we got in on the celebrations!
Sadly, Krakov is the home of countles enormous churches displaying their glory
We actually got a private guide for the city tour on Sunday ... Auschvitz/Birkanov was a separate all day tour on the Saterday.
The amazing richness that Chrisianity flaunts in this place.
Not so many Jews left in Krakov  .. just one functioning synagoge. This is a former synagoge serving as a bookstore now.
A memorial chair on a market square in the former Jewish ghetto
This is the former home of Oskar Shindler famous for his work hiding and aiding Jews escape the horrors of the Nazies.
A plaque on the Shindler museum .. a former factory which Oskar Schindler operated and was able to use in his efforts to help Jews to escape Hitlers forces.
Last eveing in Krakov in the Jewish quarter enjoying a wonderful meal.
Lots of Jewish names in this part of Krakov
In the plane nn the way home again -- with lots of impressions!!
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