I've already gotten behind in writing. I'm sharing our experience visiting the Memorial at Langenstein Zweiberge 2 days ago. My father was here from 2/17/45 until the end of the war. It was a sub camp of Buchenwald, more than 2 hours north of Weimar. This small camp, 2000 inmates, was working to create a weapons production site under the ground by digging tunnels into the mountain. Once some years ago I learned that my father had been 'liberated' from this place I ddecide I would come here if anything was left to see. Some lucky googling got me in touch with the new director of the memorial and we had an appointment to meet with him. After a 3+hour ride that included blocked roads and getting lost numerous times (Google maps is definitely not updated ... read more

Where to start?? Maybe with how this trip came about and where we're going.... Today at 3:00 pm, we leave on a trip back in time to be in the places where my father and his family lived, and for many of them, died. Most of the next 11 days will be spent with a planned tour organized by the "Zaglembie World Organization. Zaglembie is the term used for the area of Poland that included the towns of Bedzin, Sosnowiec, Zawiercie, Dabrowa Gornicza, Wolbrum, Czeladz, and the region towns) The visit is a getting together of all generations of Zaglembie survivors who live in Israel and those who live abroad. We shall be 3 full days in Zaglembie, the birth place of our ancestors. Our group will be a special International Delegation to commemorate the very ... read more

I got a little behind on postings... July 13...Another very early start...up in time to make a 7:30 am shuttle bus in Denali National Park. It's the only way to see the park. We had reserved the first shuttle out for an 8+ hour ride through the park to the Eilosen Visitor's Center which is 66 miles into the park. It's a large school bus in which the driver narrates along the way and stops when there's any animal sightings. The park is beautiful. We saw a moose along the road almost as soon as our ride started and later on we saw a few caribou, one up close. Others in the distance. The driver and many of the people on the bus said they saw bears and sheep but they weren't so visible to me. ... read more

Today I am the designated guest blogger. Its the end of another long day traveling through Alaska. Today the six of us went white water rafting on the Nenana River. Some of us were a little hesitant, but all agreed it was great. Tomorrow its a 6:30 breakfast and of to Denali National Park. First a stop at "Subway" for A boxed lunch. Yes, Subway. It is recommended that we bring lunch. So far the trip has been great. Its hard to believe that we are in Alaska. Since it is Friday, it seems that the trip is winding down. We fly home on Monday. From being among glaciers in the rain and on the water and now in the sunshine and warmth, shows the contrasts we are experiencing on our trip . The six of ... read more

July 9th....We're on the road again, driving from Homer to Whittier (185 miles) straight to catch a ferry to Valdez. Whittier is a very small town with a total population of a few hundred people and they all live in the same large apartment complex. It's a harbor town started by the US government during World War II as a secret military installation. At that time 1000 people lived in one set of buildings, now abandoned. It's pretty eirie spot. We had a picnic lunch while waiting for the ferry and then drove the car onto it and settled ourselves on the sunny deck. It's the first time we've felt the sun since we got here and it was great. It's a 6 hour ferry ride, crossing Prince William Sound. The time went quickly as everyone ... read more