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Allrighy theeen
This morning I got up at 9.40 and had to scramble to avoid paying the late fee of checking out after 10am. Of course I was about 5minutes over but they didn't seem to mind.
I headed upto the bus station to book my train to Prague and check out how we where gonna get to Auschwitz later on. I managed to book a train for around 10.30pm later on tonight so am looking forward to my first EUROTRIP of 2006 *crowd pop*.
With a few hours to spare before the 1.20pm departure to Auschwitz I decided to check out the last of Krakows sights... the big castle in the market garden. It was OK. I have seen better in Ireland but still there was cool folk music being played and the weather was unbelievable. Infact we have had the best weather. Its been hot and sunny all the time so far! Except when I ate my kebab on first day 😞.
1pm hits. I write out a note to Mr Canada telling him to meet me at the bus station as its about a 45minute walk to the station and there would be no
way we where gonna make it if i wait up. as i walk out he arrives and after a short breather we high tailed it out of the hostel.
This is where it gets incredibly awesome. We ran like we where fugitives on the run from highly lethal Russian Agents. Krakow was packed as it was the national holiday and we had a bus to catch. We ran, dodged and jumped through people. It was awesome fun... by the time we got to the station we where 10minutes late, out of breath and my clothes where extremely dirty from running behind Mr Canada. LUCKILY the silly Polish lady at the ticket desk got her words muddled up and there would be another bus within the hour. As we sat waiting around for the next bus a very odd girl caught my eye. She seemed dodgy and kept staring at me. She kept coming closer and closer and I was thinking BAAAAH im gonna get mugged by a young polish girl thats no stronger than an OXE on steroids. Nah actually she really liked my big guns and wanted to know how I achieved such results without any weight lifting.
Anyways.. this Polish girl was the most hilarious thing to happen to us all day. We where just sitting there and she comes up and waves. So we wave back. She says 'I speak no english' We smile.... Polish Girl 'Hi!!!' Soo yeeh... weird cracked up Polish girl kept trying to start conversation with us even though she kept saying she doesn't speak English. Mr Canada and I both know she just couldn't handle the Aussie Fever and had to come over to try and get my signature.
BUS ARRIVES AND WE GET TRANSPORTED OF TO THE CONCENTRATION CAMP!
We arrive at Auschwitz at around 3.30pm after a 90minute bus drive through the Polish countryside. I have been looking forward to coming to Auschwitz so so much. For those who do not know Auschwitz is the place where the Germans kept there P.O.W during world war 2 in the most disgusting, vile conditions and the Polish have maintained and upkeeped the camps as evidence towards the crimes commited by the Nazis.
The camp itself was so so so informative. It had been preserved so well you would think it was in running today. Obviously it isn't
but the amount of pain and suffering the prisoners went though is unbelieble. Imagine the biggest room in your house. Now imagine it full of hair. That is what was on display in one example where the Nazis would shave the Jews hair when they where put to death to sell as material. I could go on and on about the camp but you seriously have to see it for yourself. It kinda put a sad feeling to the day.
As we left the camp we read about a second camp further up the road which was bigger and also held the location of many key things from the camps such as the gas chamber ruins and the train tracks etc. The planning begins...
We thought if we got the last train out to Camp 2 at 5.30... quickly run over and see the things we wanted to and then return in time for the last bus back to camp 1 at 6pm to catch out main bus back to Krakow. All went well untill we arrived at camp 2. This place is huuuuuuuge. The amount of housing there was unbelievable. Especially when you think about how many
people would be crammed into the space. It was simply unbelievable and although very very sad, I'm so glad I got the chance to experience where this horrible history happened in person.
It took a good 20minutes to get over to the ruins and by the time we had finished and again attempted to sprint back to the bus it had already pulled out and left. AGAIN.. two times today we had misjudged the buses and this time it was in a pretty bad way as not only did we need to get back to Camp 1.. but also catch the connecting bus to Krakow so we can get the overnight train to Prague.
MAGIC THUMB!
For the first time this trip I pulled out the majical Hitchiking thumb. After 3 attempts we got success and pumping with excitement got our first hitchiking experience back to the camp. What was even more exciting was that as we got out the car the bus back to Krackow pulled up accross the road! We could not have timed it better... if we missed the bus... we miss the train... JIMMETY CRICKET BY-GOSH!!
So um yeh we got back
to Krackow safe and sound.. i got a Big Mac and am now at the internet cafe before our train journey... aka... adios!!
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