Welcome back everyone I am alive and well. St. Patty's Day was a whirlwind of fun and excitement, not including the lame parade. Our entire group made a marathon of the day that mostly tourists celebrate. After a wild and crazy night I awoke the next morning to pack for a 4 day expedition into Poland. During the 3 hour flight there our group encountered a freak of nature. Namely a 3-4 year old girl who was able to cry without stop for 3 hours. After that we arrived in beautiful Krakow. We spent a good half hour trying to find our hidden hole in the wall hostel. Once there however we realized why it was awarded Hostel of the Year 2007.
Next morning we spent touring Krakow in the fairly chilly weather. We saw Wawel Castle and Cathedral where the Polish Kings were crowned and the Krakow bishops served, one of the bishops of note the late Pope John Paul II. Next we walked around the old Jewish district where there are several renovated Synagogues. After all that walking we were famished and decided to have a delicious 3 course meal of all Polish foods. I especially enjoyed the Pierogis and Hunters Stew. After a brief repose at our hostel we went out to a chill Jazz club where we saw a very fun and lively band named Energy Drink that used a really cool light show in tandem with their fun and upbeat music.
The next day was spent at Auschwitz and Bierkenau. It was a truly haunting experience to see the absolute depravity and destruction that was wreaked in just 5 years. According to our guide the Auschwitz camp was a renovated military base that was mainly used for keeping Polish rebels and Russian POWs. It was only in 1942 when Bierkenau was created that the Nazis began executing their "Final Solution to the Jewish Question." Over 4,400 people could be killed at one time in Bierkenau and those who weren't killed by gas chambers either died of starvation, the cold, or were forced to work in labor camps. All in all horrifying. The only moment of solace was when we saw a group of students from Israel enter the camp with Israeli flags held high.
The next day we spent in a small mountain town call Zakopane. It was a truly beautiful town in the valley of the Tarta Mt. Range. After exploring the town we took a lift up to one of the tallest peaks. After breaching the cloud cover our group stood with mouths agape at the beauty all around us. Words cannot describe so I will end it there.
When we got back to our hostel we met some fun and exciting people from Pittsburgh who were traveling with their french friend Pierre. (Funny story about Pierre that I can tell you but in a more private) We went out on the town with them and they bought us all drinks.
The next morning we visited JP II's old bishops house and then caught a bus to Katowice airport to fly back. We sadly arrived late, stupid Ryan Air, and missed the last bus to Cork and were relegated to sleeping in the airport that night. All in all it wasn't that bad.
So now down to homework before the Marathon Adventure of Spring Break.
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