Karkow has become my favorite city on this tour. The main square is the biggest in Europe and is thriving. It has it all: a merchant hall full of shops, cafes lining the edge, a town hall, 2 churches, multiple statutes and fountains and excellent street performers. Today is the first day I haven't taken a tour as wandering around is all that is necessary. Now if I could just stop myself from buying the leather bag across the square, today would be perfect.
Whereas today has been frivolous, yesterday was draining as we visited Auschwitz and Birkenhau death camps. Like all concentration camps they have a very sober atmosphere but this was on a whole new level and scale. I think that the size was what amazed me the most, numbers are one thing but seeing it in reality was another. This is a necessary for anyone visiting this area. The most bone chilling thing was seeing the original version of my surname on three suitcases of victims. Although my family was in NZ during the wars (and changed the spelling of our name as a consequence) this still made the whole experience very real. It must be very hard for the families that visit who members died there.
However returning to today the glass of wine is almost finished and I can hear the handbag calling me.
No comments:
Post a Comment