This morning we decided
to check the roads on google maps and see if we could find a way to stay away
from the freeways. In doing so we also discovered a fairly big area where the
road was closed so good pre- trip planning! Our plan of course did not coincide
with the “girl” (GPS) so we had a day of recalculating!
It was a lovely morning traveling
through orchards and many small towns. At the entrance of each town there is a
sign that looks like buildings which indicates the start of town limits and the
need to adjust your speed. At the outskirts leaving the town the sign is the
same but with a red line through it. It was a morning of slow, fast, slow, fast
but also one of the most pleasant rides so far. Very little traffic and good
scenery.
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| Polish Orchards |
Being Sunday every
little town had their church service in progress. Not sure why but lots of
people standing outside facing the church, not like they were just visiting
post service but more like it is too hot inside or not enough room. Your guess
is as good as mine.
The past few days we have
been seeing many stands at the side of the road with people selling their
garden produce, some attended and some with an honour box. We have seen
veggies, tomatoes, potatoes, red peppers, jars (yes quart jars) full of blueberries,
baskets of cherries and boxes of apples. We did stop by one of the cherry
stands and the man chattered away at us in Polish not understanding why we
weren’t buying. Cherries and motorcycle saddlebags just don’t mix. Now if it
were apples …
Lots of signs indicating
free range cattle. Now at home we would be prepared for them to be in the
middle of the road or heading that way. Not here. They are all so busy munching
on the luscious grass on the side of the road. Besides they are all tethered!
As we got close to our destination
(the GPS had taken over by then) we found ourselves with a closed roadblock.
The GPS kept telling us to turn around but we decided to follow a taxi and some
other local looking cars and sure enough, into a sort of parking lot, along a
very narrow one way street, through a very narrow tunnel and out the other
side! Voila! We were past the construction and the “girl” could take over
again.
The hotel we are in is
situated directly across from Auschwitz. The museum/monument which is open
until 7 pm so off we went. We attempted to get in but Doug had his pocket knife
so was denied entrance. Norma went in, Doug hid his knife in a tree and
entered. They didn’t meet up until both were out so ended up going back in
again together. The displays were informative but very upsetting. The whole
compound is mostly intact, which in itself is amazing as we are certain there are
many people who would have liked to see it razed. Perhaps it will allow mankind
to learn something from its mistakes. There is a lot more we could say, but we
will observe the silence we were asked to observe in the gas chambers. We have included a few photos.
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| Auschwitz! |
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| From the prisoners |
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| Crematorium |
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| Body incinerator |
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