And it's Wednesday already? My goodness when did that happen?
The weather here has been chilly...but the last four days were sunny! Temperatures peaking around 2 to 5 degrees each day. Today it's back to overcast skies however. And what a nasty wind we have...brrr. Send warmth please!
What a weekend I had! It started bright and early Saturday morning, catching a train at 7:24am, en route to Krakow. We (me, Heather, Irene, and Jo) eagerly hopped on our train when it rolled into the Radom station, and before we knew it, we were on our way...or so we thought. We settled in our spots, and were just commenting on how we had very little time to board the train! Next thing we know the conductor is yelling at us in Polish, clearly not impressed with our stealthy ability to board the train so quickly. We were not supposed to. It was empty. It was moving out of the way for another train to come into the station. So he stops the train about 100m away from the station and kicks us off. Of course this meant we missed our 7:24 train. Thanks goodness there was a train at 7:42! It really never fails!! And we actually arrived in Krakow 20 minutes early. We had stopped at a station, and were chatting away. (Jo was in the bathroom.) Then we realize we're at our destination of choice, and with lightning speed gather our things and Jo's, run through the train, and bang on the bathroom door to get Jo's attention. Haha What a start to the day!
We met up with Irene's friend, Kelly (who we met in Warsaw) and went on our way to the hostel we had booked. It was super cute and clean and very centrally located, and an excellent price! Really can't complain. So after dropping our things, we wandered through the old town, and through the Jewish quarter. I spent the best 7pln ($2. 50ish) of my life on lunch. Open-faced sandwiches are a vendor specialty here. And they do it well. On a toasted baguette I had sausage, goat's cheese, pickles, and mustard. Mmmm. After lunch and the Jewish quarter we made our way to Wawel Castle. Heather and I got distracted in a store full of bags and jewellery and clothing and knitted things - all created by local artists (and lots of it done with recycled material). You KNOW this is my heaven. So we got separated, but we still all had a chance to explore the castle. Unfortunately we got there too late to see the dragon's den, but I will return. The castle is stunning. And with the bright sunshine we had, and the autumn colours...wow. Heather and I went into the "Lost Wawel" exhibit and saw the state rooms. (We even danced with each other in the ballroom.) The whole gang met up for drinks before dinner (mmmmint hot chocolate). A man came into the cafe and asked if we would give candy (that he gave us) to his kids who would be in to trick or treat. It was so cute!
With the early morning and the Halloween party Thursday night, Heather and I just grabbed a quick dinner and returned to the hostel for an early night and a good, long sleep. The other girls rolled in around 3am I think...? I was sound asleep before 10pm! Haha
Sunday morning we were up at 6am to get ready and catch a train to Oswiecim, the town where Auschwitz is located. We started the day off at the Auschwitz Jewish Centre (which is affiliated with the Holocaust Museum in New York that Irene worked at). As Irene pointed out, it was nice to start the day focusing on the life of the Jews, both before and after the Holocaust. One portion of the centre was dedicated to stories of survivors. There was a film montage playing of survivors telling their stories.
Next stop, Auschwitz camp I. If you didn't know where you were, you would swear it's beautiful. And I hate that I think that. They way the sun was shining on the brick barracks...hauntingly lovely. I can't express to you the feeling of sickness I carried in my stomach all day. The hair, the shoes, the suitcases, the clothing of babies and young children, the identities of these people....all lost yet all on display. There was information about Witold Pilecki, the Pole that is currently on display in downtown Radom. A very emotionally overwhelming day. I would like to return to see Auschwitz-Birkenau camp II...there is only so much one can take in in one day.
Heather and I left while the others ventured on. The thought of getting back to Radom after midnight on Sunday night was not appealing so we caught an earlier train. Well, these things are never as simple as planned. There were no more trains from Oswiecim to Krakow that would get us to the train to Radom in time for the earlier train, even though we had already purchased our ticket. So...we used our Polish and figured out a bus that got us back to Krakow instead. After Heather stopped one bus, opened its door to have the driver get very angry at her, and in the process get her glove caught in the door while trying to close it (and to have about 10 people witness this, while I peed my pants laughing), everything else was smooth sailing. (See? Heather and I are meant to be friends. That's totally something that would happen to me!) It did feel nice to laugh after a very solemn, sad, and bitterly chilled day. Training through Poland Sunday evening (in the dark) was beautiful, as we passed many cemeteries. November 1, All Saints Day, is an important holiday here. People go to the cemeteries and light (SO MANY) candles for their loved ones, praying for their arrival in heaven. Seeing all the light was magical.
In other news, Irene and I have less teaching hours than the others, so we will be teaching demo lessons in the locals schools from time to time, to advertise the school and expose students to Native speakers. I am very excited about this! I am always open to a change in my routine. Keeps things interesting.
Heather and I are still rocking the gym.
Berlin this weekend!! WOO! Very excited.
Pictures will come. I promise.
More travel plans? Heather's sister is coming for Christmas and the three of us are going to travel together - Budapest, Vienna, and Bratislava are the plan. Of course, these things can change. I am thinking I will go to Spain in February when I have a break, and Latvia early April when we have time off for Easter. I feel so lucky every day for this experience!!
That's all for now. Almost time for work!
(The first photo is from the Jewish quarter, the second and third from Wawel Castle, and the fourth and fifth from Auschwitz.)
The weather here has been chilly...but the last four days were sunny! Temperatures peaking around 2 to 5 degrees each day. Today it's back to overcast skies however. And what a nasty wind we have...brrr. Send warmth please!
What a weekend I had! It started bright and early Saturday morning, catching a train at 7:24am, en route to Krakow. We (me, Heather, Irene, and Jo) eagerly hopped on our train when it rolled into the Radom station, and before we knew it, we were on our way...or so we thought. We settled in our spots, and were just commenting on how we had very little time to board the train! Next thing we know the conductor is yelling at us in Polish, clearly not impressed with our stealthy ability to board the train so quickly. We were not supposed to. It was empty. It was moving out of the way for another train to come into the station. So he stops the train about 100m away from the station and kicks us off. Of course this meant we missed our 7:24 train. Thanks goodness there was a train at 7:42! It really never fails!! And we actually arrived in Krakow 20 minutes early. We had stopped at a station, and were chatting away. (Jo was in the bathroom.) Then we realize we're at our destination of choice, and with lightning speed gather our things and Jo's, run through the train, and bang on the bathroom door to get Jo's attention. Haha What a start to the day!
We met up with Irene's friend, Kelly (who we met in Warsaw) and went on our way to the hostel we had booked. It was super cute and clean and very centrally located, and an excellent price! Really can't complain. So after dropping our things, we wandered through the old town, and through the Jewish quarter. I spent the best 7pln ($2. 50ish) of my life on lunch. Open-faced sandwiches are a vendor specialty here. And they do it well. On a toasted baguette I had sausage, goat's cheese, pickles, and mustard. Mmmm. After lunch and the Jewish quarter we made our way to Wawel Castle. Heather and I got distracted in a store full of bags and jewellery and clothing and knitted things - all created by local artists (and lots of it done with recycled material). You KNOW this is my heaven. So we got separated, but we still all had a chance to explore the castle. Unfortunately we got there too late to see the dragon's den, but I will return. The castle is stunning. And with the bright sunshine we had, and the autumn colours...wow. Heather and I went into the "Lost Wawel" exhibit and saw the state rooms. (We even danced with each other in the ballroom.) The whole gang met up for drinks before dinner (mmmmint hot chocolate). A man came into the cafe and asked if we would give candy (that he gave us) to his kids who would be in to trick or treat. It was so cute!
With the early morning and the Halloween party Thursday night, Heather and I just grabbed a quick dinner and returned to the hostel for an early night and a good, long sleep. The other girls rolled in around 3am I think...? I was sound asleep before 10pm! Haha
Sunday morning we were up at 6am to get ready and catch a train to Oswiecim, the town where Auschwitz is located. We started the day off at the Auschwitz Jewish Centre (which is affiliated with the Holocaust Museum in New York that Irene worked at). As Irene pointed out, it was nice to start the day focusing on the life of the Jews, both before and after the Holocaust. One portion of the centre was dedicated to stories of survivors. There was a film montage playing of survivors telling their stories.
Next stop, Auschwitz camp I. If you didn't know where you were, you would swear it's beautiful. And I hate that I think that. They way the sun was shining on the brick barracks...hauntingly lovely. I can't express to you the feeling of sickness I carried in my stomach all day. The hair, the shoes, the suitcases, the clothing of babies and young children, the identities of these people....all lost yet all on display. There was information about Witold Pilecki, the Pole that is currently on display in downtown Radom. A very emotionally overwhelming day. I would like to return to see Auschwitz-Birkenau camp II...there is only so much one can take in in one day.
Heather and I left while the others ventured on. The thought of getting back to Radom after midnight on Sunday night was not appealing so we caught an earlier train. Well, these things are never as simple as planned. There were no more trains from Oswiecim to Krakow that would get us to the train to Radom in time for the earlier train, even though we had already purchased our ticket. So...we used our Polish and figured out a bus that got us back to Krakow instead. After Heather stopped one bus, opened its door to have the driver get very angry at her, and in the process get her glove caught in the door while trying to close it (and to have about 10 people witness this, while I peed my pants laughing), everything else was smooth sailing. (See? Heather and I are meant to be friends. That's totally something that would happen to me!) It did feel nice to laugh after a very solemn, sad, and bitterly chilled day. Training through Poland Sunday evening (in the dark) was beautiful, as we passed many cemeteries. November 1, All Saints Day, is an important holiday here. People go to the cemeteries and light (SO MANY) candles for their loved ones, praying for their arrival in heaven. Seeing all the light was magical.
In other news, Irene and I have less teaching hours than the others, so we will be teaching demo lessons in the locals schools from time to time, to advertise the school and expose students to Native speakers. I am very excited about this! I am always open to a change in my routine. Keeps things interesting.
Heather and I are still rocking the gym.
Berlin this weekend!! WOO! Very excited.
Pictures will come. I promise.
More travel plans? Heather's sister is coming for Christmas and the three of us are going to travel together - Budapest, Vienna, and Bratislava are the plan. Of course, these things can change. I am thinking I will go to Spain in February when I have a break, and Latvia early April when we have time off for Easter. I feel so lucky every day for this experience!!
That's all for now. Almost time for work!
(The first photo is from the Jewish quarter, the second and third from Wawel Castle, and the fourth and fifth from Auschwitz.)
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