on the road: krakow & auschwitz

Our last stop was Krakow, Poland. It’s a charming and lovely city with friendly people, great food, and too many consonants.  Of course I was mesmerized by all things John Paul II (Yay JP2!).  With constant drizzle, the main square was pretty quiet (and unphotographable), but it almost felt like we had the city to ourselves, a stark contrast to the busy-ness of Prague and Vienna.

Wyspia?ski’s window depicting God; St. Francis Basilica (JP2’s parish)

at the Old Jewish Cemetery

Our stop in Poland was also where we concentrated on some Jewish History — synagogues, cemeteries and the camps at Auschwitz/Birkinau.  The weather was dismal — rainy and gray — but it seemed appropriate for our stop at Auschwitz.  It’s hard to explain the experience of being there; there’s a heaviness that pervades.  I think some of that sense is captured in our photographs.

auschwitz

birkinau

All of our photos from Poland can be found here.