The Horror of Auschwitz-Birkenau

Poland – Sightseeing in Oświęcim (Wed 19 Sep 2018)

Weather: 12⁰C min – 26⁰C max, clear and sunny

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“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy” ~ Anne Frank

This morning started off with me preparing myself a leisurely breakfast and lazing around my delightful apartment. Eventually I snapped out of my lethargic state and hopped on my bike, determined to find Oświęcim’s centrum. The church spire in the distance was a clue, so I headed in that direction. There I found a very attractive town square and quite a few shops, even a reasonable coffee shop.

Normally when I tour a country I try to learn a few basic words, such as “hello”, ” thank you”, “please”, “goodbye”, ” bicycle” etc. However Polish is just too difficult for an old-timer like me. Vowels are used sparingly and the rules for Polish pronunciation are quite beyond me. How could you ever guess. that Oświęcim is pronounced osh-fyen-cheem? Thankfully most Poles speak English and I am only in Poland for another couple of days, so at this stage it is better that I focus on learning a few words of Czech, Slovakian, and Hungarian. Oh the joys of travelling!

Regardless of how you pronounce the Polish name of the town, it is the German name, Auschwitz, that sends a chill down your spine. Nothing can prepare you for the horror of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial that I visited this afternoon. Suffice to say I was deeply moved. Out of respect for the 1.1 million humans that were exterminated in the two camps, I am not publishing any photos taken inside the buildings. May they rest in peace.