Cracow is joined to Wroclaw, through one of the two highways that there are in all the country, which we cover in a couple of cars and relatively quickly. The city has also a lot of life, but what has moved us to here is undoubtedly knowing the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz, in the near locality of Oswiecim.
If the visit to the museum is done entering into the history, it can be really impressive. Here about 1,5 million people were murdered, of which 90% were Jews, and the majority gassed. The rest were gypsies, Polish, and all the people that one day a man, decided that they were not "suitable" for the life...
Generally the Jews were gassed just arriving to the camp, mainly women and children; the healthy men were exploited for the work. These women thought that they put them in a room of disinfection, but from the showers of the ceiling, water did not come out precisely.
A part of the gassed, they used other methods as lethal injections, fusillade on the wall of the death, tortures, death for experiments, cells where they left them without water or food until they were consumed, or a lot of simply died exhausted by the work, and the bad living conditions.
In the different naves, we saw exhibitions about how they lived, and remains of objects of the prisoners as hundreds of suitcases, glasses, shoes, and about 2000 kg of hair of the women, with which they traded.
In the photos its seen part of the camp, the crematory, and the ovens where they burned the corpses.
And here some photos of the main square of Cracow and the castle.
26 junio 2007
POLAND
We leave some days to Poland, moved to know a little more of what happened in this area during the Second World War. Once more by truck, and with only that one, we reach Wroclaw, a city with a lot of university life, and where we celebrate the shortest night of the year with Ewa and Mary; and so short, there are just 4 hours of darkness, by 4:00 am is completely light. One of the curiosities of the city are some dwarfs (sculptures), which are hidden, and has to be searched them around the city, of the 15 that there are, we only found 5… for two days is not bad!
19 junio 2007
CZECH REPUBLIC
We reach this country with the patience practically used up; we gave plenty of turns trying to look for the best place to do hitchhiking to the outskirts of Bratislava. In the end a Czech picks us up, and it is also true that when you spend hours on the road waiting, and somebody at the back whistles you, and says you that he brings you, the joy multiplies by a thousand. In this case, neither drug nor nothing, the man crosses the border with us without any problem, and he left us in a place where he would return to pass to go to Brno, so, if anybody didn’t stop for us before, he would pick us up late or early. It seems that the hitchhiking works well here; and such a good entry in the country, that the man of the following car gave us a book of sentences in Czech-English. Brno, doesn’t impress us a lot, the truth; but the memory of every place is always good, in this case it was thanks to the friendliness of Katka, big lover of the folk music from Asturias (Spain). The best of the city, the cathedral undoubtedly; and why not, the concert of gospel, that we saw at the main square.
Without waiting a lot, we were half of way between Prague and Brno; and for the first time in the travel, we saw several hitchhikers mates, but they were hitchhiking on the highway, here is prohibited but the people do it... The exit of the motorway where we stay was totally dead, so we had two options: still to be waiting there, or to do as the Czech colleagues and hitchhike in the motorway. In the face of our astonishment, the first enormous truck that pass, stops... we didn’t think two times, we run to go up, and again surprised when the driver asked us to remove our shoes to go up to the truck. The man was a very friendly Turkish, he told us that he stops because he thought that I was Turkish as well. When we go by truck the time is longer, because it goes more slowly, and you establish more relation with the people; although the language sometimes is a problem, with people as Goktug we can understand each other even if the same language is not spoken.
In our first look to Prague we saw that the prices are higher by the massive tourism, as this country is cheaper even than Slovakia. Here we stay five days at the house of a Ukrainian and a Russian, Olesky and Pavel.
The city is very interesting, undoubtedly, but I prefer a short journey that we did during our stay here…
One of the days we went to Kutna Hora, a town at 70 km from Prague, and as the hitchhiking goes well here, then, why we are going to pay a train; on the day we went and we returned. The Gothic cathedral is amazing, and we also had the opportunity of watch the museum of the tobacco, very interesting; but the best thing of the town was the Bone Church, a "tribute" to the dead people of the big plague, that devastate Europe, The Plague. During the plague, the corpses were piled up in common pits, and to somebody occurred the brilliant idea of decorate the interior of the church of the cemetery, with the bones of about 40.000 people. There are shields, letters, vases, but the summit work undoubtedly, is the central lamp; absolutely everything make with bones.
For the first time leaving a city we have "competitors" hitchhiking, that is good signal, and it is that here this works very well. The last night in Czech Republic it wasn’t that well, it was at the unpronounceable city of Hradec Kralove, where it joins a big storm, and cold, with a failure of our contact of CS, although finally we fix ourselves, and we spent the night in a kinder garden, was an interesting experience...
Without waiting a lot, we were half of way between Prague and Brno; and for the first time in the travel, we saw several hitchhikers mates, but they were hitchhiking on the highway, here is prohibited but the people do it... The exit of the motorway where we stay was totally dead, so we had two options: still to be waiting there, or to do as the Czech colleagues and hitchhike in the motorway. In the face of our astonishment, the first enormous truck that pass, stops... we didn’t think two times, we run to go up, and again surprised when the driver asked us to remove our shoes to go up to the truck. The man was a very friendly Turkish, he told us that he stops because he thought that I was Turkish as well. When we go by truck the time is longer, because it goes more slowly, and you establish more relation with the people; although the language sometimes is a problem, with people as Goktug we can understand each other even if the same language is not spoken.
In our first look to Prague we saw that the prices are higher by the massive tourism, as this country is cheaper even than Slovakia. Here we stay five days at the house of a Ukrainian and a Russian, Olesky and Pavel.
The city is very interesting, undoubtedly, but I prefer a short journey that we did during our stay here…
One of the days we went to Kutna Hora, a town at 70 km from Prague, and as the hitchhiking goes well here, then, why we are going to pay a train; on the day we went and we returned. The Gothic cathedral is amazing, and we also had the opportunity of watch the museum of the tobacco, very interesting; but the best thing of the town was the Bone Church, a "tribute" to the dead people of the big plague, that devastate Europe, The Plague. During the plague, the corpses were piled up in common pits, and to somebody occurred the brilliant idea of decorate the interior of the church of the cemetery, with the bones of about 40.000 people. There are shields, letters, vases, but the summit work undoubtedly, is the central lamp; absolutely everything make with bones.
For the first time leaving a city we have "competitors" hitchhiking, that is good signal, and it is that here this works very well. The last night in Czech Republic it wasn’t that well, it was at the unpronounceable city of Hradec Kralove, where it joins a big storm, and cold, with a failure of our contact of CS, although finally we fix ourselves, and we spent the night in a kinder garden, was an interesting experience...
13 junio 2007
BRATISLAVA
Before going to the Czech Republic, we make use of the nearness of the Slovak capital, and pass some days here, in Bratislava.
Even though it is separated by 60 km of Vienna, we notice great changes, it is seen that this country has some years to arrive at the level of the countries of the euro zone. Although just in a year and a half they will impose here, also the new coin.
Bratislava, a city made capital very few years ago, has a historic centre small and attractive, and flooded of tramways as all the Central European countries.
Among its plenty of churches, we find the blue church, which seems taken out of a tale.
The colorful buildings of the centre, contrast continuously with old constructions half demolished and in very bad conditions; and at the top of a near hill, there is a castle, centre of meetings of the president.
On the other side of Danube is the new part of the city, which is accessed for the modern New Bridge.
Respect to the people, the little contact that we have had, has been very good, from the day that we arrive they helped us a lot; and Tomas, the one who hosted us, is a very nice person; those beers in front of the Danube in the night.... are unforgettable.
We make use of a day, to go to the Castle of Devin, in a small town near the city, in the confluence of the Danube with the Morava, at the border with Austria.
The castle has survived from the New Stone Age until the 19th century, passing for numerous hands; even it fell in the hands of the troops of Napoleon.
To finish off, in this city that has liked us so much, Tomas invited us to a very tasty dinner of authentic Slovak food.
Even though it is separated by 60 km of Vienna, we notice great changes, it is seen that this country has some years to arrive at the level of the countries of the euro zone. Although just in a year and a half they will impose here, also the new coin.
Bratislava, a city made capital very few years ago, has a historic centre small and attractive, and flooded of tramways as all the Central European countries.
Among its plenty of churches, we find the blue church, which seems taken out of a tale.
The colorful buildings of the centre, contrast continuously with old constructions half demolished and in very bad conditions; and at the top of a near hill, there is a castle, centre of meetings of the president.
On the other side of Danube is the new part of the city, which is accessed for the modern New Bridge.
Respect to the people, the little contact that we have had, has been very good, from the day that we arrive they helped us a lot; and Tomas, the one who hosted us, is a very nice person; those beers in front of the Danube in the night.... are unforgettable.
We make use of a day, to go to the Castle of Devin, in a small town near the city, in the confluence of the Danube with the Morava, at the border with Austria.
The castle has survived from the New Stone Age until the 19th century, passing for numerous hands; even it fell in the hands of the troops of Napoleon.
To finish off, in this city that has liked us so much, Tomas invited us to a very tasty dinner of authentic Slovak food.
08 junio 2007
AUSTRIA
We continue in a green and mountainous country, at the west the big Alps and at the east plain lands.
We don’t like to generalize but the people here are cooler, and the hitchhike is more difficult, although we were traveling like this in all the country.
The arrival to Austria was very funny; a Swiss girl picks us up in St. Gallen, and told us to stop before the border. After some time perhaps she thought again about it, and ask us if we have some drugs with us; with our negative replay, she was agree to cross the Rhein river and bring us to Austria.
Before to arrive to Innsbruck, our first destination, we stopped at Bludenz, where the Suchard factory is, and all the city smells chocolate. When we told to the Austrian that we eat it in Spain for Christmas they were very surprised…
Innsbruck is far from the Swiss border, to arrive, we had to cross deep valleys, and the city is located between big mountains, it is the perfect place to practice winter sports, something very popular in Innsbruck. At the environs there is a racecourse of jump sky of the last Winter Olympic Games.
The center of the Tirol capital city it’s small but very interesting, until 800 years back history, a part of the cathedral and the golden roof, the most beautiful is the settle of the city between the mountains.
The way to Salzburg took us long and interesting time, we went by different cars, meeting very different people; the first one was a young guy who has traveled a lot, and with many nice stories.
In our way we had to across a small piece of land of Germany, after that again in Austria, Salzburg it’s at the border.
We have to name Mozart at this city, his name, sculpture, picture…is represented everywhere in Salzburg, his birthplace city. Salzburg is full of churches, cathedral, and of course, the house where Mozart born, and the house where he lived.
With Jenny of HC, we went to Oberndorf, little bit north of Salzburg; this town is on the exterior side of the curve of a river; at the interior of the river, there is another town, but it’s Germany, we were crossing from Austria to Germany to have a cheaper ice cream and then back to Austria…The picture is the German town from Austria.
We didn’t want to arrive straight to Wien, so we made a short stop in St. Pölten, it’s not much interesting, but we were walking there with Johannes of HC, who showed us all the city; the small tower of the picture is a monument dedicated to the disease of Plague.
Sorine, a Romanian man who works here, picked us up and brought us to Wien as a taxi, because he put the address of the HC member, Maria, on the GPS, and brought us just in front of the door of her house. We were very lucky to arrive like this to such a big city as is Wien.
This first day we went for a walk to introduce us in this beautiful city; we approached to the centre passing nearby Belvedere palace and its gardens…
During the days that we were here, not only we visited the city, we were very lucky to go with Maria to our first Opera concert; the act performs, Othello, was full of different characters, and was very interesting. Even as the real fans, we waited to the artist outside who sign us autographs.
In Wien there are many places to see…walking through the centre you can look where you want, always there are something surprising and nice to see. Here there are some pictures that we share with you.
We don’t like to generalize but the people here are cooler, and the hitchhike is more difficult, although we were traveling like this in all the country.
The arrival to Austria was very funny; a Swiss girl picks us up in St. Gallen, and told us to stop before the border. After some time perhaps she thought again about it, and ask us if we have some drugs with us; with our negative replay, she was agree to cross the Rhein river and bring us to Austria.
Before to arrive to Innsbruck, our first destination, we stopped at Bludenz, where the Suchard factory is, and all the city smells chocolate. When we told to the Austrian that we eat it in Spain for Christmas they were very surprised…
Innsbruck is far from the Swiss border, to arrive, we had to cross deep valleys, and the city is located between big mountains, it is the perfect place to practice winter sports, something very popular in Innsbruck. At the environs there is a racecourse of jump sky of the last Winter Olympic Games.
The center of the Tirol capital city it’s small but very interesting, until 800 years back history, a part of the cathedral and the golden roof, the most beautiful is the settle of the city between the mountains.
The way to Salzburg took us long and interesting time, we went by different cars, meeting very different people; the first one was a young guy who has traveled a lot, and with many nice stories.
In our way we had to across a small piece of land of Germany, after that again in Austria, Salzburg it’s at the border.
We have to name Mozart at this city, his name, sculpture, picture…is represented everywhere in Salzburg, his birthplace city. Salzburg is full of churches, cathedral, and of course, the house where Mozart born, and the house where he lived.
With Jenny of HC, we went to Oberndorf, little bit north of Salzburg; this town is on the exterior side of the curve of a river; at the interior of the river, there is another town, but it’s Germany, we were crossing from Austria to Germany to have a cheaper ice cream and then back to Austria…The picture is the German town from Austria.
We didn’t want to arrive straight to Wien, so we made a short stop in St. Pölten, it’s not much interesting, but we were walking there with Johannes of HC, who showed us all the city; the small tower of the picture is a monument dedicated to the disease of Plague.
Sorine, a Romanian man who works here, picked us up and brought us to Wien as a taxi, because he put the address of the HC member, Maria, on the GPS, and brought us just in front of the door of her house. We were very lucky to arrive like this to such a big city as is Wien.
This first day we went for a walk to introduce us in this beautiful city; we approached to the centre passing nearby Belvedere palace and its gardens…
During the days that we were here, not only we visited the city, we were very lucky to go with Maria to our first Opera concert; the act performs, Othello, was full of different characters, and was very interesting. Even as the real fans, we waited to the artist outside who sign us autographs.
In Wien there are many places to see…walking through the centre you can look where you want, always there are something surprising and nice to see. Here there are some pictures that we share with you.
Suscribirse a:
Entradas (Atom)
