Day #5: Monday, February 18, 2019 (Berlin/Krakow/Oswiecim)

Very early this morning we all woke up at 3 am so we could leave Berlin for Krakow on a 6:30 am flight. I really loved Berlin as a city and definitely want to come back one day soon!!

The weather in Poland was very chilly at first compared to the warm weather we had in Berlin. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to grab breakfast in Old Town before we went on a walking tour of where the Krakow ghetto stood, and the beautiful synagogue that was recently restored, and the Schindler factory, and the sight where Schindler’s list was filmed so I was very hungry. I thought it was interesting how the ghetto scenes in Schindlers list were not filmed where the ghetto actually stood.

Before we went to the those sites we went to the Galicia Jewish Museum they featured amazing photography paired with text that explained the site photographed. There were amazing photos of camps, memorials, and especially Jewish people and culture that survived the holocaust. Then we visited the site of the Plaszow work camp that was liquidated and thousands of people were murdered then incinerated and thousands more were put into mass graves. That sight was very chilling on top of the hill with the sun and wind but knowing that there were mass graves beneath your feet. After that we had free time where I got some food, which helped me overcome my hunger, and we were allowed to walk around Old Town for the afternoon.

A few other girls and I after lunch went to St. Mary’s Basilica, which was beautiful, the to the market place and bought a couple souvenirs to take back. Then we walked to the Wawel Castle and made it just in time for sunset. The architecture was stunning and combined with the sunset over the nearby river it was absolutely amazing, a great end to a great day in Krakow. I would definitely come back to Krakow too.

Then we had an amazing three course meal on the way to Oswiecim where I tried pierogi for the first time. Overall it was a good day despite the early wake up.

--Sophia

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