Poland, the Salt mines & Auschwitz

What can I say about Poland? Well for a start its very different then the UK. The first very noticeable difference is the Polish people themselves. Hardly an ounce of fat on any of them. You wouldn't believe how they keep so slim because in all the time of our visit we were forever being fed!!! They love their potatoes and pile the plate high with either boiled or mashed. This is then served with chicken steaks, home made burgers, sausages, veg and a cucumber and onion dish consisting mainly of cream! Absolutely delicious! and another thing, cakes.... not just served for tea. Oh no. We had them offered for morning coffee, afternoon tea, dinner as a desert and then an evening snack! It is Soooo unfair that they are slim and can eat what they like when all I have to do is look at food to put on the weight!!



Peeling eggs, Yes all of them to go into a vegetable salad.



Christine scraping the carrots while I chop onions. Notice the washing up bowl. Not for the peelings but to place the chopped carrots, onions, gherkins, eggs, potatoes, sweetcorn and peas and then mixed together with mayonnaise, loads of cream, mustard and S & P. Sounds weird but is the most delicious salad one can eat!!! And still fattening!!!!!! Help!

The first few days in Nowy Sacz went by like a flash. Iwona took us to the mountains, very popular with skiers in winter. Only trouble was she picked the worse day to go sight seeing. The clouds covered the top obscuring our view and it was cold. Thankfully I took a coat but Iwona went in a skimpy top light trousers and sandals. Needless to say she didn't bother coming for a walk with us, choosing instead to stay in one of the bars and eat Polish sausage. After about 15 minutes we also gave up the idea of walking around as visibility was virtually Nil and once inside we just had to try one of the sausages that Iwona was enjoying so much. After all it would be rude not to join her!! I can see I wasn't going to have any will power in saying 'no' to the food.



Going to the top by cable car. The views would have been spectacular if we could have seen them!!



Colin appearing through the mist.



Typical! As we came down the mist lifted and the top could be seen!

On Tuesday we went for a walk. I love the individuality of the houses, some keeping chickens and even cows by their front door. All the dogs we saw were tethered and had kennels. Apparently, so Iwona tells me, dogs are for guarding property and not as pampered pets. That's why when Iwonas mum came to meet as here in the UK several years ago, she was very frightened of Judy and Jade. Couldn't understand why we kept them indoors. Most of the people in Poland are Catholics and very religious. Some have shrines to the Lord near their front gates and many shrines are found along the roads for people to prey and give thanks.




I loved this garden ornament.



Free range chickens in the garden.

The park held a variety of birds. I only wish I knew the names of them but the only one I can identify with is the raven

 

Ian wishing he was a kid again!

As the weather had been decent sitting outside on the terrace when we got back seemed like a good idea. The beer and wine came out followed by biscuits for a change!

Colin, Ian, me, Joseph, Vwacha and Oscar in the front.




Ahhhh mum and daughter!



Dad lord of the manor.

Chatting to Joseph and Vwacha was not easy as they don't speak English and we don't speak Polish. Thank goodness Iwona translates for us and off coarse one can get by with hand gestures. Vwacha doesn't seem to understand the word no. Every time we gesture that we have had enough to eat, more is thrust into our  face. We love the food but one can have to much of a good thing especially as my waistline seems to be expanding rapidly. We retired fairly early for bed as we were off early the next day to meet Christine Kev and Josh at Belice Airport.

Wednesday dawned fine and hot. The weather in Poland is quite bizarre. When the sun is out the temperature rises to around 30 degs but as soon as it clouds over we sit shivering when it drops to below 12 deg's I'm convinced it has something with the purity of the air. Anyway the flight was on time and they arrived happy but weary at 10 am. Having to drive to Stanstead to catch the 8am flight meant they had to leave by 3 am.  First thing was head for the outside bar at the airport before Colin, Kev, Christine, Oscar and Josh left to catch a train to Krakow, while Iwona, Ian and me took the car to collect the keys to our apartment. Now bearing in mind that Iwona used to go to Krakow university many years ago, she got completely lost when all the roads she used to drive down were out of bounds to the general public. In fact it was pure luck that a taxi driver stopped her going on any further toward the square because 50 yds further on was a camera and if she had got caught would have been fined 1000 zloty (Polish currency) about £250. She eventually found a multi story car park about 10 min walk to the square and decided to leave it their and find the apartment on foot. First we headed for the square where we had arranged to meet the others. A very welcoming drink greeted us when we arrived.



Sitting in mid air



I wonder if I could get him to move?



Oscar and Josh eyeing each other up after landing at the airport..

The beer went down without touching the side. Very welcome in such hot weather. Colin and Iwona then left to collect the keys to the apartment and finally after a long morning we eventually walked up the three levels to our accommodation. The apartment slept up to 9 people and was very basic. No problem as we didn't expect to stay in other then to put our heads down at night. Only one mishap occurred while we were there. Colin went to take a shower and flooded the bathroom. A quick call to the landlord sorted the problem out so all ended well.

Next stop was the salt mines in Wieliczka an 80 minute bus ride away. The tour lasted 3 hours and we descended 350 steps to a total depth of 135 mtrs. Its one of the must see attractions in Poland but as we found it is not really suitable for young children. The steps are no problem but there is an awful lot of talking by the guide which meant the kids got very bored.



The great Hall 350 mtrs below ground. Available for weddings and other functions. I wouldn't want to try and get the merry revellers back above ground after partying all night!



The Dragon that is said to live in the under ground chambers.



A long awaited ice cream after being underground so long.

Next day we made our way to Auschwitz. As both my parents were dutch and lived in Holland during the occupation by the Nazi's,  I felt a need to understand what they must have experienced and witnessed as the Jews were led away to the death camps. The first picture I've chosen to start these photos was the most upsetting for me.

A small amount of human ashes found in the incinerators. The majority was taken away and tipped into rivers to try and destroy the evidence.



Prisoners huts



Belongings left behind.



The bodies removed from the gas chambers.



A mountain of glasses

Out of all these terrible images, the one thing I didn't photograph was the tons of human hair. Belongings seemed less personal but the hair belonged to living and breathing people and was shaved from their heads after the bodies were removed from the gas chamber. Imagine a 50ft Wide beam filled top to bottom with hair, well that's the amount that was recovered, but then think of the amount the Nazis' had already sold to traders to make rugs! Impossible to imagine but it all happened non the less.

The selection process



The so called " Lucky ones" stripped, hosed down and dressed in prisoner overalls



Hitler



One of the gas chambers.

The incinerateror ovens



The chimneys that is all that remains of the many huts that held the prisoners.



Transport carriage to the gas chamber

Destination death!

First of the demolished gas chambers. The Nazi's tried to destroy the evidence.

Women's Hut.



Prisoners digging a tench for the loos

Sleeping area for the women prisoners.



The ladies loos. Women were only allowed to go twice a day. When they got up and when they returned from work.  If the trough happened to block up, one of the prisoners had to jump in up to her waist with a shovel and clear it out!

The whole family was deeply moved by what we saw today. Please God let it never happen again.





Breakfast at Nowy Sacz



Grandma Mynark House (



Present for Colin from Maczym one of his Polish friends. 3 Ltr bottle of Jack Daniels which by the way was drunk between 5 men in 2 days!!! Colin, Ian and Kev being 3 of them!



Colin and Maczym

Kev, Colin, Maczym and Ian



Slight mishap with the BBQ that night

  


















                                                                Oliver's Christening Outfit.         
                                                                        


Christine, Josh and Kev outside the church



Olivers Christening.



Photo by the Alter

Oscar, with Colin, Annya ( God mum ) holding Oliver, Maczym ( God Father ) Iwona, Joseph and Vwacha

Meal with all the Polish family after the Christening



The inevitable Vodka toast!



In the dish is Pierogi a sort of ravioli. Clear soup is then added to make it into a starter. Note the cakes on the cake stand. That is only some of the cakes we were served every day of our stay.

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Our final day.