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Katy took me to see Auschwitz and Birkenau one day – one of the most depressing trips I’ve ever made. I didn’t take pictures in Auschwitz (too intense) but I did get some of Birkenau.

Birkenau

Inside Birkenau – looking out. If you watched Schindler’s List there is at least one scene with a very similar shot.

Birkenau

Inside Birkenau – looking out.

Birkenau

This is near the back of Birkenau. The four black rectangles were effectively tombstones – a type of memorial to the Jews killed here. The really sad part (that you can’t see here) was the memorial laid out in candles in the form of a Star of David – along with all the stonse placed on top of the tombstones.

To the right (if I remember correctly – it’s been something like 7 years) are the remains of one of the crematoria.

This (not just Birkenau – this particular spot in Birkenau) has to be one of the most overwhelmingly sad places I have ever been – it was well worth going there (everybody should) but I have absolutely no desire to ever go back.

Birkenau

I think this is the inside of one of the prisoner barracks.

Birkenau

Looking back out of Birkenau. If you look closely you can see a little white smudge on the railroad tracks – about 1/3 of the way up the photo and just below the building. That’s a small Israeli flag – you would find them scattered around all over the place.

Birkenau

The road into Birkenau.

Birkenau

Inside – looking out.

Birkenau

Ditto.

Birkenau

Outside looking in.

Tarnowskie-Gory is the town Tina and Katy worked in. Unfortunately, I didn’t take many pictures of it – probably something to do with hangovers, etc.

Poland – Tarnowskie-Gory

Tarnowskie-Gory train station (taken with a massive hangover – I remember this one!).

Poland – Tarnowskie-Gory

Tarnowskie-Gory train station – again.

The World Clock

Tarnowskie-Gory – the world clock with a slightly Soviet view

I can’t tell the cities on the two panels visible here, but I think the one to the left is Moskow (Moskau).

The World Clock

More of the clock – but with the New York face visible. I do remember the funny thing was all of these Communist cities were listed – except for New York.

The World Clock

More of the clock – but with the Peking face visible.

The World Clock

More of the clock – Hanoi to the left and Moskow in the middle / to the right.

The World Clock

Last clock photo – Algiers in this one. Is that Katy on the right side of the picture?

The route over involves flying from Dallas to Amsterdam, flying from Amsterdam to Prague, taking a scary cab from the Prague Airport into the city, and then catching a train to Poland from an equally scary train station. In order to recover in between the cab and train rides I stayed in Prague for a couple of days.

Then again, you really don’t need an excuse to stay in Prague – it’s a beautiful city!

Prague

(better yet, Prague Construction!)

Prague

Vltava riverfront in Prague (I think)

Prague

Ditto – but with the Prague Castle in the background.

The obligatory pre-trip photo of Zaphod

Whacky cat… (he pee’d in my suitcase when I came back from this trip).