Short Trips From Warsaw. Review on Poland, General

The population of Poland is a bit over 38 million people. 99% are Polish, and the other 1% is made up of Jews, Belorussians, Germans, Ukrainians or people from Urbanzian. There are five major cities, (Warsaw, Gdansk, Lodz, Krakow and Poznan), and I have only visited Warsaw.

.:The History:. At the end of the 18th century, Poland was ruled by Royalty. Poland was the only country in Europe that welcomed the Jewish people, who had been expelled from other countries. Every Country wanted Poland! Before they each took a piece of it for them self Poland included, Austria, Belarus, Germany, Lithuania, Russia and the Ukraine. Napoleon, conquered it for France, but lost it to the Austrians. What you see on a map, today, is the half of the Kingdom. During WW II the Nazis slaughter a million Roman Catholic and 90% of the Jewish populations. .

.:Krakow:.

We took the train to Krakow, to visit here for a day. Krakow has some of the most impressive art culture in Europe and has been listed on the European Culture lists and List of World Heritage for its Castle Wawel, literary history and monuments which stand throughout this city. Krakow is a town of historical interest and architectural beauty. The city was founded in the year one thousand and there had been evidence of large settlements there growing rapidly up to the 16th century. 740,000 people live here.

When we arrived in this city I thought it was fabulous. The buildings have been made out of ancient stones. Now that the Columnists have left, there are a lot of Catholic Churches. We hired a cart and with a horse and to take us around the square. You feel that you have gone back in time as you see this area. A few blocks away are the into Antique shops and other stores. The market stalls selling food, jewellery, handicrafts and souvenirs. It seemed unfair to pay the incredibly cheap prices for such incredible and artistic work. However it is seen as a disrespectful action to offer more than is requested. Amber and pure silver jewellery are the best things to buy.

Krakow is a beautiful place to be based and the locals defiantly know plenty of English. We to see the painting of the Black Madonna, in Czestahova. There is a lovely story about this painting. The painting was slashed and after that happened people swear they saw it bleed. Today, there are people who belong to different religions, come here to pray for the Madonna's intervention, so that they will be healed. Thousands of people travel to Poland, to view places where the present Pope has stood and spoken.

.:Treblinka:. I had been to a Concentration Camp, (Mauthausen), but my husband had not. I believe that every one in the World should see at least one. I was not looking forward to going to another one, but I did because my husband wouldn't go without me. Treblinka is the closest extermination camp to Warsaw, (50 miles northeast of Warsaw). It was opened in July 23, 1942. There is a barbed wire fence that surrounds the camp. Many people died on the train transporting them here. We entered the camp at the place that the prisoners arrived. We faced an open field that has rock structures that were tombstones. On each stone we saw there were the name of a town, and the number of people from that town who had been slaughtered by the Nazis. In the centre of the field is a large memorial, that was built over a mass grave. In the middle of the memorial there is a large crack to symbolize the evil that took place here.

.: Our Guide Explained:.

Most of the others, who arrived by the death trains, were sent to be ''de-loused'', (they had to remove all of their cloths, jewellery and have their hair shaved), and then went to the showers. Above the bath house was a Mogen Dovid, (star of David), and an inscription that read, ''This is the gate through which the righteous pass.'' Once they entered the showers they were killed by gas. From there were piles on a cement floor, that had a drain in the middle, for the blood to drain out of their bodies. Gold and silver teeth were removed here. Then as many as possible were sent to the ovens to be burned. Below the ovens was a slot with a bucket below it. This was to get the fat from the burning bodies. The fat was made into candles. The strongest looking people were kept alive to help run the camp. There was a revolt in 1943, but the inmates were to weak to take the camp. By the time that the Nazis liquidated it, (in 1943) 750,000 Jews and 250,000 other people, were dead.

Please Don't Read Mein Kampf written by Adolf Hilter. The Protocols Of Zion written by Victor Marsden. Both books tell lies and promote hate.

.:My Final Thoughts:. I enjoyed our visit to Krakow and the trip to Treblinka made me remember that we should never forget. Thank you for reading my review. ©LL2004 written in Seoul