Oswiecim, Southern Poland, Poland
Saturday, October 8, 2011
There isn't a whole lot to say about Auschwitz. It's just as depressing as you imagine it to be. When we went it was freezing cold and raining, which set the dreary tone well. Although a visit to a concentration camp isn't fun or pleasant, it is an important thing to do on a trip to Poland, or Europe in general. It's a reminder of the horrible things people are capable of, and of how important it is that nothing like this happens again. The most emotional thing for me was seeing the huge piles of personal items that were recovered after the camp's liberation, like empty suitcases, shoes, combs, and eyeglasses, all separated into groups. There was even a group of children's shoes. It was really awful to see. We spent a couple hours there and didn't see everything, because you really don't need to to get the point. Like I said, though, it was a good thing to do, and an important piece of history, no matter how grim.
- Brooke
