Trip to Auschwitz

Visiting Auschwitz is something that has been on our list since we moved here. Last Friday afternoon, we loaded up a 10 passenger rental van and headed to Poland with my parents. 7 hours later, we arrived in Oswiecim, Poland. We stayed in a lovely hotel that I would highly recommend to anyone - the Hotel Galicja. It was such a contrast to the horror of Auschwitz, just 5 minutes away. 

                                                   

Saturday morning, we visited Auschwitz. For those with kids, I would recommend getting there early.  From 8 to 10, you do not have to take a guided tour. Obviously, I wouldn't want the kids to participate in a guided tour, so it worked out perfectly for us. 

I struggled taking the kids at all, but thankfully they young enough to not really pay attention. Cade and Logan are pretty oblivious. With Chelsea, we just explained it at the highest level.  Auschwitz is divided into barracks, with exhibits in each one. Because we were early, it was pretty empty. We were able to let the kids run around outside the barracks while we took turns going in. There were a few exhibits that were fine for the kids to go into, so one of us would scope it out before taking the kids in. 

So horrible, such a tragedy. Standing there, seeing where the people arrived on the rail cars, seeing the pictures and the luggage and the kids clothes...the horror is unfathomable. One in 10 victims was Hungarian, so that added another dimension of understanding for us.

So many thoughts as we were there - wondering what did the people of that town think about what was going on there? How many risked their lives and their families lives to help? It was easy to stand there and think, where were the Christians? Where was the Church? Why did they do nothing? But, it also made me think about today - what do we ignore thinking we can make no difference?

Such a powerful experience. So glad we went.