Going to visit Auschwitz is kind of like kissing your sister; totally awesome!
Well that’s not true, I can’t say I felt anything. Nothing but a hollow emptiness as I stared upon row upon row upon row upon row upon row upon row of stark chimneys striped bare of the barracks once surrounding them. It went on forever, I would gaze down the row, 10 barracks down, that’s the distance to the bar across the street. Double that and it’s the distance to the Brass Rail around the corner, beyond that is the length of every shameful walk home filled with regret over the past semester and further still is the duration at which I have hauled this sense of self doubt for years. It didn’t end. Measurement is funny, you’re aware of it but only in the strangest of ways. I could squeeze out two maybe three songs on the way to the gas chamber, if nothings in my way I can do two artistic renditions of “our hell” complete with meandering and sad piano solo’s while watching the wonders of perspective curl my eyes from temple to temple across a see of these brick pyres of despair.
My shoes are wet, I am so selfish.
MRH 2008
Here’s a sample itinerary of my trip for those that are interested. The days will be different but by and large the activities will remain the same.
FRIDAY MAY 16
Afternoon:
• Visit to Berlin suburb - Wannsee - site of the infamous Wannsee
Conference, a meeting of senior Nazi officials on January 20,1942 where the "Final solution to the Jewish question" was formalized.
Evening:
• Traditional Friday night Dinner
• Overnight: Berlin, Hotel NH Alexanderplatz
SATURDAY MAY 17
Morning & Afternoon:
• Depart for Bebel Platz followed by visits to the following: Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie, “Topography of Terror” Exhibition, Jewish Museum & Holocaust Memorial.
• Overnight: Berlin, Hotel NH Alexanderplatz
SUNDAY MAY 18
Morning:
• Drive to Krakow, possible stops en route in towns of significance (Wroclaw and possibly others).
Afternoon:
• Arrive in Krakow. Begin visit in Plazow, infamous Nazi labour camp featured in Schindler’s List, Visit other sites in Krakow including Kazmiez (the former Jewish Quarter)
• Overnight: Krakow, Hotel Express
MONDAY MAY 19
Morning:
• Visit Auschwitz I Concentration and Death Camp
Afternoon:
• Walk to Birkenau Concentration and Death Camp
• Visit Birkenau
• Memorial Ceremony in Birkenau
• Overnight: Krakow, Hotel Express
TUESDAY MAY 20
Morning:
• Depart to Lublin
Afternoon:
• Walk though Old Lublin
• Visit Majdanek Concentration-Death Camp followed by Memorial Ceremony
• Depart for Warsaw
• Overnight: Warsaw, Hotel Novotel Centrum
WEDNESDAY MAY 21
Morning & Afternoon:
• Begin walking tour of Warsaw including: Okapowa Cemetery,
Heroes Walk, Umpshlagplatz, Rappaport Memorial, Warsaw
Ghetto Walk, Korczaks’ Orphanagae, Nozyk Synagogue, Old City
• Overnight: Warsaw, Hotel Novotel Centrum
THURSDAY MAY 22
Morning:
• Depart for Tykocin
• Tykocin Synagogue and Cemetery
Afternoon:
• Visit Treblinka Death Camp followed by Treblinka Memorial Ceremony
Evening:
• Closing MRH Ceremony in Warsaw
• Overnight: Warsaw, Hotel Novotel Centrum
FRIDAY MAY 23
Morning:
Depart for Airport in the AM
They say it doesnt get emotional/disturbing until Poland, I guess I'll keep you posted.
Labels: actual stuff, travel
I’m 4 days away from returning to the country of my birth for the first time. I was only a few months old at the time that I left but I have one lasting memory. It’s really just an image and even now I can’t even focus on the detail of it. I’m on my back staring at the corner of a ceiling; the walls are grey, maybe a light blue. Also in my field of vision is something wooden, but very dark, like a deep mahogany. Sometimes my mom and brother spoke about this ugly bird clock in Holtzhosen, very campy, very German. Maybe that was it. I also for some reason I envision a white carpet. Not sure if it was white or if there was even a carpet at all. Maybe it’s because of the light in the room, maybe a window was open. There was no sound, no movement, there was nothing at all. Just a corner and a wooden thing that my eyes weren’t developed enough yet to focus on.
Labels: little thoughts, travel
Wwe're paralyzed, we apologize
got a new office in missisauga. sucks i guess but i love the ride if i have something to read and somewhere to sit. i get nervous or clostrtophobic when the subway swarms with people. i get real scared and cant wait til their gone. but once i get my seat i cant move. even if theres empty spots on both sidres and ettiquette requires a shift over...i just pretend to be so self absorbed that i dont notice. as if i dont notice everyone elses observatation of me.
when i stop my hands will shake... my eyes will burn
watching you turn from me to where you're from...
hosted some enemies tonight; let grace rain rose petals and soft excused about me...
