I have been travelling through Poland now for almost 2 weeks with Ben’s family. I am getting used to Europe, I think; its difficult in a fun sort of way realising the intensive meat culture here where its just as tough to find chicken in a normal restaurant they way finding beef in India seems like a wild goose chase.

Wieliczka 1 Photo From Wikipedia

Yesterday I visited the salt mines at Wieliczka near Krakow and the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camp. We visited the salt mines first and I was being kindly informed about the salt mines by Benoit while I peered outside the window hoping to catch a glimpse of the water body nearby. Much to my surprise we stopped around a school like structure. It was then I realised that it was an underground salt mine. Led by tour guide who in her uniform looked a Russian army chief straight out of the latest Indiana Jones movie, it definitely seemed like I was taken back in time. The strong Eastern European accent gave an all around effect to entire visit.

So after going 150 m underground (the other 150 m being unavailable for the tourists) and losing count of the steps we were using to cover this distance it seemed ages till we reached the salt mine and what a breathtaking sight it is. The walls yet covered in rock salt gives an eerie effect on the setting, with dim lights leading us from one chamber into another. The elaborately carved underground rooms, the beautiful opaque chandeliers made from salt just like the floor and the ceiling is an absolutely stunning sight. The Cathedral inside also has various recreations of the Bible, the Last Supper etc. The salt floor felt like marble to touch and the structures has a dim porcelain glaze.

Wieliczka 2 Photo From Wikipedia

The tour guide led us from one chamber to another explaining the function of each room and the life and the history of miners and the mine as we went around recreating history in our minds. She even mentioned that there were miners who spent their lifetime working in the mines without ever seeing the daylight again. She explained that according to folk story as salt was not available in Poland it was Queen Kinga from Hungary (later married to King Boleslaw of Poland ) threw her engagement ring in Maramures salt mine of Hungary and which miraculously travelled through to be found in the mines of Wieliczka.

The Wieliczka salt mine proudly boasting of being a World Heritage site is a must see for all visiting Poland. It had been until 2007 in continuous operation, producing table salt, since the 13th century. It was one of the world's oldest operating salt mines (the oldest being in Bochnia, Poland, some 20 kilometres distant from Wieliczka). Active mining was discontinued in 1996 due to low salt prices and mine flooding. The mine on an average attracts around 1.2 million tourists annually. Indeed, I would definitely recommend it as a once in a lifetime visit for everyone. Being used to looking at the salt heaps in India, the Wieliczka salt mine will definitely be an experience I would wish to revisit.

By the time we left the salt mine it was early afternoon with our stomach eager for some food. Food, Europe and I don’t seem to be going well together. Chicken and seafood being the only kind of meat that I eat, it was difficult, considering I found all other possible animals on the menu except chicken. Animals ranging from deer, rabbit, cow, pig, duck etc seem to be a staple diet for everyone living there. So I just got accustomed to eating an oily potato pancakes which were quite popular here. So after my not very thankful meal we headed to Auschwitz.

Auschwitz 2 Photo From Wikipedia

Auschwitz- Birkenau concentration camp was one of the largest Nazi concentration camps. Situated a mere 50 kms away from Krakow, this place takes you away from the big city atmosphere to that of pain, suffering and torture, expanding your minds to the horror human mind, spirit and body is capable of suffering against how its capable of torturing helpless victims of civilization forgetting humanity.
The name Auschwitz is taken from nearby village called Oswiecim and Birkenau refers to the birch trees surrounding the area. Around 3 million people are known to have died within this camp.

It is a nerve chilling moment as you walk through gates "Arbeit macht frei" translated into English as ‘work makes (one) free’. The cobbled street and bricked barracks each around 2 floors high seem shy to give out its secrets. It’s as you walk around through each of these severe looking buildings that the intensity hits you of life for those who lived to die here without hope. The exhibitions in each barrack are devoted to each country/region from were prisoners were brought in. Auschwitz 1 was were the Nazis opened the first concentration camp for men and women and used Zyklon B to conduct experiments and mass extermination of Jews. Located within this premise was Block No 11-‘the block of death’, the standing cells and the starvation cells.

Auschwitz 1 Photo From Wikipedia

The exhibitions share poignant stories of bravery, those who dared to fight and those who perished, of those who lived to tell and those who died with the secrets of their death. The pictures, the innumerable lists of people, the ruin and remains of the space the barracks , the barbed fences, the worn out uniforms of the prisoners speaks out the heinous and downright disgusting part of history that they were made to suffer.

It is not for me to tell more about this place as I don’t think I can do justice to it as a mere spectator. I think for each one Auschwitz is a personal experience of learning and understanding humanity. Just to learn more about their life and get a perspective on yours it is definitely worth a visit to understand Poland and its history.

I came back to our hotel with a new found appreciation for life.