Emotinal Day at Auschwitz

I can not put into words the amazing, wonderful, emotional, once in a lifetime day I have had. We had the opportunity to tour Auschwitz I and II and wow, what an experience. I went in expecting it to be similar to the Holocaust museum in D.C. I mean I know what went on there and the history but I did not expect it to be so real. They have kept almost everything just how it was found in 1945. One of the biggest eye openers was the hall of hair. When the camp was liberated, they found over 7 tons of human hair and have 2 tons of it on display in a hall. It was so real, to see all the hair, suitcases, dishes, shoes, clothes, and combs they found and made everything seem so close, so real. There is an unspoken reverence and tranquility when you walk through the camps. The feeling I had while standing in the gas chambers and crematorium was so eerie and sad and yet so amazed and appalled that such crimes happened. I wish I was better at expressing my feelings but I just can not. It is an experience that everyone needs to have. I have studied Holocaust history since 5th grade and read zillons of books but I was not prepared for today, not those feelings.

Afterwards we spent the evening in Krakow enjoying the night life and eating gelato. I am so grateful and have such a deep love for my family, my country, and the many many blessings in my life.