04/08/2010 Krakow, Poland If this trip has been cultured and all about research, then this very much stopped yesterday by about 1.30pm! The night 03/08/2010 some new guys arrived in my room from Northern Ireland, just finished their A Levels, but you wouldn't know it: bloody intelligent and interesting guys. We sat up with a couple of drinks till about 2am in the garden and bar at Goodbye Lenin and then went off to bed, only to be rudely awoken by the idiotic ...

03/08/2010 Krakow, Poland I was the only one up for breakfast at 7.15 this morning, but stupidly I left my ticket i the hostel so had to race back and get it-but made the coach- just!! It is lucky I am alaways early for everything-THIS is why!! On the way to Oswiecem, there is a demonstration (or another procession?) going down the road, I think it must be a demonstration- they have flags and Catholics are generally more respectful- as they walk on the pavemen...

02/08/2010 Krakow, Poland First morning in Krakow and I spent it around the Jewish 1/4 of Kazimere and walked out of the city to the suburb of Podgorze where the old Ghetto and Plasow camp were situated. In the main square lie Jarden Jewish bookshop, where I picked up a walking guide and several Jewish cafes and restaurants- Arial- seems to be the best one, stopped here for a Cappuccino whilst I read up on the walking guide routes. From here I walked to Podgor...

01/08/2010 Lublin, Poland So...August is upon us, 3 weeks left now- how time flies.... After another lovely breakfast at the Waksman (highly recommend it if you stay in Lublin), I met Slaw at 9am and we set off in the care to Madjanek. At the reception there was an American asking for directions and then about trains to Krakow- it appeared we were to be getting the same train later. The memorial at Madjanek is the first attempt I have seen of a reconstructi...

31/07/2010 A 12 hour tour from Lublin to Wlodawa, Sobibor, Belzec and Zamosc Breakfast at the Wakesman was very nice - salate, bread, eggs and yogurt with coffee and orange- a much needed hearty start to a long day. Slawomir and his wife pick me up at 8am, as we travel out of Lublin we see a grand procession of pilgrimages: further emphasising along with the adorned crosses by roadsides and elaborate churches that seem to crop up out of nowhere- just how relig...