krakow, berlin, paris, normandy

We just finished up our last leg of traveling with a quick WWII inspired tour. After Naples we set off for Krakow, Poland and spent three days exploring the surprisingly wonderful city. I had such an emotional feeling upon arriving in Poland because I realized that I was probably the first member of my entire family to return to Poland after my grandfather left there at the age of 9. He and his family left to find a better life in America and I tried to imagine what that was like for them - leaving everything you'd known for a hope of a better life. It was interesting to be back in Poland and experience a bit of the culture he left-and even more interesting to remember what a proud American he was even though he wasnt born there. It was the perfect segway into learning a bit more about WWII since he told stories of his Marine service in the war until the day he died.

The focus of our time in Krakow, however, was a trip to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps. I cant really describe here how the experience was, but there is something very powerful about being in a place that treated people as animals, took away their human dignity, destroyed families, and in the end, systematically tried to annihilate entire people groups. I dont have the words to say what it feels like to walk into a gas chamber, or stand next to the Death Wall, or see all the items confiscated from victims - baby bottles, reading glasses, shoes, hair. I guess the hardest part of it all was realizing that things like this still happen but they might not get as much press coverage. One of my favorite parts though was learning about some people associated in the Polish underground resistance movement. People who hid Jews in their homes to save them from the Nazis. People who tried to give food through the camp walls. People who risked their lives to help others.

After Krakow we headed to Berlin for 2 days and took an all day tour of the city. It was fascinating to learn about the city's history -all the way from its time as a Part of Prussia to the Cold War and everything in between. I saw where Hitler died (fittingly only marked by a parking lot), Checkpoint Charlie (the front lines of the Cold War - where at times American tanks and Soviet tanks faced off against each other just a few feet away waiting to start World War Three, and the remains of the Berlin Wall. I learned the thrilling story about how the wall fell, how people had tried to escape from East Berlin prior to that event, and the place where the Nazis burned books. Today there is a quote there from an author speaking about the Spanish Inquisition but it eerily fits. Translated it roughly means, 'Once they start burning books, they soon will start burning people.'

After Berlin we went to Paris for a few days including a fantastic day trip to Disneyland Paris! We were tired of culture, tired of history, tired of art, so a trip to the most magical place was just what we needed. I guess not many people can say that they've ridden the Tower of Terror 3 times on their visit to Europe. ha.

Normandy was our next stop for t he 65th Anniversary of the DDAY landings. Thank goodness we had scheduled a tour because it took us all along the landing beaches and really laid out before our eyes Operation Overlord. We couldnt help feel so proud to be part of the Allied forces - and everytime we saw a veteran of the invasion we were almost drawn to tears. Most of them are in their mid-eighties if they havent passed away already. We wanted to thank them, to hug them, ask them war stories so we could remember what they did and what they sacrificed. Visiting the American cemetery at Omaha Beach was also particularly moving. You just see white marble crosses laid out in perfect rows everywhere - another reminder of the sacrifice of so many young men - younger than me - who died on the beaches where we were standing.

It was hard to get around on actual DDAY of June 6th because President Obama's visit basically shut down the entire area and unless you had special access (which we did not) you were pretty much cut out of most ceremonies. We were fortunate enough though to watch the simultaneous fireworks display the night before that took place on over 50 miles of the coast. It was amazing. We were also lucky to have met a few active service members and ended up spending most of our time with them touring around - something that made the experience all the more meaningful.

Now we're back in Florence for our last day in Italy and we fly back to the States tomorrow. Ill update one more time with pictures but until then, see you in America!