escaped

So my week of sickness was weird. I knew I didn't like to be home a lot or alone a lot and now I also know that doing both of those things, for a few days, will make me lose my mind. On Friday (5 days into being home), nothing sounded like a good idea for me to do to entertain myself given my grumpy mood...and then i started to cry out of no where. This is when i knew i would be running away soon, for sanity's sake. :)

Saturday night i packed my backpack and headed to Krakow on my own. My train was quiet and lonely which made me wonder if i was going the right way. I was. Then i found my hostel and made friends with my new roomies. The next day i met up with some friends and we headed off to Auschwitz. I forgot my camera (tragic) so i can not show you this place...which is maybe good, because you should just go and see it for yourself. It is such a heavy experience.

So heres some quick history....
Auschwitz is a group of concentration, labour and extermination camps built by the Germans during the Second World War. There are 3 main parts to Aushwitz, with 40 sub-camps in the neighboring cities and in the surrounding area. Poles, Jews, gypsies, and prisoners of other nationalities and minorities were incarcerated there in one of the biggest mass murders in history, all part of Hitler's plan for complete destruction ('the Final Solution').

Jewish people were deported from their homes all over Europe to Auschwitz. They believed they would all be safe and with their families and belongings. Most of these people were instead, immediately sent to a gas chamber and put to death upon arrival. Their bodies were afterwards cremated in industrial furnaces. Others were put to very hard work, though people were only able to survive these conditions for 1 week-5 months.

Its hard to tell how many people died from this experience....the Germans tried to keep things quiet and burned papers and bodies. Though well over a million is very safe to say.

The experience was one I won't ever forget.

sick=quarantine

I got sick.  Sunday night i felt it coming. Monday morning didn't sound great.  By Monday afternoon I was pretty sure I'd gross out my students so I called Zuzka and she found subs for me and told me to stay home.  Later Monday night Zuzka called me back and told me to meet her in the morning and we were going to go to the Doctors.  I didn't want to go but agreed. 

So Tuesday morning I saw a doctor.  I was given a prescription for 3 medicines (1-nose spray, 2-cough, 3-aches) and 7 days.  Meaning for 7 days I have to stay in my house.  For anyone that knows me...this may be the hardest thing i will ever do in my life.  I cant remember ever even staying in the house 24 hours.  I get bottled up and antsy and feel like i have to get out and see that people still exist.  But, by law, i cant leave.  Ok i am sick. I dont think i could do normal every day life, but i certainly dont need to be locked up.  And i am assuming in one more day i will be fairly back to normal but still in this house....so if you want to talk online at any point...im home and available.  ha :)

The sad thing is..... we have monday off, and i have friday off because my class got changed so i had a plan. Thursday go to prague.  Friday meet with Italian consulate.  Saturday day trip to town near Prague that has a bone church, among other things. Sunday see the Cold War Kids plan in Prague and Monday go to a Brewery.  Now my plans have changed to sitting, laying, reading, watching, alone, bed.  And since its the long weekend, people i know in Ostrava are leaving too.  I guess it was bound to happen at some point.  Getting sick.  The thing that sucks about getting sick here though is that it doesnt just affect me.  My friends have to pull my weight and cover my classes.  And again, if you know me at all, you know that i hate needing help.  Today i just feel weak, like im failing.  

Krakow, Poland

Krakow might be the cutest place ever. Ever.  The castle is beautiful and dripping of mysterious stories and historic facts.  The town is small enough to be able to just walk everywhere.  They have a big main square and then a smaller square and also the jewish quarter.  All of these areas are filled with live music pubs and clubs and artsy little nocks.  The town was busy with street performers, restaurants, flower vendors, etc.  One of my favorite visits was to the New Jewish Cemetery.  Lyds and I were the only ones in there at the time and it was one of those experiences i dont think i will ever forget.  Knowing the history of the Jews and weight of their sorrows and then crawling into this place of proof of it all, mixed with the perfection of fall colors and falling golden leaves onto beautiful graves with only silence all around... like i said....it was just one of those experiences.  

Krakow also has a beautiful basilica with a huge adorned alter, a giant Cloth Hall absolutley filled with vendors selling repeated items to tourists, a clock tower that supposedly has a dungeon and beer cafe, synagogs, museums, and fashion.  Lyds and i would sit and peoplewatch and lust after their fashion.  The girls are so sleek and trendy.  Id say better than new york!  Amazing jackets and books... the layers, the bags, the hats...oh i loved it! I wish i was a cute polish girl! 

On our last day there we went to a really great book store....rooms filled with english books!!!! floor to ceiling, every topic, ladders, coffee, couches, thoughts, writing, music, reading, hours flying by.  It was really needed to just have time to sit and think and sort out thoughts that havent had time to be completed in the rush of every day life.  Then, on our last night there, lyds and i finally found a dancing club.  Underground there was a huge 6 room cave with lofts and multiple bars and couches and dancing! To good music dancing!  It was a great find and took us forever to discover but was worth it!  Fall break was lovely! And reminded me why i wanted to move to Europe.  What a blessing to live to close to different cultures and to jump on a train that costs roughly $30 and have an adventure in a whole new land. Beauty.  

Wroclaw, Poland

I believe that Wroclaw has perfected the ambience factor of cafes and bars that America has been trying to grasp for years....they make it seem like it was effortless to throw together vintage furniture, warm colored walls, dim lighting, and urban art and photos with deliciousness...paulaner beer or cappuccinos and chocolates.  

Then they have their town square... a big open space of people and energy, overpriced food and historic buildings.  Wroclaw has been called the Venice of Poland though i would never claim such a thing.  The similarity is the bridge idea.  Wroclaw has 112 bridges connecting 12 islands that make up the town.  Of course the bridges are adorable and all different than the others.  I think it was smart to be there during the fall because it was sooo beautiful and we enjoyed the leaves and cool air.

My only complaint is finding Tram 22.  People act like its so easy to find and they point to some vague direction and look at you like your stupid. In reality this tram is sometimes invisible and other times tucked behind and under giant buildings.  And taxi drivers can choose to not take you places which makes getting around....if you are lydia and me... a little challenging. 

FOr some reason my blog wont upload any other photos besides this one, so you can look at my facebook page to see more photos of wroclaw.  sorry..