Poland

     Another adventure to add to the list: Poland. We made the long drive and it was well worth it. The first stop was Boleslaweic, which is the town where all the famous Polish pottery is made. Alex entertained the kids while I darted in and out of the shops to buy tea cups and creamers. The bargain shopper in me loved Poland! The first country we have visited where there actually were bargains!

     We continued on to Oswiecim for the night. Our accommodation was quite a surprise!

My first thought was, "We can't stay here.......but is there anywhere else? The entire town looks like this. Damn!"

But......it had been totally re-done inside and was awesome!

AUSCHWITZ

The following day we spent the morning at Auschwitz. It was much more sobering than Dachau, the other concentration camp I have been to. Frankly, I don't want to elaborate because what we saw burned itself in my memory. The day marked 2 years since Theresa's death....and spending it in Auschwitz reminded me that others have suffered much, much more than I probably ever will. 

Gas chamber.

Crematorium

Birkenau- where the train arrived. Immediately, the people were selected for either the gas chamber, experimentation or work. 

   




Pierce and Gretel were royal turds so we spent the afternoon letting them rule the apartment.

I did it!

World traveler.

New beds!

The adoring sis.......

KRAKOW

We hit up Krakow the next day. Alex and I scored some sweets deals in the cloth hall. Chess board, amber, wooden boxes and wooden toys! 

"I'll take one of each please."

ZAKOPANE

     Zakopane is located in the Tatra mountains on the Slovokian border. The ski town sports some crazy architecture. 

The famous wooden church.

Checking out down town.

First time I've seen this gig.

It's Gunther....oh...I mean...Alex.

Family grave.....buried Polska style.

And......not to forget the littlest gal....

SKIING

     Europe has gotten a scant amount of snow this year. There was one huge dump in Switzerland and Italy....but Austria and Poland never got hit. Regardless, Pierce took a little lesson and AJ made it above the clouds to see the Tatra mountains. 

Potty Training

     It is my goal to never have two kids in diapers. So far....I'm on track. My 'sweet thing' has caught on spectacularly! Pierce cheered her on like a champ.

Hot chocolate smudges and all!

Israel cont.

Day 8-

Bethany

The only other young people on the pilgrimage was a family coming from Germany. The Dad was a Fed Ex pilot over here. The boy, Charlie, received his First Communion when we celebrated Mass in Bethany.

Kiss the camel, kiss the camel............................no thanks!

Jordan River

     As we descended from Jerusalem into Jericho the temperature rose drastically. Beyond Jericho, we stopped at the Jordan River. Not at all like I imagined it! The outside temp was about 90 degrees and when I saw the river my first thought was, "Ewww.....I would never get baptized in that! Warm, mucky and who knows what creatures are lurking beneath the surface." However, as my feet submerged, they were welcomed by a refreshing rush of cold water. Suddenly, I could imagine jumping in very easily! The muddy color results from the sandy soil that the Jordan weaves through.

Receiving a blessing.......Scarlett, Father gave you a blessing too!

Jericho

     Jericho is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is an oasis in the middle of the desert, because of natural springs which still exist today. The toilets actually flushed! The only place they worked inside the West Bank.
     Jericho sat near the base of the Mount of Temptation, believed to be the spot where Jesus was tempted during His 40 days in the desert.

The desert surrounding Jericho.

Mount of Temptation

Dead Sea Scrolls

     Caves speckled the hills surrounding Jericho. One of these caves is where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Around the time of Christ, a group of men named the Assines inhabited the caves. They lived in hermit like communities and copied the books of the Old Testament.
     During the rainy season flash floods roll over the mountains and this was the Assines only way to collect water. They carved out gigantic cisterns that filled during the rainy season, with hopes that the water would last for a year's time. From the cisterns, aqueducts were built to feed the pools where the Assines performed their daily cleansing rituals.
     Some think that perhaps Jesus spent time with the Assines during His fasting in the desert.

Dead Sea

     34 miles long. 1500 feet deep. The lowest point on earth.

Absolutely ridiculous! Totally unearthly experience.

Trying to prove I could swim......not possible! Instead I looked like a fool.

Muddin up.

I didn't rinse off when I got out........hence the layer of salt.

And that concludes our pilgrimage to Israel. The most amazing trip I have ever been on. Alex, you are the bestest travel buddy around, not to mention my love so dear! Cheers to you! And cheers to the adventures ahead!