where does time go?

Well, it's Tuesday evening and I am wondering where time has gone. We have finished school and can honestly say that we had a brilliant time. Our last lesson with our second teacher was such a lot of fun and we are now determined to keep up the good work. With this in mind I have been able albeit with mistakes to 'chat' or czat to one of my cousins. This is something I could not do a year ago.

We now have much more confidence in regular situations and the majority of people are very helpful. They smile and then ask simple questions where needed. However, what else has happened?

Well, our elder son and his girlfriend arrived on Tuesday morning after something of a mega-journey from Korea. They were to join us in our apartment (No 2) but Jerzy, owner of the set has given us a separate apartment for them ------- FREE OF CHARGE!!!!!! Obviously we recommend him! http://www.sodispar.pl/en/prices.html (we are now in 'Dublin')

Yesterday after our last class we went to see the 1939-1945 Museum. This included the detention cells that the Gestapo used for interrogation and torture, as well as a permanent exhibition of pictures, documents and explanations of the general government under Hans Frank. Whilst it is not a 'touristy' experience it is worth seeing if you are at all interested in history. An added plus is that all cases and posters have very clear English language explanations.

Today we went to Wieliczka Salt Mine. Although we had visited a year ago we really enjoyed it a second time and saw things we missed first time around. We went on an organised tour which we don't normally do but this was just fine for convenience.

As you can see, St Kinga's Chapel is quite amazing - no picture can do it justice. Everything is mad from salt -the floor, ceiling, walls, ALL carvings etc etc. And at this time of year the local children enter a competition to make the best Nativity scene. There are some wonderful entries and of course going through all the passages was very interesting as you can lick the floor or walls or ceiling if you so choose.

Personally I stick to a cup of disgusting Nescafe afterwards in the cafe - 400 meters underground!

There are so many figures both religious and secular. Pope John Paul II as well as Josef Pilsudski and all the saints bit especially St Barbara, patron saint of miners. Highly recommended. Even the trips down and up - steps and lift are fun. It's over 800 steps down then a lift trip of 40 seconds up at the end!! Yahoo!

Tomorrow we turn to a more serious time in Poland and the world's history. We are going to Oswiecim -a little village which became better known for a barracks which was a Polish Army Barracks until the Germans turned it into Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II Birkenau. We were there last year but go again to take our sons and girlfriend. This is no joyride. We know. However, many Poles, Gypsies, political and religious persons and Jews were murdered there and frankly, no visit to Poland especially the south, is made without going to this place. Report follows. Till then, if you are interested look here:

http://www.auschwitz.org.pl/new/index.php?language=EN&tryb=stale&id=445#2