Entry #7 from June Travels

I'm on a roll... third entry written out for today! Only three left after this one!

2 July 2010

So, I'm on the train to Olomouc presently. I'll write about yesterday, seeing as how my present situation is pretty boring: stuck in a compartment in stifling heat because the A/C isn't functioning. I'm so sweaty an uncomfortable, and it's so airless in here.
Yesterday I woke up early. Was still tired but crawled out of bed before my alarm went off. Showered & got ready, then took the tram to the main station, where I caugh the bus to Oswiciem (Auschwitz). When I got there, it was peacefuo and quiet. Some of the exhibitions weren't open yet, but as I walked around, I found most open. I looked at nearly all of them, but there was just too much for one visit, and too much country-specific stuff (like exhibits on Jews from the Netherlands, for example). I went to the shuttle bus stop, but had some time to wait, so I went into the small cafeteria-style eatery that they had there. It was all very old (70s kinda decor, I guess) with lace doilies and some plastic flowers. Had a coffee while I waited, then caught the short shuttle.
Birkenau was different. Auschiwitz was big, but Birkenau was huuuuge. A had properly built, multi-level buildings, whereas B had a lot of wooden structures, and nearly all the buildings were single-story. A was pretty much intact, whereas much of B was missing. And of course A had been turned into a museum, with entire rooms full of combs or shoes or suitcases or human hair... whereas B was left simply as a reminded of what had happened. It didn't need exhibits - it spoke for itself.
I walked around the entire complex, as I had in A. I was hot and exhausted by the end of it. And I'm disgustingly tanned from being in the sun so much lately. My camera card is full, so I'll have to do something about that. I caught the shuttle back to A, vaguely remembering the time that I thought a bus was going back to Krakow. (I'd seen a sign, fleetingly, in the museum shop). I had a stew in the cafe, which was mostly cabbage but was pretty good, and an entire bottle of cold water. Then, thankfully, my timing was brilliant, and I caught the bus back to Krakow.
The bus was bumpy but the ride was pleasant enough. I was pleased to rest my feet for nearly two hours! I got back to Krakow and looked around the giant shopping centre, but didn't buy anything, and went back to the hostel.
I made pasta with chickpeas and veg for dinner, saving the rest for lunch today. Packed my books, newly purchased at the camp, into another bag. Showered - didn't brush my hair, just let it curl. I've done that again today - too lazy to care. Went to bed early.
Slept poorly again, and was up before my alarm (also again). Got ready, had breakfast (the mixed berry jam was a vast improvement) and checked out. Tram to the shopping centre next to the train station - I'd seen a Mac store and wanted to bring in my nearly-empty powder compact so that I could get an exact replacement. I had to wait a few minutes for it to open. Got my powder, which was zl 105 - still much cheaper than in Australia! - and went to the train station.
Bought a bagel for the train trip to Katowice, where I had lunch in my half-hour wait, which was leftovers from dinner. Delicious. Now I'm on my way to Olomouc. Ate my bagel, which was vastly better than the American-style ones that I'm familiar with. Only an hour to go...!