*FYI: I will be posting less-than-pretty (graphic) pictures, if you don't read today's post. I totally understand*
I've been meaning to blog this even before I became I legit blogger. Two years ago, I embarked on a journey called March of the Living. I am jewish, incase you were unaware! (I feel like there are ZERO jewish bloggers....!) March of the Living is a two week trip to Poland and Israel. I wanted to share with everyone my experience, because it's not everyday you walk up to a friend and say "Oh hey, just last week I was walking through a concentration camp in Poland. What's been up with you?" Weirdly enough, I could say that. Except, tears were 99.99% involved. I was able to walk where many of my distance ancestors once suffered. Even some of my friends great grandparents. Throughout my trip I had too many mixed emotions, but I wouldn't trade this trip for the world. The greatest part? You could go on it too. Jewish or not.
I don't want to bore you with writing, because as cliche as it is, pictures are worth a thousand bajillion and ten words. Feel free to continue to not read, or read on. Luckily for my trip, I was able to experience the hardest parts holding my best friends hands and even experience a survivor of Auschwitz's story...first hand.
Here goes nothing:
Famous sign at Auschwitz. The "B" in Arbeit (first word) was switched by the prisoners, as a sign of rebellion. The phrase means "work will set you free", and sadly it did not.
Inside a barrack at Auschwitz. While there, my friend found pictures of documents of his great grandparents.
The view outside the cellblock 10, where experiments among other things happened.
One of my favorite pictures. The hands of a holocaust survivor (of Auschwitz) on my trip. Interested in her story? Watch videos here.
Cattle car used to transport from Auschwitz to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
A beautiful thing to see while leaving a terrible place. (@ Auschwitz-Birkenau)
Trudy telling her story in a barrack at Ausch-Birkenau.
The actual march. We marched out of Auschwitz into Auschwitz-Birkeanu.
Majdanek. A concentration camp right outside Warsaw that could be up and running in 48 hours today.
My best friend (who I'm seeing in a few weeks) and I at Auschwitz-Birkeanu. Beyond thankful for a friend like him.
Hey, thanks for sticking around. I didn't mean to put a damper on your day. SO SMILE. Just remember to be thankful for all that you have, everyday. And to remember that we should never forget.
If you want to see more, email me. I love to talk about my experience with others and I am ever so thankful for my parents sending me on this life changing trip.
(the dead sea, israel)
