Birkenau

Very few buildings remain on the vast Birkenau site. The Nazis hastily destroyed the gas chambers and crematoria as the end of the war approached.

Extremely hot in summer, well below freezing in winter, with virtually no food, a few seconds a day to go to the 'toilet' (the holes in the centre of the block) if you were lucky, no washing or sanitation facilities and crammed three to a bunk, conditions would have been horrific.

The good news was that after our visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, we drove through the beautiful Polish country side to Wadowice, the birthplace of Pope John Paul II. his former house is now a museum and is next to the church where he was christened. Heading back towards Cracow we drove into the hills to the fabulous monastery at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska.

 When the place gets busy they use  outdoor confessionals. Pictured are just a few of them!