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Have you ever visited Auschwitz and Birkenau in Poland? I write about my experience in my Adventure Living column, part of Travel & Leisure.
What have your experiences and reactions to these sites been?
I welcome your comments.

Best,
Candyce

I at first, at Auschwitz,I did not want to get off of the bus, but than I was thinking of a person, I know who was inprisioned there. So I went, and it was something I will never forget, as long as I live. It made me hate the Germans, for what they did. I think, anyone visiting Poland, it is a must see.

Mike

visited two years ago w/sister i was very moved especially because i had two catholic cousins who survived when i saw flowers left on the tracks i cried but was proud that people today honor the dead

I live in Krakow (about 1,5 hour from Auschwitz Museum) and I visited the place couple of times. The first time when I was about 13 - with my class. I guess the visit to Auschwitz is something one never forgets... especially some parts of the exhibition - hair, suitcases... and the film showing the liberation of the camp.
But I also have mixed feelings about people taking smiling photos of themselves in the Museum area and eating sandwiches. I could not swollow anything there...
I would restrain myself from saying that it's the Germans who did this. Here we say it was the Nazis - and I support it. Let's not forget that people of many nationalities were sent there too - also disabled, gays and rebellions from Germany. They all suffered.

My reccomendation:
I somehow feel that before taking tour to Auschwitz one really needs to visit Kazimierz - the Jewish district of Krakow first. You can see then what a beautiful culture the Jewish community developed there. In Izaac's synagogue there is a film displayed showing the life before WW II and the fact of moving all the Krakow Jews to the Ghetto (in Podgorze). Then visiting Podgorze, seeing the wall of the Ghetto, Schindler's Factory and other memorial places... and then Auschwitz Birkenau - where the life of many Krakow Jews became the hell.
It's a kind of Jewish heritage tour that helps to realise what was lost because of the Holocaust.

I really like the idea of having separate exhibitions in memory of all the nations that suffered in Auschwitz Birkenau camp. One can visit the barracks that feature photos and histories of given nationality groups that were taken there.

Anyway, if planning a visit there... be prepared that you will probably leave thrilled... I did.

You must also see the ghetto in Warsaw,where the Jews once lived, and have someone tell you the story of this place.

Mike

I think some places are sacred and solemn and anyone visiting such places should show respect by silence - for Auschwitz and Birkenau and other similar places are thought-provoking sights. To act as if the venture is an enjoyable outing with picnics is unthinkable. Even taking pictures of each other smiling as if they are at an amusement park is not acceptable. These are places of deep sadness with the memory of a tortured and ostracized People and respect should be shown.