How Saryn sees the world.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Work shall set you free
When in Krakow, you go to see Auschwitz.
And there it is, just past a small sleepy town in the hills. As we drove up in our lumbering camper van, passing and being passed by much bigger tour vans, I kept thinking about horror movies where the old house is haunted because it was built on Indian burial grounds. So who would live next door to Auschwitz?
I think about what I know of the war and how I know it, and I realize that my strongest impressions come from literary narratives; Anne Frank and Maus. And that on this trip I've been to the locale of both those stories. In each case, what's most shocking is what's just outside the frame. This is the Anne Frank house? On the middle of this lovely street? In this beautiful city? You mean the war happened here?
(From Maus)
Birkenau, the site of even greater slaughter, is nearby.
I felt powerless to have an Authentic Emotional Response to the camps. Was I supposed to discover new feelings of horror and anger?
When it was time to leave, however, I remember being glad that the gates were open.
And there it is, just past a small sleepy town in the hills. As we drove up in our lumbering camper van, passing and being passed by much bigger tour vans, I kept thinking about horror movies where the old house is haunted because it was built on Indian burial grounds. So who would live next door to Auschwitz?
I think about what I know of the war and how I know it, and I realize that my strongest impressions come from literary narratives; Anne Frank and Maus. And that on this trip I've been to the locale of both those stories. In each case, what's most shocking is what's just outside the frame. This is the Anne Frank house? On the middle of this lovely street? In this beautiful city? You mean the war happened here?
(From Maus)
Birkenau, the site of even greater slaughter, is nearby.
I felt powerless to have an Authentic Emotional Response to the camps. Was I supposed to discover new feelings of horror and anger?
When it was time to leave, however, I remember being glad that the gates were open.
Krakow
On a whim, we head into Poland.
They say that Krakow is the new Prague, a patently offensive reductionist cliche which mostly rings true. Wonderfully preserved (i.e. not bombed to rubble), interesting architecture, favorable exchange rate, and not yet swarming with tourists.
Click on the picture to see the kids playing inside the art.
Go Saryn!
Inside the castle.
Go Saryn!
They say that Krakow is the new Prague, a patently offensive reductionist cliche which mostly rings true. Wonderfully preserved (i.e. not bombed to rubble), interesting architecture, favorable exchange rate, and not yet swarming with tourists.
Click on the picture to see the kids playing inside the art.
Go Saryn!
Inside the castle.
Go Saryn!
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
And on to Praha
Excitement builds on the trolley into town.
The architecture is spectacular.
The Castle.
Out of nowhere, we come across an outdoor exhibit of birds of prey.
Snoozing on Charles Bridge
Sraromestske Namesti (Old Town Square) at night.
I don't know that the pictures do it justice. Prague is not to be missed.
The architecture is spectacular.
The Castle.
Out of nowhere, we come across an outdoor exhibit of birds of prey.
Snoozing on Charles Bridge
Sraromestske Namesti (Old Town Square) at night.
I don't know that the pictures do it justice. Prague is not to be missed.
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