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Wednesday, May 25, 2016

7 Best Things About Visiting Krakow, Poland

1. LODY- So this is just ice cream. But it feels like a crime to call it just ice cream because never in my life have I had something anywhere near comparable to this amount of deliciousness. #WhatsADiet




Smerf Lody




2. ARCHITECTURE- Hi, so I'm a huge architecture nut. I'm pretty sure half my camera card is full of beautiful streets and pretty buildings, so naturally the gorgeous buildings hiding in Poland made your girl super happy...











3. CATHEDRALS- I can't even count how many churches I wandered into and each one was just as awe inspiring as the last. 











I didn't take any pictures of the inside out of respect of those worshiping (it was Sunday). So enjoy these pictures of the hallways...  
 


4. THE JEWISH QUARTER- This area of krakow has a laid back, kinda hipster vibe to it ... So naturally I thought everything was dope. 









So we visited a jewish synagog and cemetery... very peaceful and somber. 



5. THE CASTLE- so there is a giant castle chilling in the middle of Krakow, just a couple blocks from the main square. You start walking and all of a sudden BAM! there's a castle. The castle does have a fee to enter (each different building) and the line to purchase tickets was an undesirable length so we just wandered around on the grounds which was just as enjoyable in my opinion.






"I could get used to a view like this"- Flynn Rider (Tangled) also Lauren Elle bc WOW






6. AUSCHWITZ- So technically this is an hour bus ride out of Krakow but it is definitely more than worth it. Auschwitz is such a surreal and unique experience. We all learn about the history of World War II but there is something very humbling about standing there and entering the gate to what was quite literally a living hell. IF YOU WISH TO READ SOMETHING LIGHT AND HAPPY DO NOT CONTINUE WITH THIS PARAGRAPH!!! I don't have more than one photo. This wasn't something I wanted to experience with a camera. Inside you assume a certain level of reverence and respect for those who have passed and for the horrible things that happened there. You enter through the gate and walk through halls containing the history of the camp and those kept there. Then comes the building labeled "Proof of Crimes". In this building you can view the glasses taken, the thousands of shoes who's owners were never found, the hair shaved from the heads of prisoners doomed to die, prosthetic legs and crutches, hairbrushes, and pots and pans, all of which makes visible the mass of human life was taken within the fence. In case that building was not real enough to strip you to the core the next one is labeled starvation. The halls are lines with faces, countless faces, young and old; underneath you find a statement as to when they died. You enter rooms and find photographs of emaciated men women and children. Statues and stories in the next. You continue to walk and you pass a courtyard where mass shootings took place. You see the flowers laid in memory by loving family members. You view the gallows and lastly you see a small "hill", however this hill is actually a building. Upon entering you see a gas chamber, the claw marks on the walls left for the world to see. There is a lingering odor in the air, a smoke but not similar to that of a fire, a different undertone. Upon entering the adjacent room you behold the origin of the scent ingrained into the walls. The cremation room makes and end to your journey. You do not leave this experience with a cheerful feeling. However you do leave with a greater understanding and respect for this who died at the hand of the Nazis in WWII. 


7. TOWN SQUARE- It's huge, you really can't miss it and there is always something going on. From street performers to climbing the old bell tower the possibilities of things to do are endless! Cafe's and restaurants line the perimeter and along the center is a building called the Cloth Market... I personally didn't see any cloth but it is the main place to get souvenirs and any amber jewelry. Literally there is amber everywhere. Don't forget to listen for the trumpeting from the bell tower every hour. The story is the song cuts off at the same place every time because long ago the man in charge of playing the tune in warning of invasion was killed mid song, so now in honor of that they stop it at the same note every time.
The view from the bell tower (Free entry on Mondays)

Nope it's not Genovia... But these chocolate covered pears were to die for.
So we stumbled across a "stagdo" aka bachelor party... So just imagine 18 Scottish men walking around in storm trooper costumes. The future groom was dressed as Darth Vader... Forgive me mother but I did in fact climb on the shoulders of a slightly drunk Scottish storm trooper and take a Photo... life experiences right??



Quick tip... If you really want to walk around the square without a soul in the world just wake up at 6am and wander around.
The building behind the trees is the cloth market.

Forgive the dark picture but we went before it opened and this is the only one I got before my camera died... I'm standing in the entryway of the cloth market in my chocolate covered pear photo though!

Make everyday an AdVeNtUrE!!!
xoxo 
Lauren Elle

Saturday, May 14, 2016

FLIGHTS, FLIGHTS, FLIGHTS

The first 48 hours of my European adventure...
So my 6 hour layover in Houston is how I caught up on all my sleep
Also... I love my Adidas Neo's for travel. They're so comfy and are easy to get off and on for airport security. Plus they're chic and match just about everything. 
Alright, Lufthansa was my airline for that long ocean crossing flight to Germany and I have to say that it was by far the best flight I've ever been on. Lots of legroom, pillows and blankets. It helped that there was in nobody in the seat next to me so I could put my legs up. The in flight meal was delicious... for an in flight meal. and it doesn't hurt that I slept for 80% of the flight.
so my luggage got left in Germany because our flight was running late. Bright side... they're delivering it to my house tomorrow.

Views from my bedroom window at sunrise. Gorgeous.

The International Ward meets at the building right next to the temple so I got a quick shot! Still trying to read what it says...