What better way to get away than a city trip to Poland's number one tourist destination, Krakow! A lovely city which boasts Europe's largest medieval town square, Gothic churches, and the magnificent Wawel Castle, Krakow somehow escaped unscathed from the bombing of World War II (unlike Warsaw, its northern neighbor and capital of Poland), making its architecture in the old town something to behold.

Krakow was Poland's royal capitol for over 500 years...and it shows! We'll begin our exploration at the Wawel Castle grounds which will include the Wawel Cathedral. After this we'll spend time moseying around the Old Town which is surrounded by walls and parkland, which at one time was a moat! Rynek Glowny is Europe's largest medieval town square and opportunities for photo taking, shopping, and dining abound!

We will take an abrupt U-turn from the architectural and cultural smorgasbord that is Krakow by a visit to Auschwitz. Viewing the cruel barbarity unleashed against 1.5 to 2 million souls who were exterminated during World War II by the Nazis at Auschwitz (Oswiecim in Polish) concentration camp nearby is a sobering experience.

When the Nazis retreated from Auschwitz they tried to destroy and hide the horrendous atrocities that had taken place here. However, they only partially succeeded and there is much left to see. Auschwitz is basically a sprawling outdoor museum with barbed wire, camp barracks, and guard towers as far as the eye can see. The Nazis created Auschwitz I originally for Polish prisoners and later built Auschwitz II - Birkenau solely for the purpose of exterminating Jews.

Especially moving are the main entrance and train tracks, featured in the movie Schindler's List, at Birkenau camp where millions of Jews arrived and were immediately selected for work or extermination.

You'll view row upon row of camp barracks, miles of electrified barb wired fence, the “showers” where so many died by gassing, crematoriums, and even where the Nazis dumped the ashes of millions of exterminated Jews. You'll learn more about men like Rudolf Hess, Heinrich Himmler, and Josef Mengele, the barbaric and cruel doctor nicknamed “The Angel of Death” who conducted twisted medical experiments on prisoners, especially children and twins, many times without anesthesia. A trip to Auschwitz is a moving, sobering, and unforgettable experience and one we promise you'll never forget.

On day three we're back in Krakow to take in more of the sights. Shaking off the lingering effects and emotions of visiting Auschwitz is not easy (nor should it be) and so we'll follow up on our visit there with a walking tour of Kazimierz, Krakow's former Jewish quarter. Former is the proper adjective as few Jews remain today having been exterminated by the Nazi regime.

There are many things to see in Krakow and so we'll plan your afternoon based on your desires and preferences. Maybe you would enjoy a visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mines; or would taking in a museum be more your style? An afternoon in a Polish park people watching or maybe another stroll through the Old Town. Whatever you decide you'll return home having seen one of Eastern Europe's most interesting, beautiful and lively cities!