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After a wait at London Heathrow airport, American Airlines decided I had suffered enough this year and upgraded me to business class!
However the flight to Chicago was late, I still made it home on the later flight and in nahant by 1AM

Leaving London & More Bad Hilton Service

Have to get leave for the airport soon, it seems I was just there?
Well sort off, landed in Gatwick at 7:30PM GMT and leaving Heathrow at 2:15PM-
I hope the skies are clear all the way to Chicago.

Got shafted at the front desk again and yet another Hilton.
Since I was not worthy to enter their lounge I went around the corner to the Food City supermarket and got lots of diet coke :)

Crappy room because I choose internet? I dont feel like a Diamond member.

I sort out my money and passports,

Leaving Krakow

Flash update from JP Deuce aiport.
Easyjet so far has been easy!
Asked at information desk for check in line, and I was at line 31 in a flash.
Beat the locals too!
So I give the guy all this paperwork they ask for? He just says "Passport"
Why did I print it all?

Get my boarding pass and find my bloated bag is only 18.8kgs.  Way below the scant 20 they allow you.

Chekced out the small, and I mean small waiting area , saw the charming Ryanair sign
Watched more Polish effiecieny or is it EasyJet?
Loading bags, busing people and fueling the same plan at once.

I did hear the omnious sound of the flight to Paris being cancelled, fortunetely I choose the UK
as my jump off point to home.

Cant wait for the warm welcome they give the Irish, or is it just me, at Passport control!
Or am I done becuase they did it here? One can only hope.

After a 4 hour wait my plane took off! It was delayed in London :(

Me on the plane

Aushwitz and Birkenau

Aushwitz was Birkenau were harrowing and worse than you see in the movies or TV.
Especially Birkenau.
The size and scale are enormous.
The night before I got there the infamous sign over the entrance of Aushwitz was stolen, so far Police are working on it.

A replica of the sign over the entrance.Rudolph Hess was the first commandant of Aushwitz, he was hanged on these gallows in 1947 facing his office.

A view of the sorting platform at Birkenhau. They did not have one of these at Aushwitz, the length is unbelievable. People stepped off the platform to slave labor or death.

 One of the many watchtowers at the camp.

 

Leaving Krakow Today

After three days of sightseeing and cold weather I am off to London, I hope, today.
I will update blog tonight with scenes from Auschwitz visit from Saturday.

Krakow is Wonderful in Winter

After I went to the Salt mines I went to centrum in Krakow.

I started at the mall - very busy, nice and warm.

Then to the big Castle - no photos allowed inside. But outside!
Well it was not warm

A place not to miss in Poland!

Salt Mines

Amazing trip to the salt mines today. Took lots of pics, and everything is Salt!
Small tour group - 5 English, 1 Canadian, 1 French and me.
This is our Guide at the Salt Mine
She was dedicated to our small group

This is our group on their way.
The nice French lady is in back, I am going to Auschwitz with her tomorrow.

This is one of the scenes from the past , a mine worker cranking the old lift.

This is a relief from the giant chapel in the salt mine, most photos did not come out it was pretty dark there