As I already mentioned, I decided to dedicate my whole life to playing chess. In this way I develop myself, gain experience and earn money. I would like my life to be like this for as long as possible. I travel mainly in Europe and try to get higher and higher places in championships. I also want to share my passion with others. I organize free lessons in libraries with both children and adults. Some people ask me for interviews. I also like to visit people with disabilities to prove to them that they can become chess champions if they train hard. I hope you enjoy my journey through life, and by reading this blog, you will follow along with me.
Life can be surprising
I have to admit that I didn’t plan to visit Krakow and its surroundings. In fact, I wanted to visit Dubai, but in the end I ended up in Krakow. I know it is a bit different climate and destination, but the price of the ticket decided. Anyway, I do not regret anything. As soon as I landed at Balice airport, I immediately used the Krakow Direct transfer and in 30 minutes I was in the city center. The driver was very nice and helpful. He immediately told me what to see and what other things this company can offer to its clients. You can use the VIP airport transfer or book an organized tour of the city and its surroundings.
It was the best decision I have ever made. I do not regret my visit to this beautiful Polish city at all. Moreover, I had the opportunity to have an unforgettable tour of Auschwitz, which I will never forget. People say that Krakow is the best Polish city and now I can really agree with that. Medieval architecture, beautiful churches, amazing archaeological findings, old walls and modern skyscrapers. Moreover, the city was not destroyed during the Second World War.
Salt mine in Wieliczka
Additionally, I had the opportunity to take an amazing trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This was not my plan either, as I only wanted to visit Auschwitz. However, the company I was traveling with offered me their various tours. One of them was the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Have you heard of it? It’s a special monument from the 13th century, located near Krakow. This place is really beautiful. It’s also one of the oldest salt mines in the world, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I was on an amazing underground tour in the underground kingdom of salt. To get to the bottom of the Wieliczka Salt Mine, I had to take 810 steps! I would recommend visiting the Wieliczka Salt Mine to anyone coming to Poland.
It used to be a dangerous place for workers. Mostly because of the highly flammable and explosive mine gases. Perhaps this is one reason why the people who worked there were very religious. They carved beautiful salt figures of Saints to whom they prayed. There are also impressive chapels in the Wieliczka Salt Mine. The reconstruction of the miners’ harsh living conditions is really interesting. So are the archeological findings. I learned that the Wieliczka Salt Mine is also very popular among people with asthma or other respiratory problems. There is also a restaurant with delicious food to sit in after the tour.
Trip to Auschwitz
Although my visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mine was brilliant and impressed me, the best was yet to come. To be honest, I had never been on a trip that had as much impact on me as a trip to Auschwitz. Before coming to Poland, I knew something about the Holocaust and concentration camps. I had seen the movie Schindler’s List and The Pianist, but that was it. However, it was always a very interesting topic for me. So I booked an organized trip to the Auschwitz Museum. Already in the car, we watched a documentary about the Holocaust as a prelude to visiting Auschwitz. I’m a traveler, I’ve seen many, many museums, but this was something… It took my breath away.
My tour of Auschwitz is something I will never forget
Although I had read about the Holocaust before my trip to Auschwitz, I was not fully prepared. I was expecting so much more. In the age of Hollywood productions, including horror movies, we are used to seeing torture, death, and humiliation. However, when you realize that it really happened not so long ago …
What shocked me the most is that it happened because of an absurd ideology. It was man who invented this place of slow, grueling death, medical human experimentation, mass murder and dehumanization. In short, a place of evil. Inequality, discrimination and the suffering of the innocent were the order of the day at Auschwitz.
A real history lesson
In any case, the trip to Auschwitz gave me a great lesson in action. I supplemented my knowledge with valuable facts. I had an amazing guide who explained to me many things about the Holocaust. I saw the prisoners’ barracks, the places where they worked, and the places where they died…Probably the most terrifying were the ruins of the deadly gas chambers. The Auschwitz tour consists of visits to two parts of the camp. Both are equally horrific: Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau.
In conclusion, I would recommend anyone in Poland to book a trip to Auschwitz. I think children should see this place too, it can teach them many valuable things. In addition, I can sincerely recommend a trip to Krakow and the Wieliczka Salt Mine, as everything is very close to each other.