Poland is a country that has interested me but for different reasons than the rest of Europe. When work took me to Poland for a week, my “work wife” and I decided to make the most of it and take a tour of the southern part of the country: Wroclaw and Krakow. We rented a car from the local company, Panek.

Tip: Only in Poland did a car rental company notify me that being an American I needed an “international license.” They tried to make me pay an additional fee in order to use my Tennessee license. If you are going to be in Poland with a car, contact your car insurance ocmpany to get an international driver’s permit for the trip.

Wroclaw

Wroclaw was a delightful surprise. We enjoyed walking the streets and searching for the little gnomes spread out in the city. There are over 350 of them and are a symbol of the anti-communist movement. You can take a walking tour by going on a gnome search in the highlights of the city. Most of the tour shops have gnome maps that can help you map our your itinerary.

Auschwitz

If you have the fortune of making the road trip from Wroclaw to Krakow, you drive right past Auschwitz. Now, I have been to this camp twice and was very pleased to learn they have removed the 20 euro entry fee. While I understand there is financial obligation to maintain the camps, I strongly believe it is important to keep these historical landmarks open to the public while encouraging donations. The photos above are from the first of two camps where you can see the well known “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign (Work makes you Free) and remnants of the victims, which can be found in Block 5.

You can visit Auschwitz I and II (start in I) with either a guided tour or doing it on your own.

Auschwitz II shows the sleeping barracks, cattle cars that brought in the victims and the iconic entry way as seen in movies like Schindler’s List. In addition, there are two demolished former gas chambers located at the back of the camp. Nazi soldiers tried to destroy all evidence, including these gas chambers, when word broke that the Allies had won and were liberating the camps.

As difficult as it may be for some of you to visit Auschwitz, I highly recommend adding to your list. It is the most powerful and moving place I have ever been.

Krakow

Krakow was without a doubt the best surprise in Europe. There are so many sights to see from the Wawel Castle to the Main Square that you easily need four days to see it all. Poland is an inexpensive country to visit so four days in Krakow may equal one or two days in a city like Paris or Berlin.

We spent the majority of our time in the former Jewish district of the city, Kazimierz. Other than the obvious historical significance this district holds, present day Kazmierz is full of cafes, second hand boutiques and street markets for the masses. One such place that combines the historical with the present is “Once Upon a Time” restaurant located on Miodowa street. At the very beginning of WW2, Kazimierz hosted both Jewish and Polish business where they could work and mingle side by side. It was time and a place where everyone ate, shopped and inhabited the same place, even if they differed in almost everything. Inside this restaurant, you are transported to this time and can see the nostalgia on the walls and in the building.

Oskar Schindler Factory

Most of us have seen Schindler’s List but you can not imagine how your perspective changes after visiting the actual factory where it all began. I was a little confused before starting the tour as I thought we were going to actually walk inside the factory and see equipment and enamel goods and basically the factory as it was during WW2. However, it is an exhibition of Krakow during the occupation and walks you through the different aspects of how this city was impacted during the war. If you are a WW2 enthusiast, then this tour is a must see.

Food

Besides the super yummy Pierogi, we found that fresh juices were high in demand in several cafes in the city. Polish food can be quite heavy, enter pierogi, but we had huge success finding Jewish cuisine that lightened the load.