The Volvo Ocean race takes place every three years. This year is the start of the race is in Alicante.
We took in some of the pre-race activities during the time the Volvo Ocean Race was in Alicante. We went down to the pier and walked through the different pavilions.
Pavillions for the Volvo Ocean Race
They had interactive activities for the children.
Computer simulation for sailing which children used to practice their sailing skills.
There was even a full size replica of the sail boat which was cut through the middle to provide a view of the interior of the racing boat.
Interior of race boat design used in Volvo raceInterior of racing boat design where children could explore the boat
We walked along the pavilions checking out the displays and activities. It was an interesting day looking at the different aspects of the Volvo Ocean Race.
The following day we went out on the Mediterranean to watch a trial race by the Volvo Ocean teams. We went out on our friends sailboat and enjoyed the view from the sea.
Shelley and Mike on the Sailboat
There were many other boats on the water also watching the race.
Volvo Ocean Race Sailboats during preliminary race in Alicante
We followed along the race route enjoying the spectacular views of the sailboats.
It was a very enjoyable way to see the sailboats racing. We even managed to get very close to the Volvo ocean sailboats.
Close view of the crew of the Volvo Ocean sailboat Brunel
It was a great day of sailing along with the Volvo Ocean Race sailboats.
The official race day was October 22nd and we went to watch the race at a friends apartment. The apartment is located on the 20th floor and the view was spectacular. We could see the entire race from a different vantage point.
View of the Volvo Ocean Race start at Alicante Spain
We enjoyed watching the race live on the tv as well.
We were fortunate to see the Volvo Ocean Race sailboats in different ways, from the sea, high above and in close proximity to the boats.
We went to the Birkenau death camp after seeing Auschwitz 1 concentration camp. It was also a very emotional and somber place for us.
Ray and Shelley at the main gate of Birkenau Death Camp
Another part of the Auschwitz concentration camp was the expansion of the camp to create the Birkenau death camp. The Nazis began erecting this camp in the fall of 1941 in a village of Brzezinski, three kilometers from the Auschwitz concentration camp. The Nazis expelled the villagers and destroyed their homes to build the Birkenau death camp. This camp was designed for the mass murder of prisoners most of which were Jews.
The gate to the Birkenau death camp.
There is a railway spur which went directly through the gate into the camp. Prisoners referred to the Birkenau gate as “The Gate of Death”.
Railway spurs in Birkenau Death camp where prisoners were unloaded.
Prisoners would exit the train cars and this is where the Nazi SS physicians carried out their selection of the jews. They determined which were for work, or sent for medical experiments and the remainder were sent immediately to the gas chambers. This included pregnant women and children.
We walked through the death camp looking at the train tracks and just couldn’t imagine the horror of what happened here. As we walked alongside the tracks, we came to a cattle car which was used to transport Jews and other prisoners here.
A cattle car used to transport prisoners to the death campRailway car used to transport Jews and other Prisoners to Birkenau Death Camp
At the rear of the train car was a small raised lookout which was used by a Nazi guard.
A train car used to transport prisoners to the death camp.
The size of the Birkenau death camp was much bigger than we expected. There were rows upon rows of chimneys and ruins from the prisoner barracks on one side of the main road.
The remains of prisoner barracks at Birkenau Death CampArea where prisoners where kept in wooden barracks
There were some wooden barracks that remained in part of the Birkenau death camp.
Prisoner barracks in Birkenau death camp.
We went into some of the existing prisoner barracks. The conditions were very harsh. It was hard to imagine the living conditions they had to endure.
Latrine used by the prisoners.Bunks for the prisoners, eight prisoners to a single bunk.
We walked long the main road towards the back of the camp. As we approached the rear of the camp we could see a monument and some building ruins.
Monument at rear of the Birkenau Death Camp.
There were plaques in different languages which read
“For ever let this place be a cry of despair and a warning to humanity, where the Nazis murdered about one and a half million men, women, and children mainly Jews from various countries of Europe”
The Nazis transported jews from many european countries to be murdered here in Birkenau.
Map showing the movement of Jews transported to Birkenau to be murdered.
After viewing the monument we went to an area with ruins at the far end of the camp. These ruins are all that is left of the gas chambers and crematorium used to kill approximately one and half million people, primarily Jews.
The entrance way which Jews and other prisoners would be lead to believe were showers.
They would walk down the long corridor to an area where they would disrobe and then enter a second room, which was disguised as a shower room. There they would be gassed to death and then moved to a crematorium room to be burned.
Remains of the gas chambers and crematorium at Birkenau death campRemains at Birkenau death campGas chamber and crematorium remains at Birkenau death camp.
The size of the ruins showed the magnitude of the horrors that occurred here. After pausing to reflect on the site we were looking at, we began our long walk back to the main gate of Birkenau.
There were flowers placed on the train tracks close to where the gas chambers were. When you look down the tracks you can barely see the main gate of Birkenau in the distance.
Train tracks that stop at the gas chamber and crematorium area of Birkenau death camp.
We walked slowly back to the main gate contemplating the horrors and atrocities that occurred here. A very emotional day for us, but it is one time in history that no one should ever forget.
We went to the Auschwitz 1 site which is synonymous with the horrors of genocide caused by the Nazis. The emotions and feelings of sadness go beyond words.
The main gate of the Auschwitz 1 concentration camp displays the inscription “Arbeit Macht frei” (work will make you free)
Inscription above the main gate of Auschwitz 1
Walking through the gate at Auschwitz was surreal, trying to imagine how it must have felt for the thousands of Jews and others who were sent here. We walked through the rows of brick buildings that were surrounded by double rows of electrified barbwire fences.
Double row of electrified barbwire fence in Auschwitz 1
There were cases of some prisoners who were so distraught by the camp horrors that they would throw themselves “on the wire”.
Each building was identified by a block number.
We walked through several of the brick buildings and explored the inside.
One building we entered had on display hundreds of photos that were taken of the prisoners by the Nazis. Each prisoner was photographed, cataloged and identified by a unique number. It was quite sad seeing the fear and trauma visible on the faces of the prisoners.
Photos of the prisoners at Auschwitz 1 concentration camp.
We went into another building which displayed some of the evidence and photos of the horrible atrocities done by the German Nazis. There where remains of clothing, shoes and other personal belongings which the Nazis gathered from the prisoners to use for the German war effort. Even the hair of the prisoners was kept and used for mattresses or made into blankets for the German soldiers.
Thousands of shoes of murdered prisoners
We went to another building, identified as block 11. This particular building was used for several functions. The Nazi SS imprisoned camp prisoners suspected of clandestine activities or prisoners who had attempted to escape. Prisoners in this block were sentenced to death in numerous cruel ways, including starvation or by firing squad.
Block 11, where prisoners were routinely sentenced to death.Wall used by firing squad between Block 10 and Block 11 buildings.
We then walked to the far end of the camp to a small unassuming building. This building was the first building used by the Nazis as a gas chamber and a crematorium.
The building that contained the first crematorium and gas chamber at Auschwitz 1.
This crematorium was used from August 1940 to July 1943. It was calculated that 340 corpses per day could be cremated in this building.
The crematorium furnaces in the building containing the first gas chamber and crematorium.
By the time we finished walking through the Auschwitz 1 concentration camp we were emotionally drained. It was hard to imagine the atrocities that happened here and how one human could be so cruel to another human.
We went to the Wieliczka salt mines in Poland, which was an amazing thing to see. The salt mines are a major historical tourist site and were designated as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1978.
Ray and Shelley at the front of the entrance to the salt mines
We began our tour by walking down 720 steps into the depths of the mine. The staircase was made of wood and was a continuous square staircase. we were almost dizzy by the time we reached the base.
Wooden staircase down 720 steps into the depth of the salt mine.
When we reached the bottom our guide took us through some of the tunnels in the mine. Along the tunnels, we would reach separation doors which would require the door at the other end to be closed before another could be opened. This was due to the pressurized air which was being pumped in artificially.
Wooden cribs used to shore up the mine.
We walked through the tunnels of the mine and there were signs identifying time periods when the mine was active in that particular tunnel. We walked through the tunnels and eventually would come to a large cavern area carved out of the salt. In these areas, there were salt carvings which were very impressive and represented a story in history.
Salt carvings of the queen initiating the start of the salt mine in Poland.
We came to a large area which was carved out by the miners when they were not working the mine. They created a church in the heart of the salt mine. Each carving, statue, and staircase were created entirely in Salt. It became known as “the Underground Salt Cathedral of Poland“.
Staircase of salt leading to the church in the heart of the mine.
We walked down the salt staircase and were immediately in awe by the sheer beauty of the carvings. It was hard to imagine that the miners would carve these beautiful pieces of art, while on their own time after working the mine.
Salt statue of Pope John Paul IISalt carving of Jesus and the last supper.One of the many scenes carved in salt in the churchSalt carvings and altar in the salt mine church
The chandeliers were all made with salt and each one was unique which made them even more beautiful.
Salt crystals carved into a chandelierSalt chandelier
We stopped at one point to quietly admire the beauty of the carvings. It was a surreal feeling to be in an entirely made church of salt.
Shelley and Ray in the Salt church in the heart of the salt mine in Poland.
We then walked through several kilometers of tunnels which would open up into amazing sites. There was a “salt lake” which contained so much salt that items would not sink.
We also saw some huge rooms which contained banquet halls and restaurants all underground in the salt mine.
Hallway in the salt mine leading to the restaurant and lounge area.restaurant area in the salt mines.
The tour of the Wieliczka salt mine was an amazing site. It was an extraordinary experience walking in the depths of the mine seeing carvings from hundreds of years ago made completely in salt.
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