UEFA Europa Conference League - Alkmaar, Legia and Zrinjski

[PeterWithesShin]

My dad and sister went when they were over there for the Gornik UEFA Cup game in '77.

[Rory]

I'd advise anyone who has the opportunity, to go. As long as you don't buy all the Jewish propaganda - some people argue it wasn't a normal POW camp, and even that Jews were intentionally murdered there!

Get some space at Birkenau. Take your time. Appreciate the scale. Guided tours simply cannot do justice to something like that.

[algy]

My old man smoked weed in Amsterdam
I looked at some paintings by Van Gogh
He ate cake and was stoned for hours
I rode a bike and went looking at flowers
There’s windmills and churches, more canals than Venice
But for Anne Frank’s House you’ll have to wait in line
So if you want some fun go window shopping,
Where you’ll meet some friends of mine.

Brilliant.

[algy]

I loved Warsaw. Went to Auschwitz (an experience which is simply indescribable), went to the salt mines (beautiful carvings) and then got driven deep into the woods to fire guns (AK, shotgun, pistol) where I absolutely wasn't shitting myself. Some Polish looking TA in all camo were doing firing drills and watching us shoot which wasn't intimidating at all. I will say though that I found the AK to be far easier to shoot than I imagined, to the point where I thought it was scarily easy. Very attractive women around and relatively cheap, also. Great place to go.

I'd recommend anybody who chooses to go to Auschwitz to donate generously, but forgo the guided tours.

I went as part of a school tour, found it overly commercialised and was misquoted in the Birmingham Mail for good measure. They even cut out my best comment: "the only thing missing is a fast food van called 'Auschwitz Burger-Now".





(I'm the fat skinhead.)

Go, think, absorb. Experience it as a human being, not a tourist.

Completely agree with Rory here. It's easy enough to get to by public transport. Personally found it quite overwhelming, the Auschwitz II particularly so, but maybe because I just wandered around with thoughts in my head.

If you are planning on going - or even if you're not - "If This Is A Man" by Primo Levi is a really powerful book about his experiences there. Italian Jew who fought with the anti-fascist resistance, before being caught and sent there. Was one of the few who survived. I'll not try to paraphrase anything he writes in there, I can't do it justice. But it's an incredible piece. You won't enjoy reading it, but it is such a worthwhile experience.

 I'd recommend getting an edition that also has his second book (The Truce) in too, as that covers his absolutely incredible journey home from Auschwitz to Turin, but only after the Russians had marched them all to Belarus (!) first. The majority of published versions include both books. It offers some relatively light relief to the first book.

[Brazilian Villain]

I'd recommend anybody who chooses to go to Auschwitz to donate generously, but forgo the guided tours.

I went as part of a school tour, found it overly commercialised and was misquoted in the Birmingham Mail for good measure. They even cut out my best comment: "the only thing missing is a fast food van called 'Auschwitz Burger-Now".

Served with Arbeit Macht freis?

[Somniloquism]

I loved Warsaw. Went to Auschwitz (an experience which is simply indescribable), went to the salt mines (beautiful carvings) and then got driven deep into the woods to fire guns (AK, shotgun, pistol) where I absolutely wasn't shitting myself. Some Polish looking TA in all camo were doing firing drills and watching us shoot which wasn't intimidating at all. I will say though that I found the AK to be far easier to shoot than I imagined, to the point where I thought it was scarily easy. Very attractive women around and relatively cheap, also. Great place to go.

You should do a fans guide on the prostitution rates around Europe.

[Rory]

I'd recommend anybody who chooses to go to Auschwitz to donate generously, but forgo the guided tours.

I went as part of a school tour, found it overly commercialised and was misquoted in the Birmingham Mail for good measure. They even cut out my best comment: "the only thing missing is a fast food van called 'Auschwitz Burger-Now".

Served with Arbeit Macht freis?

Very good.

[Somniloquism]

I went as part of a school tour, found it overly commercialised and was misquoted in the Birmingham Mail for good measure. They even cut out my best comment: "the only thing missing is a fast food van called 'Auschwitz Burger-Now".

Fury as Villa Fan goes to Auschwitz and bemoans lack of burger places.
They saluted Hitler as well.

[Brend'Watkins]

I'd recommend anybody who chooses to go to Auschwitz to donate generously, but forgo the guided tours.

I went as part of a school tour, found it overly commercialised and was misquoted in the Birmingham Mail for good measure. They even cut out my best comment: "the only thing missing is a fast food van called 'Auschwitz Burger-Now".

I disagree with that. I’d say the guided tour was essential, the one we had was excellent. She was clearly a jew herself and knew her stuff. My guess is that school parties are treated differently than other tour groups. There was nothing tacky or commercial about the tour I attended. I found Birkenau more moving. Less visitors than Auschwitz but the footprint of the site gives you the immenseness of the place. The train track which you can walk along and you’re asked to stop where the passengers got off and were told left or right is a shuddering moment. I didn’t find it upsetting as I knew what to expect but actually being there resonates. I’m glad I went and recommend others to go if you are in the vicinity.

[Monty]

I've seen idiots taking selfies there and it just made me want to scream. Not photos - ecstatic, demented selfies with the dumb tongue-faces and some vacuous little kawaii hand gesture. I really don't understand people sometimes.

[womble]

I've seen idiots taking selfies there and it just made me want to scream. Not photos - ecstatic, demented selfies with the dumb tongue-faces and some vacuous little kawaii hand gesture. I really don't understand people sometimes.

Probably the sort that would have made unthinking camp guards.

[DeKuip]

Auschwitz is a bit of a trek from Warsaw, don’t try that on matchday!
I went from Krakow and agree with previous posters that Birkenau hits you more powerfully. I would recommend a guide as there’s so much you could miss without, and to expect it not to be touristy is not really realistic. Someone on our minibus moaned that her day was spoilt by seeing so many fat tourists - which made me wonder who she was expecting to be walking around with! She was probably also surprised that the sun was out and everywhere was in full colour.

[edgysatsuma89]

I loved Warsaw. Went to Auschwitz (an experience which is simply indescribable), went to the salt mines (beautiful carvings) and then got driven deep into the woods to fire guns (AK, shotgun, pistol) where I absolutely wasn't shitting myself. Some Polish looking TA in all camo were doing firing drills and watching us shoot which wasn't intimidating at all. I will say though that I found the AK to be far easier to shoot than I imagined, to the point where I thought it was scarily easy. Very attractive women around and relatively cheap, also. Great place to go.

You should do a fans guide on the prostitution rates around Europe.

Hahaha.

And DeKuip is right, I completely forgot that it was Krakow when I went to both Auschwitz and the salt mines. Completely got mixed up, Warsaw still great though, so is Krakow.

[Brazilian Villain]

And DeKuip is right, I completely forgot that it was Krakow when I went to both Auschwitz and the salt mines. Completely got mixed up, Warsaw still great though, so is Krakow.

Haven't been to Krakow but my Mom and sister and sister went and they were very impressed with the salt mines. Thought it was well worth a visit.

[Somniloquism]

I've seen idiots taking selfies there and it just made me want to scream. Not photos - ecstatic, demented selfies with the dumb tongue-faces and some vacuous little kawaii hand gesture. I really don't understand people sometimes.

Just tut and mumble about respect, don't feel it is an outrage apparently.