A single blog post will never do this experience of Clare’s justice, but it was also far too significant for her to not include in this recap of our family’s year. Consider this a mere trailer, if you will.
We knew when her name was listed among those who had won a spot on the Bearing Witness trip that it was exciting, but back in September it also felt distant. Once the holidays passed, though, time accelerated, exams were upon us, and so was the trip! Between the stress of exams and a bit of uncertainty, I think many of the kids headed to the airport not knowing how to feel. But after 24 hours of travel and time in Munich, they were off and having the time of their lives. I’ll let the texts we received from Clare take it from here. (Note: photos do not correspond to updates.)
(Day 2 in Munich): Awesome day today! Great hotel breakfast (buffet), German mass at a beautiful church, then we met Marcus our amazing and hilarious German tour guide who took us to see Munich's greatest sites. Then we had a quick lunch before going to Dachau for the afternoon. I took a lot of photos and journaled a lot to capture the powerful experience. We came back and had a really fun dinner (my table was cracking up) before playing random games in the square and ending the night and our time in Munich by visiting a modern synagogue that really symbolizes triumph and the defeat of Nazism in Munich.
Day 3: Update for the day! We had to leave Munich which was sad, but onto more adventures! We went on the bus for about 2 hours to Regensburg, a small German town which is gorgeous!!! We spent time there seeing sights and walking around before continuing on the bus. We drive through the beautiful European countryside to the Czech Republic! (We have made a crazy number of Czech jokes which are hilarious😂) we got to Prague and czeched into the hotel (hahaha) and then walked around for awhile (I did my presentation and it was awesome!!) then we entered the main square and all went into shock because it was gorgeous and then we had free time so Christian and I went with some other people into this clock tower that we climbed up so we could see the view and just wow. It was night so the city lights were all lit up and the tower had a square that you could walk around to all sides and see everything and it was the most incredible view I've ever seen and we're going back tomorrow if possible. Then we had an awesome dinner and I sat with some different people and it was really fun!! Then we did more sightseeing at night and there's this bridge over the river where it's a tradition for couples to sign a lock and put it on the gate and throw out the key to "lock their love" and so Mr. Murphy goes "We happen to have a very special couple here!" And we all went wild of course and he magically produced all the materials for the Carrolls to do it and it was great😂 we're back at the hotel now and it was a really amazing day.
Day 4: Second day in Prague today! We woke up and had an amazing hotel breakfast!! (America needs to catch up bc I guarantee you’ve never had a hotel breakfast like the Europeans do it Danny) Then we set off to visit the Prague castle to kick off our city tour with our Czech tour guide Pavel! He led us around the castle and cathedral there in the castle district first before leading us through the city. It was the most beautiful ever! Then we had free time for lunch and shopping. Austin and I ate at this really random but good Middle Eastern restaurant and then went shopping. It was so fun! I found a ton of gifts for everybody and found myself some things too! Then Mr. Murphy led us into the old Jewish ghetto area where we visited some synagogues and a cemetery and it was really cool. Then we had more free time so I found a few more gifts and we got this Prague dessert specialty which is pretty much ice cream wrapped in a churro type thing (they have it everywhere) and it’s the best! We had a great dinner at the hotel and then set off for more sightseeing to end our time in Prague. Tomorrow we’re Czeching out!
(As the week progressed, their nights went late and sleep was minimal, so the later updates weren’t quite as energized - but clearly she was maximizing her time!)
Day 5 & 6: So on Wednesday we got on the bus to leave Prague, and on the way to Krakow we stopped in the Czech town of Olomouc. It’s really cute and everything is really cheap, so we used the last of our Czech crowns to buy lunch and ice cream. We heard some people present on their places in Olomouc too. We then got back on the bus and got to Poland! That night, we walked to dinner in Krakow. It was at this really cool decorated traditional place! Then we came back to the hotel for a meeting before the next day. Next day was a 5:30 wake up and we ate breakfast before heading to Auschwitz 1. We spent a few hours there first with a guide then alone with our journals. We ate a sack lunch before going to Auschwitz 2- Birkenau where we spent a long time, again with a guide then alone with journals. Then we came back to eat at the hotel and then had a discussion. Then we made a run to the castle at midnight which was fun and went to bed!
Day 7: Last update:
We took a bus tour of Krakow with our Polish tour guide Viola. She took us to the Jewish area, former grounds of the Plaszow concentration camp from Schindler’s List, some more smaller sights, and then through the Wawel Castle and Cathedral. Then we had about 5-6 hours of free time to go shop, eat, and wander the beautiful city. It was so fun! Then we had an interesting dinner and went back to the square for a last fun time in Krakow. We went back to the hotel to sign each other’s guide books and end off the trip. Now we’re at the airport.
We were happy to have her back, and grateful for her experience of a lifetime!
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