War Torn Europe

All through these countries you see reminders of World War II and what life was like living there. Also, after the war these countries were part of the Soviet Union and lived under communism. They are still struggling to rise above that era and these are poor countries. You see the Soviet influence everywhere as a reminder.

While in Poland, we visited Auschwitz and while in Prague, I visited Theresienstadt, a concentration camp and Jewish Ghetto, about an hour outside of Prague. These places have become memorials to the thousands of lives lost during the war, and have museums on site. I was amazed at how many visitors come and how many students there are visiting these memorials. It is amazing to think this sort of thing could have happened, but then, it is still happening in parts of the world. Those people and families that lost their lives so tragically should never be forgotten. When you see a room full of over 40,000 pairs of shoes, it is a startling and very vivid image.