Poland - the last film I'd seen before my stroke was 'Schindler's List' and it had haunted me through my recovery.  In a confused brain I couldn't work out whether I'd lived through it or if it had been a film, it was v strong and uncomfortable.  Probably a bit daft to do it alone, but I didn't want anybody with me to turn it into a 'holiday'.

A couple of strange experiences:  The hotel I was booked in to was the one in the book and (I assume) the film, the first night there Schindler's List was on television.

When it finished and I settled down to sleep, ghostly voices whispered in a foreign language.  I sat up and called out 'Who's there?' - I've seen the films, I know what to say!

Nothing.  The room was silent.

I laid down and as soon as my head touched the pillow, the voices started again.  I snapped on the light.  'Who's there?'

It took a long minute to realise that in the headboard were radio speakers - it had been on low all evening while I was watching telly and had gone unnoticed.

A Polish chat programme - boy, did I feel foolish!

I visited Auschwitz twice - I shan't go into any detail except to say that one of the scariest places I have ever been was the basement of Block 10 (the experiment block). There was already a chap in there when I entered and we crossed in the corridor as he made to leave.  As soon as he had gone I felt panic - now aside from the headboard radio incident, I consider myself quite rational and grounded - this place had evil seeping from the walls.  I don't know how I stopped myself calling out but I had a very real fear of being transported back in time or somehow of a Nazi Gestapo-type suddenly appearing.  I actually shook and a cold sweat chilled me.  I have a right sided stroke and am not the most agile of people, trying to run and co-ordinate with a wonky leg is not easy at the best of times but throw in all that panic and a steep and crumbled first step with no banister, you can see for yourself how my hasty and undignified exit was at best clumsy.

Click here to see some photographs I took in Poland

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