I've always had an interest in the war and recently visited Arnhem, in Holland. I visited the Arnhem bridge where the battle with the Germans raged for several days. I visited the little museum just below the bridge and went to the airborne museum which was on the outskirts of the town. Was wonderful walking around the town and I even spoke to an elderly Dutch gentleman who was around at the time. He told me that they were literally fighting in the streets and houses, door to door, it must have been insane! I plan on booking up to visit Auschwitz and Birkenau next. I was just wondering though if any posters have done anything similar and could anybody recommend other places/sites I could visit. As always, any help would be appreciated.
I have also had an interest in the war and Auschwitz is on my wish list. I have been to Thailand and went to the River kwai museum it was a red hot day and I can even think what those poor guys went through we also walked around the cemetery which was well kept
The bridge over the River Kwai is a cracking film mind! I've not been to Thailand yet but that's high up on my wish list, now I can add the River Kwai museum to my 'to do list' when there The concentration camps are supposed to be something else mind, my mother visited a few years back and said it all hits home when you are there and looking into the ovens etc. she still feels the chill now when she talks about it. On a side note, it's about £350 for 5 days in Poland. That includes the visits of the concentration camps and the schindlers list tour. Not bad, IMO.
I'm over in Holland about 10 times a year mate, when my kids are grown up I'm probably going to follow in your footsteps. Love the country. Arnhem is such a lovely little town, I will definitely be going back at some point. Weed is half price compared to Amsterdam too. Bonus!
I went to Arnhem in 2004 which was the 60th anniversary of the battle - there were union jacks flying from most of the houses all along the river front. Made me feel proud and shows that people of Arnhem appreciate what our forefathers did for them. If you like military museums 2 that I would recommend in this country are; Duxford just off the top end of the M11 http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford this museum has mostly aircraft including a Sunderland Flying Boat but also has some tanks and other things from WW2 Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset (is my favourite museum) http://www.tankmuseum.org/ they have got just about every tank that you can think of including a fully working Tiger (MK1?) and a couple of King Tigers - during the summer months they do displays outside but you would need to check dates/times on the website Hope this is helpfull
If you visit auschwitz, try and make your way through the Czech Republic onto Germany. Ostrava(for a night out on Stodulny) Prague (pick up some weed) , see the church bombed by the Yanks by accident etc Head toward Germany via Ustinov Nad Labem and visit Terezin on the way, another concentration camp but morbid as ****, just a very, very strange every place. Up toward Dresden via Czech Switzerland for some v. cool scenery Stop off at Colditz Then up to Berlin You'll get a good feel for WWII, Cold War and more on that trip..
Your better half is Kenyan isn't she? I could be mistaken of course but something in the back of my mind is telling me I've seen you talk about her before... Can I pick your brains about Holland mate? I've not yet took the kids over, but would like too. So far I've struggled to see things that I could do with them. I know there's the Vondel Park which I could take them for a day, but do you have any more ideas of what I could do with the kids over there?
I love reading about our history, but I've never really give much thought about visiting famous sites..I do know people who have visited Auschwitz and they have all said that you can feel the atmosphere of the place..
I did The Ardennes mate, france and belgium, Even managed to fit some ww1 activities too. Truly thought provoking trip, Belgium is lovely too, litter free, friendly people. It was a great trip, Time it right and you've got poppy fields as far as the eye can see, there's also plenty of sites with preserved WW1 trenches which i an eye opener to say the least. If you're doing it by Road then the Ardennes is perfect, you can start with Normandy, on to the Ardennes then into Germany and on to Poland. Then even extend it byond Poland into czech republic and croatia.
That sounds awesome mate. I've been to Belgium but only for half a day so never got the chance to go sight seeing. Was lovely and clean, but to be fair, most of Europe is. We are a dirty lazy country compared to the parts of Europe I have seen. My mates potentially getting a motor home in the next year or two and like me, he has a passion for the wars. We could well be taking a road trip through Europe, which will be smart.
Well your trip can span England to Russia with everything in between. That sounds truly amazing fella. Do the lot! Do the lot!
Growing up in Belgium I saw a **** load of stuff. Trenches and graveyards, the menin gate, work camps, a couple of concentration camps when I visited Poland/Germany. Wouldn't recommend going to a concentration camp. There's no joy to be taken from it. A bleak, bleak place.
Went to Bastogne a few years ago on a tour with Ledgers, that was an amazing experience, and I am going away to Caen this August for a D-Day landing your for 5 days. I cannot wait.
I'd love to visit one, I want to be shocked, I want the challenge of trying to empathise with something I could never truly comprehend, I want to appreciate what I've got and to spare a thought for those how aren't to lucky. It wouldn't be joy I was looking to take from it. It's a quest for enlightenment and I salute you for doing it and I salute Safc83 for going to do it. Maybe I'm just weird.
I take your point mate. Just made me feel ill and depressed. I think I have a tendency to slip into a dark place so around that kind of grim history I was gone.
