I probably won't be blogging for another 3-4 weeks because I am back in California.  I will update the blog when I am back in Israel.  Right now, I just want to enjoy sitting by a nice fire at my parent's house.

 
Bratislava 02/07/2009
 

I decided to take advantage of my time in Europe, and conquer another country.  SO - Slovakia was  the victim.  I took the train from Krakow and arrived at 5 in the morning - My train left at 10 to Warsaw, but I got in a few hours of sight-seeing and I actually got to enter the President's Mansion.  I got kicked-out, but I still wandered inside.  That was cool!  I wanted a traditional Slovakian breakfast, but the city of Bratislava doesn't wake-up until about 10, so I resorted to a panini at Coffee & Co (about the only place that was open).  It was still lots of fun.

 
 

The cheapest flight to Israel this time was with LOT, the polish airline.  I decided to make a holiday out of it, and I took the train down to Krakow to meet-up with my friend Katarzyna who lives there.  While in Krakow, I was able to have Shabbat dinner at the Jewish Community Center that Prince Charles and World Jewish Relief built.  I ate, drank alot of Polish hot chocolate (it is amazing), and toured Krakow's beautiful streets and buildings.  I even slayed the dragon of the Castel of Krakow.  On Sunday, I decided to visit Auschwitz and Birkenau - where the German Nazi's executed/tortured over 1,500,000 people.  1.5 MILLION PEOPLE, mainly Jews.  It was hard, but I am glad I have experienced it.  While there, I slipped on the ice and fell pretty hard.  My camera was smashed - and is now broken, but I was able to get some photos with my iphone (thankfully).  
Here are some of the photos I took there.

 
 

I decided, because I am so close, to celebrate my Golden Birthday (turning 25 on the 25th) by visiting the city of gold: Jerusalem.  I had a wonderful time visiting the old city, followed by a time of prayer at the Kotel - the Western Wall.  Then I took a bus with the Ultra-Orthodox and rode to King David Street.  I photographed everything with my name on it.  Then I had dinner at the King David Hotel - Israel's finest and most famous hotel.  Afterward, I returned to Tel Aviv and met up with some friends to go Salsa dancing for my birthday.  It was lots of fun!