Poland/Germany Auschwitz trip

Hello Krism, my name is Larry. I am signed up for this trip leaving Sept.27 return Oct. 7. I am originally from Philly
area (South Jersey) but now live in Arizona. This will be my 3rd trip with RS, all of them solo. I've found that RS
travelers are very welcoming to solos, so nothing toward about on that score. Of course, the emotional experience
of a trip like this is another thing altogether. I'm hoping we all get through it with an overall positive outcome/outlook.

This will be my 6th Road Scholar trip and my first solo, although I’ve gone on many other trips solo. I am 71 years of age. Each trip has been wonderful.

In reply to bette7021539:

Hello Bette, look forward to meeting you and the others. I think, so far, there are only 8 of us on this trip. Are you
aware of any others that may be on the trip? So it appears to REALLY be a 'small group'. I have no problem with
that, we'll probably all bond a lot closer than if we were a group of 24. Especially in view of the subject matter
we shall be examining.

In reply to larrylobo42010500:

Thank you Larry for your email. I plan to sign up for this trip in 2019. Hope you will post your experience when you return. I will be going on the Heart of the Civil Rights Movement in October. That's one of the items on my bucket list! I live in Seattle.

In reply to bette7021539:

Thank you Bette! I will be 67 in November and just now beginning my travels, I still work 3 days a week because I love what I do! I am going on an Alaskan Cruise next month (not RS) then October I will be going with RS to Heart of the Civil Rights. So excited to start traveling!!

In reply to krism52033011:

Yes, Krism, I certainly will post my experiences on this trip. Sorry I won't get to meet you this time around.

In reply to larrylobo42010500:

Great! Thank you Larry and I will look forward to your pictures and comments. Are you signed up for any other RS trips? Have you been on any previously? Can I ask??????? Why RS and not Rick Steeves or a travel agency? As I said before I am new to traveling so would like to hear all I can from those before me:-)

In reply to krism52033011:

I have been on 2 previous RS trips. The first one was about a year after my wife passed away in 2016. It was a trip
to Mexico and the city of San Miguel de Allende. I went solo and found the people on the trip to be very open, friendly
and inclusive. The experience was so positive, I went on a second trip with RS to Yucatán (Water and the Maya). Once again, I found fellow travelers to be open and friendly and the guides were true experts (on both trips). Both trips offered
very comfortable lodgings and really good food. I don't think you'll be disappointed throwing in with RS.

Oh, and I love watching Rick Steeves, but RS caters to a clientele 'of a certain age' and takes its educational mission
seriously while at the same time providing interesting and diverting activities.

I myself have not been on this trip but a good friend, who's mother was encamped at Auschwitz, went and said it was quite an experience. Each person will receive a different experience. I don't want to say more as guessing from what she said that not knowing what to expect is part of each persons experience. I was recently on a trip with a gentlemen who went on same trip; he had a conversation with a gentleman who was the official photographer for the camp and said it was a life changer.

In reply to CT_PBW:

Thank you so much for sharing this.

In reply to CT_PBW:

I'm sure that each person will experience this trip in his or her own personal way. I was born into a loving family,
but they were incorrigibly racist and anti-semitic (which I didn't even recognize until I got to high school). I had
a difficult time (about 15 years) trying to work my way through it all. I'm hoping for a bit of soul-cleansing.

In reply to larrylobo42010500:

I have no words other than one that may apply to your situation; Shalom.

In reply to CT_PBW:

Thank you all for your messages. I appreciate all your opinions.

In reply to CT_PBW:

Yes, thank you...a most appropriate word.

I have been on this particular trip. It was an unforgettable experience; profoundly moving and emotional. If you have any interest in learning more about the Holocaust, this is the one to take. The pace is very well thought out and the presentations / lectures at the various locations are done with extreme thoughtfulness and respect. You will not be disappointed.