Sunday, July 31st.  I finally got back to the hostel from Check Point Charlie, at 11:30 p.m. and met Camila, the girl from Rio, on my way to the entrance of the hostel complex. She told me she was leaving the next day for Brazil.  Too bad I didn´t get to talk to her more.  She had some nice insights I wanted to hear. Well...maybe if we meet again in Rio.

I was hungry, so I looked for a place to eat near the hostel and was lucky to find it at that late time.  I had this fish with vegetables with Indian spices.  It was delicious.  I was so hungry for rice that even if it were just plain, it would have tasted great.



When got back to the hostel, I did try another beer, but went to bed right after that, as Sandra had arranged to pick me up at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, the next day to go to the Sachsenhousen concentration camp. That was very nice of Sandra.  I ´m glad that she also had the same interest in history as I do.

I had breakfast the next morning and was waiting for her.  She ended up coming at 10:30, which was nice because I had some time to relax.

There is a Buddhist saying, I believe, that says for everything that happens one must say: "Good, very good". I said that as we arrived at the camp.  There was a tour just starting and so we were able to join them.  If we had arrived earlier, we would have missed it.  So, I also believe that nothing is by chance.

Needless to say, it was a sad tour, but necessary for the generations to come.  I was also happy to see so many young people and even kids there.

This complex was the home of the SS soldiers.  Today it is used by the local police institution.

O

 The paradox of the saying on the gate: "Arbeit macht frei" (Work makes free/ frees). No one was freed.

 A remaining barrak where over a hundred prisoners lived.

 Inside the barraks, the tub where eight people at a time had to bathe from sprinkles that came out of the center.

 Humiliating conditions...no words.

It took me two days to erase this sadness from my heart. Can´t explain why, but it was like a call to say some prayers there, like a candle light to lighten deep darkness.