If you have been following this blog for some time, you must have noticed that we discover a lot of places by coincidence.
After we left Celle, we didn’t have any specific goal in mind. Lars and I were just driving around, hoping to find an interesting or beautiful place. And then we suddenly saw the signs towards Bergen – Belsen. We looked at each other and decided to have a look. We had no idea of what was awaiting us.
As soon as you enter the gate, two things immediately get your attention. First, there is the silence. Although you are close to a busy road, you don’t hear any of the cars or trucks. You don’t hear the other people around you. All you hear, in fact, is the eerie sound of the wind in the trees.
Second, there is the memorial. On top of it and on top of each letter that spell the name of this sad place, there are dozens and dozens of pebbles in all shapes and sizes. Is this reminiscent of the Jewish habit not to put flowers on a grave, but to leave a pebble behind? I guess so…