Highlights from Poland, a beautiful, resilient country that's had more than its share of brutal history -- during World War II one Pole in six died at the hands of the Nazis or the Soviets -- a figure that represented over 20% of Poland's total population.

Today the people continue to celebrate their freedom while remembering the past and have taken some of the broadest steps of any of its Eastern European neighbors
in charting its path into the 21st century.

The pix in order:

#1: Traffic circle, central Warsaw
#2: Warsaw's metro in action
#3: Lucky shot with a bird in flight over Warsaw's old town
#4: Old town, Warsaw
#5: Concert stage prep in Krakow's central square
#6: Kazimierz Jewish Quarter, Krakow
#7: Prayer and peace offerings at the execution wall at Auschwitz-Birkenau I.
#8: Unique angle on the gate entrance to Auschwitz-Birkenau I and it's "Arbeit Macht Frei" banner ("Works Makes You Free").
#9: HDR shot of a candle I lit in memory of those who died at Auschwitz-Birkenau II.