When the Nesbit family arranges “secret Santa” for our Christmas trip to Krakow it is easy to predict that Santa might brings at least a book or two by way of presents. So there’s no surprise, when I text my brother and sister-in-law to let them know of delays to our journey, that they reply from a bookshop.

The bookshop they describe when we arrive sounds like a veritable tardis. Stepping into a confined area it seems at first sight that this English language bookshop has very few books. Until, that is, it becomes apparent that beyond the initial entrance there’s another part of the bookshop – through some doors, across a corridor and through another set of doors. In addition, the books shop offers coffee and American cakes to eat in the cafe area or amongst the books.

I go to the bookshop, the Massolit Books and Cafe, with my brother and my nephew the day before we leave. Following our visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau we are interested to read and learn more – an interest twinged with the pain and sadness that comes with knowing about the Holocaust. We all come away with books.

And since my mother and I have an afternoon flight the next day we make the bookshop our final stop before leaving, for a browse, a drink and cake.