München

Drove to Munich today with Jennifer and CJ. Our first stop was a heavy one.

The Dachau concentration camp was the first German Nazi concentration camp. I think I read it was also the longest open since it started in 1933, was liberated in 1945, and then after that held soldiers awaiting trial. It's now a memorial to those lost there. It's frightening. I definitely started tearing up a couple times.

*Couple photos at the end/bottom of this post so you can skip those if you want*

We then drove into Munich and checked into our hotel for the night. We learned how to take the tram and the subway (U-bahn). We wandered around for a bit before settling on Hofbräuhaus for dinner.

The Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) with glockenspiel in Marienplatz.

Archway in the same building

Gargoyle!

Hofbräuhaus is a famous beer hall that used to be it's brewery. It's loud and packed and the tables are a free for all. We must have wandered around for 20 minutes eyeing for people about to leave; you have to be fast! You also share tables, which worked out in our favor in the end. :)

From outside:

One of the many rooms:

Who ate most of this giant pretzel? You know I did. And I'll never be able to eat a regular pretzel again because this one was so good and fluffy. I think I'll have another tomorrow...

Goulash!

Planning to give ourselves a self guided walking tour of downtown Munich tomorrow then head out. Hopefully I'll see a castle! Also, I'm feeling better. Still a bit congested or something, but better!

***Dachau concentration camp photos below***

Entrance with the phrase "Work makes you free" in the iron work.

Part of the memorial in front of the museum (used to be the maintenance building/prisoner processing rooms).

Sculpture part of the memorial depicting human figures mixed with barbed wire. The audio tour I listened to said it partly portrayed how prisoners would throw themselves at the barbed wire since this was better than remaining in the camp.

East part of the memorial that says "never again" in multiple languages.

Example of the barracks before it really got over crowded. Tour said the barracks were to each house about 200, but towards the end were housing closer to 2000 each. These were rebuilt barracks. None of the original barracks stand, but you can see their outline stones in the field and there were 34.

Prison within the prison. Reserved for those deemed the very worst offenders.

Memorial in the crematorium area of the camp. Inscription reads "Grave of many thousands unknown."

There are now multiple memorials in the camp, some large buildings and some small stones. It's very solemn. I can't imagine the things these people went through let alone returning to reflect or to grieve for those lost. But it's still important to remember.