München

My weekend in Munich was a very interesting experience. I got a little bit of everything that weekend. We started off the trip with an 8-hour train ride that we were lucky to get (there was a train union strike luckily it was only for the Italian trains). At least I was with a fun group – Erica, Colleen, Connor, Tiffany, and Kristine – we got very close literally I’m glad I’m not claustrophobic.

Our first stop was Dachau. It was intense. You go through a town and then a big group of buildings someone where someone said, “It looks like a children’s camp!” It made me sick that anyone could think that. Do you know where you are?! Even passing through the town was sickening. They had to know what was going on there is no way that you could miss it. Walking into the camp we walked the path to the gait - “Arbeit Macht Frei”. At first it looked empty. There were huge open spaces, but then I learned that they had to burn down the structures and rebuild because the disease was so bad. There were only two of thirty bunks left. After walking through the camp and the monuments placed there by various groups we got to the really bad part – the gas chamber and crematorium. It made my skin crawl to just look at it. I still cannot understand how someone can do it. Doctors were the ones who were pumping in the poisonous gas, people who took oaths to protect people. Then we walked around a memorial trail. I thought it was a very beautiful peaceful place until I read the plaques – “Grave of thousands unknown” and “Execution range with blood ditch.” Walking back to the exit (the same gate that thousands would never come out of again) the only thing that you could hear was the sound gravel crunching under your feet and the occasional tearful outburst. That is something I will never forget.

Though it seemed weird, we were soon back to reality. As tradition has it most of the group bought lederhosen or a dirndl to go out to the Hoffbraugh house later that night. It was ridiculous. People were taking our picture everywhere. A guy from North Carolina wanted to take a picture with me because I was European. I told him I wasn’t and he said to pretend I was. I’d really like to find that picture on facebook somewhere…

The next day was a bike tour through Munich. We passed the golden path, the lions (and rubbed their noses for good luck), the most beautiful house and gardens that I’ve ever seen (straight out of a Jane Austen novel), and several beer gardens including the first and second largest in the world. Don’t worry mom and Dr. Bernheim I had water. Our final stop before heading back was the Eisbach – an artificial river that runs through the English Gardens. It was so much fun and terrifying at the same time. Once you jumped into the shallow river (only about 3 feet) you were swept away by the tide. Then you had to fight your way out clinging on to whatever you could. My second time through I failed miserably and flew right into an English guy which really wasn’t so bad he was very cute.

The next and last day of our vacation was very chill. We slept in and then went to visit Olympic Park (Munich hosted the Olympics in 1972). We headed straight for the giant trampolines which I would have loved to have been able to jump on. Then we were off to yet another beer garden and another frizzante and giant pretzel. Back to the hostel and back to the train. Munich was a very nice place to visit although next time I think I will make my own travel plans.