I’m still working in Germany until the first week of June. Yesterday was the first time I got to sightsee (sitesee?). I went on a tour, and the first stop was a difficult but important one–Dachau. Then we went to Munich and were given a few hours to wander around a shopping/food area. I will post a few Munich pictures first, and then the much more solemn Dachau pictures.
Munich:
The area of Munich they took us to had an open-air market and shopping area, and their version of “Rodeo Drive” with all the designer shops. Here are a few pictures:
I wish I had taken pictures of the open-air shopping area, which was much more European than most of the Munich pictures I have here. A Hofbrähaus is a brewery. I got Doug a Munich (Munchen) hat.
Dachau: If you wish to scroll by, do so now quickly
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This is just a portion of what I saw at Dachau, and there was a lot I didn’t see because they didn’t give us enough time.
The first two pictures are historical displays that I snapped photos of. There is a whole museum of displays. The next three pictures are the outside of the crematorium and the ovens inside the crematorium. The sixth picture is a convent that is on the grounds of Dachau. There are also religious memorials from several different religions. The bottom photo is an absolutely unforgettable piece of artwork at Dachau, a sculpture by a holocaust survivor, Nandor Glid.
As I stood in that crematorium and in the room next to the ovens where they stacked the bodies for burning, I felt such a heaviness to be standing in a place where absolute evil had occurred.
Please feel free to share your impressions of the photos, if you wish to do so.
NEXT WEEK: I’m just hoping to post some reviews. Last week I was just too busy working, but I’ll be back home in June and retired in August, and then the blogging will really flow! Meanwhile, it might be stop-and-go, but I’m determined to get some posts up. Please bear with me.
BOOK HAUL
While at Dachau, I picked up this memoir of one of the survivors, which I am reading.
Today I picked up the Audible of Jodi Taylor’s latest short story and I’ve already finished listening to it. Although she has two successful time travel series, she has another series called Frogmorton Farm that has nothing to do with time travel. It does have a magical golden horse, a dilapidated farm, and Patagonian attack chickens though. The first book in the series is called The Nothing Girl. I love it just as much as her other series. This book, Storm Christopher, is about second chances, even if you don’t deserve them.
Review coming shortly.
Have a wonderful week.
Why scroll quickly to bypass your Dachau pictures? Throughout history, humans have invented concentration camps, now called re-education camps, to exploit and get rid of their enemies. We should never forget that.
I agree. I just know some people whose relatives went through such horrible things in war that reading about certain war atrocities affects them badly.
It is so difficult but important to visit sites such as Dachau. Thanks for the pictures and the trigger warning. I visited Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam and was in tears. I’m glad you picked up a book by a survivor. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on a true story as well as many others. A terrible time in our history.
I agree. So important. I also visted Anne Frank house years ago, and I know what you mean. It’s important to keep this history alive.
Great photos and books! Have a great week.
You too!
I think that sculpture really says it all. What is foremost in my mind is that the world needs to be vigilant to ensure that this never happens again.
That sculpture is SO powerful.
It must be even more powerful to see it in person.
It was. It brought out so many emotions
Now I need to see if the sculptor has written a memoir.
I’m not surprised you felt heaviness in the crematorium Bonnie, it makes me shudder to think what happened there. I agree that it’s still so important to keep sharing it around the world, especially when there so many people who don’t believe it even happened!
That just boggles my mind.
It’s heartbreaking, knowing the horrible things that happened at Dachau and other places. My wife and I didn’t go to Munich when we were in Germany, though we did drive past on our way to and from Berchtesgaden, months before the 1972 Summer Olympics tragedy at Munich.
That event has been on my mind too since I’ve been in Germany.
What an amzing opportunity i doubt i every go to germany or anywhere outside of the usa as my job is pretty demanding and does not allow for travel. So i am give kudos to you for sharing and letting me experience it at least in your photos. Have a great reading week.
I’m happy to share it.
That sculpture brought tears to my eyes, Bonnie. My daughter and I will be in Munich in June and we already have tour of Dachau booked. I’m not sure how I will do while there, but I know it will be emotional. Have a wonderful week.
So fun you get to travel and see things there. I toured a different camp when I visited Germany. Still sad and horrifying. I enjoy Jodi Taylor.
Anne
Wow, that sculpture is intense. I love it and hate it at the same time, which was probably the artist’s intention. I hope you’re enjoying Germany!
The photos of Dachau are chilling, that must have been a tough place to visit. But I’m glad you shared photos!
Dachau would be an incredible place to see. I have always wanted to see Anne Frank’s attic too. I’ve seen picture and imagining them being there that long without being caught sooner amazes me. When I visited a plantation in Louisiana and saw slave quarters and the torturous instruments they used on them it was hard to be there too. Thank you for sharing your photos with us.
I wish to travel the world and see all these places.
It is sad with what happen in Dachau and other places like it. That history serves as a reminder and a warning we need to learn from.
Have a great week.
Thanks for sharing and for the trigger warnings, Bonnie. The sculpture is so scary, but these really show us the things we should never forget.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Germany!