First stop in Munich: the world famous Hofbräuhaus. Not only is it home to one of Munich’s oldest breweries, this is seriously the largest restaurant I’ve ever been to. We walked into the massive dining hall on the first floor and were greeted by wait staff in lederhosen and a full German band. I was in heaven! We enjoyed lots of really amazing food and beer and of course, made a trip to the gift shop for a one liter stein for Christopher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On our first full day in Munich, we went to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. Of course, it was an incredibly somber and sad experience, but I think everyone should visit a concentration camp if given the opportunity. It’s so important to remember what happened during the Holocaust and make sure it never happens again. We learned that Dachau was one of the first concentration camps and unlike the majority of later camps, the public knew it existed. It was advertised in the paper as a labor camp that rehabilitated people who didn’t agree with the government. Although people didn’t know specifically what was happening at Dachau, they knew they didn’t want to end up there. The site included specific memorials for Jewish, Catholic, Protestant and Russian Orthodox prisoners. In addition to Jewish prisoners, Dachau had many Germans who were communist or socialist, Roman Catholic priests from Poland, and an unknown number of captured Russian POWs. Walking around the grounds and remembering what happened there, it’s impossible to not be moved and saddened by all the lives that were lost and families that were affected by the Holocaust.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our second day in Munich (and the last day of the vacation), John and Erin went to the BMW Museum in the morning while Christopher, mom and I walked around Munich on our own. We went to a farmer’s market and checked out a few churches. Christopher went up the 303 steps to the top of St. Peter’s Church to get some awesome photos of the city while mom and I waited to meet our tour guide below (plus our legs were going to fall off by this point in the trip). The five of us met up again and went on an awesome walking tour of the city. Our tour guide took us to specific sites around the city that were significant to the rise of the Nazi party and the beginning of WWII. We learned that Hitler gave many speeches at Hofbräuhaus and it was a big Nazi hang out. I thought back to our awesome table in the second floor bay window our first night and was hoping that wasn’t Hitler’s usual spot, and luckily it wasn’t. We saw the SS headquarters and a large town square where a lot of Nazi rallies were held. Each person was required to do the Nazi salute when they were walking by this building; guards were stationed nearby to make sure everyone was doing this. But the people of Munich discovered a back alley, aptly nicknamed Dodger’s Alley, and chose to walk this way to avoid saluting. Our guide said that Munichers don’t like to talk about their city’s dark history, but they are really proud of Dodger’s Alley (photo with the gold line on the street) and their small acts of defiance. We wrapped up the trip with a walk to the English Gardens and dinner at Ratskeller in Marienplatz…. and a selfie photo shoot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day, Erin and John flew back to Boston 😦 But the trip wasn’t done yet for Mom; she joined Christopher and I in Helsingborg!