Oberschleißheim - Dachau - Weihenstephan
Trip Start
Apr 15, 2007
1
24
33
Trip End
May 23, 2007
Munich,
Germany
Monday, May 14, 2007
We started out our day with coffee, yogurt and chocolate croissants on the terrace and then we headed to Oberschleissheim, a castle near Sharon and Christoph's home. There was an art fair going on there and of course we had to check out the art. While we were doing that, Jim and Christoph were checking out the beer garden. Sharon and I found some nice things and for me, I figured I could get maybe a couple small things back in the suitcase. We met the guys for a drink and some Obazda and then it was time to head over to Dachau. Dachau is about 20 minutes from Sharon and Christoph's home. We wanted to be there while the film was showing at the museum so we needed to be there by 3:30 to view that. For those that have been there before, there is a new entrance and is near where they uncovered some of the actual road and train tracks near the entrance of the concentration camp
Dachau 01
. This camp was a "model" for other camps and they used this same model in other locations. Over 200,000 prisoners from over 30 countries were housed in Dachau. Roughly one-third of them were Jewish and there were also many clergy members imprisoned here for opposing the Nazi regime. There was the camp area and then the crematorium. There were 32 barracks and one of those was used for 'medical experiments'. The gas chambers - 'showers' - were never used, but all has been preserved and you will see some photos. It was quite moving to be there and just hard to believe what all happened. The movie that we saw was quite graphic and left us with quite an image as we then walked around the grounds and back to the crematorium. We spent a few hours there and then headed back to the house to drop the car off and then we were off to catch the train to take us up to the town of Freising, where Pope Benedict recently visited, and for a hike up to the Dom and then another hike up a different "mountain" to the Weihenstephan brewery, which claims to be the oldest brewery in the world. Operating, and paying beer taxes, since 1040. Benedictine monks worked this trade in their monastery and today the beer gardens and restaurants are full of people that have hiked their way up the hill to partake in the food and beverage produced here. We had a beautiful hike up, a nice evening with dinner and drinks in the beer garden with wonderful views of the valley and then a nice walk back down and a stroll through the town on our way back to the train station. A very interesting day - experiencing two different extremes.
Comments
Interesting Day
You certainly did have an interesting day. What a contrast between the two places. Glad I wasn't along for that hike up the mountain.
How about handing Jim the camera once in a while so we can see a picture of you!!
Mom
Oh, Obazda
Yum, I'll eat the onions you don't want, Steffi!! Cute picture of Jim with the onion sticking out of his mouth!! The food is so different from what you were eating in Portugal and Spain. Culinary delights everywhere you have been. The beer looks very good too. Would prefer mine to be served cold, though!
It must be a very sobering experience to walk the grounds of Dachau. From your photo of the map showing the outline of the boundaries it was a very large camp. Horrifying to think of the atrocities done there.
All that hiking is good for your waste lines and stimulates your appetites! Room for more petzels and beer!
We also vote for more pictures of you, Stephanie Ann!!
Sandy