Our afternoon on Tuesday was emotionally challenging since we visited the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. We spent time there exploring the museum in the main building, the grounds with memorial statues and quotes, and one of the remaining barracks. Although it is an emotional experience as you reflect on pain and suffering, it is a conversation provoking experience. We were overwhelmed with the information and then discussed humanity and the world today. My favorite quote is as follows, "Each of us today is shaping the background history of tomorrow".Germany seems to have an interesting relationship with it's history. The Memorial Site is visited by all nationalities of people including Germans and the Memorial has been preserved well and is continuing to be explored. One large wall says "Never Again" in 5 different languages to signify the mistake that was made and the efforts to prevent it from being made again.
The rest of our trip was more uplifting. We walked to the Universitat Wednesday morning just North of the city center for breakfast and then headed over to the Englischer Garten. This huge park was absolutely beautiful after the fresh snow from the night before. We walked for a while taking pictures and talking. Dog owners let their dogs run around the park playing with other dogs and romping in the snow. It was fun to people watch. In the summer the park is even more active and people can sit in a large beer garden between the Englischer Park and the Chinesich Park. The following pictures are from the park:
Since our trip was coming to a close we reflected on our adventures and determined that something was missing. We had shopped in the Marienplatz, done a tour of history and architecture, taken the train, drank beer, tried fun and interesting food at a variety of restaurants, and stayed in a fun hostel. We needed Gluhwein (warm mulled red wine) from the Viktualienmarkt, the largest daily fresh food market in Germany. So we headed that way to walk around and warm our souls with deliciousness from a mug. It was a fantastic way to conclude our winter wonderland experience in Munchen!
*Here is a fun fact about the tradition behind Maypoles in Bavaria. This is a picture of the Maypole in the Viktualienmarkt plaza. It is very large, stands up year round and has pictures that signify the importance of beer to the city and region. According to our tour guide, there is a Bavarian tradition involving Maypoles for marriage proposal. If a man wants to marry a woman he erects his Maypole in the woman's front yard. If she likes the Maypole she accepts his proposal and the wedding planning begins. The pole is supposed to remain erect until the birth of their first child. On the other hand, if she does not like his pole, she gives the man a case of beer and slams the door in his face. He must then take down his pole while drinking beer. So.....I guess a man has nothing to lose when he proposes. He either gets beer or a wife.
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