München.

As of today, I've have officially been in Europe for a whole month! It's crazy how much has happened the past four weeks.

I just returned to Vienna from a weekend trip to München (Munich), Germany. I'll just give you a quick run down.

Thursday - Dachau
Dachau is one of the first and biggest concentration camps used by the Nazis in Germany. Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor in January 1933 and Dachau began operation in March 1933. It was a place of death, terror, and torture for the next 12 years.

                                  "Work makes one free." The words on the gate into Dachau.        

                                                                                                                                                   

                                   

 

The Rathaus (town hall) in Munich.

The one on the right is from when the Nazis took over and on the left is a picture I took a few days ago.

 Some pictures from Dachau I thought everyone should see.

       "May the example of those who were exterminated here between 1933-1945 because they resisted Nazism help to unite the living for the defense of peace and freedom and in respect for their fellow men."

 Parts of the memorial at Dachau. In front of the memorial is an urn filled with the remains of an unknown inmate cremated at Dachau.

Friday - Neuschwanstein Castle

Located in the Bavarian province of Germany, the Neuschwanstein Castle or "New Swanstone" Castle is the castle that Walt Disney used as the source for the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. While doing the tour, we picked different Disney princesses and referred to each other using those names for the remainder our time in the castle. Please, call me Aurora. Also, I may or may not have definitely sung "Once Upon a Dream" and waltzed in the ballroom area of the castle. #iregretnothing

Breathtaking. Surrounded by green mountains and a lake.

When we first arrived, it was raining quite hard. The castle was covered in mist and fog. It felt like we were in the middle of a fairytale!

Also - I had the best bratwurst of my life at a vendor stand halfway up the hill to the castle. Thank you Germany.

Pure bliss. Also, my shoulders were hurting. Don't judge me based on how I wear my backpack.

Saturday - Munich

We went back to the Rathaus to watch the glockenspiel play. It was dumping rain, but definitely worth it.

The Glockenspiel.

Liz, Alissa, and I went exploring through Munich. We stumbled upon an old church, a fountain, and a famous archway that are apparently quite a big deal. We found a cafe and ordered schnitzel. BEST SCHNITZEL EVER. We ate it with fry sauce! FRY SAUCE. Sometimes you don't realize what you have until you can't have it anymore. And that holds true for more than fry sauce.

Before.

After.

On our way home to Vienna, we got off the train in Linz just because we could. After doing a little exploring, we found a big outdoor concert going on in the courtyard of a huge church. We went exploring in the crypt of the church as well. The whole building was beautiful! It's amazing how just by exploring the city you can stumble upon some incredible places.

                        

Truly beautiful! Anyway, I made it back safe and sound! I'll post again soon - I've got a lot of catching up to do.

Liebe,

Eryn