Yep, a lame wingtip photo.
After my would-be adventures in Italy with my fellow law students, I flew solo from Rome to Munich. I spent the first night wandering on foot for a few hours.
Marienplatz
The next morning, I headed off to Dachau to visit the concentration camp. Like the Anne Frank museum in Amsterdam, the entire experience was rather somber. Going into the gas chambers gave me an unexpected chill. It’s a creepy space to walk through and I did it backwards, first seeing the room where they incinerated the bodies, then walking into the “shower” room where they murdered all those people and finally seeing the slots outside through which they dropped the gas canisters.
Incinerator.
Gas chamber.
Gas canister drop slots.
“Work makes [you] free.” Right.
Pretty sure I took this photo only because my friend’s last name is Herr.
On day two, I went on a tour to see Ludwig II’s castles.
Apparently, the (virgin) Bavarian King idolized the kings and emperors of the past who weren’t figureheads but had, more or less, absolute power. Trying to create the same sense of power for himself, Ludwig basically spent all of Bavaria’s money to build magnificent castles. The first of these castles I saw was Linderhof.
Linderhof. Man, my camera/photography skills suck.
If I remember correctly, Linderhof is actually where Ludwig lived for a time. We went through the various rooms, including one with a disappearing dumb-waiter Ludwig used to have food sent to him in a manner which allowed him to avoid human contact. Allegedly, the waitstaff set meals for four people and the king spoke to imaginary people.
After Linderhof and a pit stop in some random village (where I had some Ferraro Rocher gelato), the tour set off to see the main attraction: Neuschwanstein. I’ve been told that the aesthetics of Disney’s iconic castle, with its various towers and spires, were based on Neuschwanstein (the resemblance is pretty obvious).
A couple of Spanish-speaking women from the tour and I were late to the bus because we were compelled to hike to the spot where we’d get the best angle to take a photo of the castle (though it was slightly besmirched by the scaffolding). Worth it.
Before flying back to London on my third day in Germany, I ate at Augustiner Bierhalle (again) and took the public transport over to Nymphenburg Palace for a few photos.
Fun times.
I love the pictures. Mm I have to visit all these places one day.
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Thanks. My photos were really hit and miss on this trip. I like the ones I have of trees and mountains (most of which I didn’t put up) and some of the castle shots.
Dachau was so depressing so I’m not sure everyone would want to go there. That being said, I still want to also visit Auschwitz sometime (I might have already if my Global Eurail Pass had worked in Poland).
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For what it’s worth, your photos are a lot better than mine. 😛 Mmm I’ve always liked pictures depicting scenery and nature.
Yeah so much has happened in history. It’s a shame some people don’t know more.
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I love that last photo! And the castle looks stunning, I can see why Disney would use it as inspiration.
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Yeah. It looks great, but I personally prefer to visit castles that have seen combat.
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They just aired a show on PBS about these castles.
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I’d be lying if I said I’ll watch that. Haha. Too busy catching up on my fiction shows.
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beautiful images. Some reminded me of my visits to Munich.
Even the words that accompany the photographic travel, are stunning.
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Thanks. I should have taken more photos of sausages and beer. That would have reflected my trip a bit more accurately.
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🙂
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Wow, Linderhof – beautiful! While living in Holland, have been to Dachau once with American friends.Indescribable – I couldn’t hold my food that day.
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Lovely pictures! We have just come back from a European trip including 9 nights in Munich. I am just starting to write up my Bavarian posts now – Neuschwanstein was the absolute highlight! I think I expected it to be a bit tacky and yes there were loads of tourists but it was simply amazing!
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It was brave of you to visit Dachau and quite a contrast with the pretty castles.
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