#waggsingermany

[waggsthedachshund]

I woke up bright and early to head over to München, or as we know it, Munich!

Today, I explored the Olympiapark, where the 1972 summer Olympics were held.

For background context: the '72 Olympics are known for the devastating massacre in which a Palestinian terrorist group took the lives of 17 people (12 victims, 5 perpetrators).

Then I went to BMW Welt, a museum that showcases many different kinds of BMW vehicles.

Lastly, I hiked Olympiaberg in Olympiapark. It is a Schuttberg, or a "rubbish heap." It is a man-made hill that was created from the debris resulting from the bombing on Munich that destroyed 50% of the city following World War II.

[waggsthedachshund]

Today I woke up and hit the road again!

I first stopped in the alpine village of Oberammergau. This town is known for the play, The Passion Play, all of its citizens participate in every decade. The tradition started in 1634, when the town got together to reenact Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection in order to combat the bubonic plague.

I then traveled to Linderhof Palace, which was also high up in the Alps! This romantic and rural palace was a get-away home for Bavarian king Ludwig II. He designed the palace after Versailles in France. The French king, Louis XIV, was a hero of sorts to Ludwig; Louis XIV is likened to a god (in artwork) many times on the interior of the palace. Sadly, no photographs of the indoor rooms were allowed, but I highly recommend researching the palace. It is extremely ornate!

At the end of the day, I checked in at a remote hotel in the Austrian Alps. I really love the scenic nature!

[waggsthedachshund]

WARNING: artist nudity and mention of a concentration camp

I went to back to Munich today! On the way to Old Town, I stopped at Nymphenburg Palace, the summer residence of Maximilian II Emanuel, the elector of Bavaria. Today, the grounds serve as a park (and a tourist destination). The palace is truly massive!

I then traveled further into Munich and visited the Munich Residenz, the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach family (Maximilian II Emanuel was part of the royal Bavarian family).

Most of this palace was destroyed and rebuilt following World War II. Of one of the 135 rooms I saw, I believe the Grotto, a patio-like room with walls of shells, was one of the most unique. Also pictured is a hall of busts where royalty would dine, a sitting room, a hall, a bedroom, and a courtyard.

I wanted to mention that I saw Dacau (a concentration camp), but I did not get any photographs because it is disrespectful to photograph such a significant memorial site.

Dacau was one of the most intense places I've ever been. It is set up like a museum, with information and videos displayed everywhere. There are also some profoundly dark pieces of artwork displayed.

There were many German school kids at the memorial because it is a required trip for all German students.

There are some places of remembrance that were built at the site: a Jewish memorial, a Catholic chapel, a Protestant church, a monastery, and a Russian Orthodox church.

It's horrible that humankind can be so vile and evil, but we must learn from the past and work hard so that we may never repeat the absolute heinousness of previous generations.

[waggsthedachshund]

It's been a while, but I'm finally traveling again! This summer, I'm seeing Germany, which is super exciting because it's where the dachshund's breed originates!

After flying for 10-12 hours, we hit the ground running! The first site we visited was the medieval town of Rothenburg! Its oldest buildings date back to the 1200s, although most of it was built during the 1400s. It was a very large settlement for the time, housing about 6,000 people (it was the 2nd most populated city in Germany).

The town features many towers that were used for defense. The buildings are mostly made of stone because fire was a very real and devastating threat.

There were a whole lot of toy stores, and I met a pal on a bench!