Dachau Concentration Camp

Dachau Concentration Camp which was the first of the Nazi concentration camps opened in Germany 1933 by Heinrich Himmler, its purpose was enlarged to include forced labor, and eventually, the imprisonment of Jews, ordinary German and Austrian criminals, and eventually foreign nationals from countries that Germany occupied or invaded. The Dachau camp system grew to include nearly 100 sub-camps, which were mostly work camps or "Arbeitskommandos."  

This house was the former commandants offices

The Jourhaus served as the main exit and entrance to the prisoners’ camp and as the main office of the camp SS personnel. Passage through the building was made possible by a rod iron gate, through which the prisoners entered the camp after their initial arrival, and later marched through each day with their labor units. The gatehouse separated the 

prisoners from the outside world.

The Shunt Room-As you view the contents in the tables that divide the rooms, you will notice that the first four tables display objects from the perspective of the prisoners, as they surrendered their personal effects, and in essence, their individuality. The last four tables show artifacts from the perspective of the SS officers, as they issued the prisoners numbers, stripping them of their individuality.

   The Exhibition Museum

The main exhibition focuses on the fate of the prisoners. The leitmotif is the “path of the prisoners”: this refers to the path by which the prisoners came to the camp, their life in the camp, and their journey to either death or liberation. 

The tour guide standing where the prisoner baths were located

One of many photos that were on the wall of rememberance from this horrific day

Memorial statue for the victims of the 

death marches in Dachau

Courtyard and Bunker was located between the rear of the maintenance building and the prison block; it was used for carrying out punishments, torture, or executions.

Maintenance building, situated on the Alte Römerstraße, are the Memorial Site’s administrative offices, the archive, library, and seminar rooms.

Mortal Agony of Christ Chapel from 1960 was the first religious monument to be erected. 

The Protestant Church of Reconciliation was dedicated on April 30, 1967. The building is set into the ground of the memorial site leading the visitor beneath the surface.

The Old Crematorium

The New Crematorium

The Death Chamber

The Waiting Room this area was where the victims were to be informed on using the
 supposed "showers"

Below you will see photos of the barracks

The International Memorial and Monument were officially dedicated in 1968, the monument was designed by the Yugoslavian artist and concentration camp survivor, Nandor Glid. His design, selected from an international competition, and was an important indication that the plans to erect a memorial site on the grounds of the former concentration camp would be realized.

This Tour Was Provided By Radius Tours
Please visit Dachau Concentration Camp website to learn more information

Munich's 3rd Reich

On this tour you will hear about history in the making of Munich. And what made Munich one of the most important and memorable places in history.  Each photo that was taken had some affiliation with the Hitler and the Nazi's. 

Just six decades ago, Munich bore the official title, "Hauptstadt der Bewegung" – the Capital of the Nazi Movement. Munich was the birthplace of the Nazi Party and the home of its headquarters. The voice of Adolf Hitler resounded around the public squares and streets of Munich before being heard anywhere else in Germany.  

Munich was the stage upon which some of the Nazis' most notorious crimes, from Hitler's failed Putsch to the horrific Kristallnacht – the largest anti-Semitic pogrom seen in western Europe for centuries and a dismal milestone on the road to the Holocaust.

The Church of Our Lady

This church is considered the symbol of Bavarian capital city and is a landmark for Munich.  This cathedral serves as the Archdiocese and seat of its Archbishop

The main square

Alter Hof-old courthouse

Famous Beer Hall Hofbrauhaus
The History Behind This Well-Known Brewery is that in 1592 Wilhem V. Duke of Bavaria opened this brew house for the simple fact that he did not like the beer that he was drinking in Munich. So he decided to have beer imported from another city called Einbeck in Lower Saxony just to get the finest tasting beer.

Live Band Playing Right In The Middle Of The Restaurant

Max-Joseph-Platz-large square in Munich named after King Maximilian Joseph

Odeonplatz-a beautiful square, was the 19th century memorial in the Bavarian Army. The "spiritual" center of Nazism was the Feldherrnhalle on the Odeonsplatz

Marienplatz

This tour was provided by Radius Tours

The Return To The Muenchin Land

Well folks, last year in the month of June I was in Munich just for the night. I had it set that I would come back to Munich in the future to have more time to explore the city itself.  On a whim a couple months ago I decided I would take a big trip to Europe and start my travels in Munich.  What swayed me to choose Munich first was Oktoberfest.

So I decided to get up close and personal this time with Munich. Yea I said it, up close and personal. Give me the Oktoberfest Parades, the beer, and the history of this large city.  I want excitement I want culture, I wanna be with people who know how to have a good time.

Radius Tours made my sightseeing in Munich much more interesting. I even got a special pass to go to Oktoberfest with the tour company.  Radius Tours is a very well known tour company located at the Munich Central Train Station.  This business is constantly booming, especially when Oktoberfest is going on.  Tours tend to get sold out over a month in advance. So make sure to book out ahead of time. Their tour guides are very knowledgeable of the city and very friendly so feel free to ask questions on the tours if you don't understand something or you want to learn more about a specific topic.

Watching the Oktoberfest Parade was a the perfect way for me to kick things off!

In 1835, the parade was first held in honor of the 25th wedding anniversary of Oktoberfest founders King Ludwig I and his wife Theresie. Since 1950, it has become a regular event. The traditional costumes parade takes place Every first Oktoberfest Sunday. In 2015, the parade starts at 10 o’clock on September 20th.



Now let's get to celebrating Oktoberfest!!

German Band playing a tune or two, while everyone drinks. 
If you stay long enough you will see some real fun happen

Can you believe how many beer mugs she can carry.

A feast worth cheering for

Hofbrauhas Tent



This tent is not actually packed, its during the week so its much slower than on the weekends. Where would you sit if you went over a weekend? Maybe on the ground or on someones lap, ha ha.

Taking On Europe Alone

Hello everyone!  Yes it's true, I have decided to travel through Europe and visit 5 countries in 2 months. In the days to come you will see a much broader, exciting, intense at times, journey of a girl who has gone from doing organized tours to breaking out on her own and organizing everything from hotels, tours, and attractions.

I am inviting you to a special edition of this blog.  This will be dedicated to many businesses I will have the pleasure of working with along the way.  I'm looking forward to sharing all of my wonderful experiences with all of you!

Just a little preview of where I'll be going, and what I will be seeing along the way!

Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany!!  What better way to start this amazing adventure! How about all the great sights of Ireland.  Guess what I will be kissing??  For those car fans out there I'm hoping you will enjoy my photos of the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. For those of you men who wear Cologne I will be traveling to the city that made it.  Did you know that not only does Amsterdam have a Red Light District, but so does Hamburg? I will be taking you along a boat ride through the canals of Copenhagen, Denmark......Maybe I'll see a Little Mermaid.  And maybe I might score a backstage pass to what Poland or Czech Republic has to offer.

I'm sure you will fall in love with this special journey as I make my way through Europe, as I immerse myself into the culture, food and everyday life with some help from experts I will meet along the way!

Now time to get up close and personal.

A Night In Munich

A late afternoon arrival to Munich just about put us smack in the middle of rush hour!

Autobahn

However, it will be perfect for some night time fun!  But this also means that time is limited!  Hmmm, what kind of trouble can I get into in a few hours.

 

Because this was a night on our own, I was able to explore some of, what I found to be interesting, spots of Munich!

 

Whoa!  Here in Marienplatz is the Old Town Hall.  To me, this was a very scary looking building!

Old Town Hall

 

I just love the sidewalk cafe's!!

 

 

 

 

Loved strolling through this farmers market!

Look what I found!  The entrance to Octoberfest! Oktoberfest is held annually and it is a 16-day folk festival running from late September to the first weekend in October with more than 6 million people that come from around the world!

 

 

Do the people of Munich really wear this stuff?

 

 

 

Well apparently so.  I got a quick lesson from these very nice ladies.  The women's dresses are called, Dirndle and those sexy looking suspended knickers for men are called, Lederhosen!

 

If you love sweets and specifically gummy bears then you will love stopping in at "Bears and Friends". They have the finest and greatest selection of gummy bears.

 

I couldn't resist, I had to buy about 5 bags of these multi-colored yummy gummy's!

It's dinner time and I found myself a great beer hall in the heart of where Octoberfest is held.

 

Altes Hackerhaus

 

Enjoyed myself a pork shoulder, known as Schweinsbraten. This is a famous Bavarian dish and it was very juicy and very, very tender with a fantastic sauce served with a potato dumpling.

 

It seemed like a pretty quite place.

 

 

But, I could hear a lot of loud cheering and singing coming from another part of the restaurant.  It seems a German soccer team was having themselves a great time!

 

What better way to end my evening in Munich then with the Dresden Soccer Team!