Did you know Munich is the capital of Bavarian country and the third largest city in Germany? We had such a good time yesterday enjoying the Bavarian experience, I am sure today will be great as well. Off to a good start as breakfast was delicious - sure beats my typical Instant Breakfast!


Some facts about Munich:
- Benedictine monks founded the city (Munichen means by the monk's place)
- Monk in black garment is on the coat of arms
- Coat of arms colors are black and gold = the Holy Roman Empire's colors
- Established in 1158 and became a city in 1175
- Wittlesbach rules from 1180 until 1918
- 1923 - Hilter and his supporters concentrated in Munich
- April 29, 1945 Dachau concentration camp liberated
- site of 1972 Olympics



  
  
We pick up our local guide, Michael, and start off with a bus trip to a Baroque castle. As we left the city center, Michael entertained us with humorous stories and colorful expressions. For example, Munich has a nudist park but he warned us "the meat is not as fresh" in this park. He is a school teacher and I am sure his classes are a lot of fun.

We rode by the Bayerischer Hof Hotel where Michael Jackson used to stay when he visited Munich. Across from this hotel, in the grassy medium strip, is a statue but it isn't Michael Jackson. Yet, the public loves him so much that they created a memorial at the base of this statue, bringing flowers and lighting candles to honor him. It is not an official memorial but local fan club began a petition in 2009 to construct a memorial just for Michael Jackson. 

Castle Nymphenburg ("Nymph's" Castle), is the summer residence for the Bavarian rulers. The castle is open to the public but our time was so limited we only had time to quickly walk around the outside of the building. I read that only a few rooms are open to the public so the admission price may not be worth it. This castle is the largest Baroque castle in Germany and the park is huge, as well. The center portion of the castle was built in 1675 and additions were added later on. The Marstall Museum house ancient carriages in the former stables. The 1972 Olympic Equestrian events were held here in the park. 







Back on the bus and we ride by some of the 1972 Olympic structures. Remember: Mark Spitz won 7 gold medals at this Olympics! The Olympic tent is so different from the regular building structures normally scene at the Olympics. Across from the Olympic communications tower is our next destination - The BMW Welt showroom. 

  

  



















It is a very modern design, blending in with the nearby Olympic Park and BMW manufacturing plant. Cars and motorcycles are on display. In fact, they had a motorcycle demonstration - a person rode up and down stairs on a motorcycle! Then, we were able to have our picture taken with the driver - for free!











Back on the bus but we were too late to see the Glockenspiel show at 11 am. The New Town HalI is in Marienplatz where the Glockenspiel comes to life at 11 am, 12 noon and 5 pm. 32 figures dance and 42 bells ring in the new hour. Watch the little figurines to see the knights joust and the townfolk dance the Cooper's Dance to commemorate to end of the plague. I found a video taken just a few days before we were there so "I didn't missed" it after all. Did you know it is the fourth largest in Europe? Do we have any in the states?


Marienplatz used to be the market center during the Middle Ages. This was a great meeting place for festivals, jousting tournaments and executions. Marienplatz means St. Mary's Square and the town wanted her protection against the cholera epedimic. A large statue of the Virgin Mary was built in 1638 and is a reminder of the end of the invasion of Sweden. At the base of the statue, 4 cherubs symbolize overcoming war, pestilence, hunger and heresay. As the town grew, more space was need for the markets so the marketplace was moved near by in 1807 to Viktualienmarkt.




The new town hall, Neues Rathus, looks like an extremely large cathedral. The town was growing so fast that city council decided they needed a larger building to house all the government offices. Construction began in 1867 and it took 7 years to complete. This Flemish Gothic building was designed by a 24-year old! Additions have been added with the last one being the tower in 1909.

The old town hall, Altes Rathus, was built around the 1470s in a Gothic design. As renovations and additions were added, the style changed with the times (Renaissance and Baroque) but in 1860s the Rathus was converted back to the original Gothic style. Gateways were added for traffic to be able to pass through the building. We did not go inside but I hear the barrel- vaulted timbered roof is a masterpiece of Medieval design. The tower was built as part of the fortification during the 12th Century and is much older than the attached building. The view from the tower is worth the climb and you can see the toy museum (Spiegzeugmuseum) as well. It takes up four floors of the tower. Much of this building and tower was destroyed during WWII and has been rebuilt according to the 15th Century designs.







  
Lunch was on our own but we waited until we got to Dachau to buy lunch. A group of us decided to be brave and find Dachau on our own. We bought subway/bus tickets, rode the subway, then, found the bus terminal and made it to Dachau all by ourselves. I might mention one of our group members had signed up for a guided tour and as it turned out, we rode the same subway & bus as she did so we knew we were on the right track. Dachau isn't something you joyously go to but, since I am a school teacher (actually school librarian) on a trip with school children and being so close to a concentraion camp, I felt I had to go. I just knew it would be so sad.

This is one "museum" where it is very quiet and you just feel like you do not need to talk. In fact, it is a memorial site for all those that suffered here. It is very disturbing and just hurts to read what really happened here. All the barracks have been demolished but you can see where they stood by the cement foundation walls. Two barracks have been reconstructed to show what the barracks were like. The crematoriums are at the far end of the complex along with chapels of various denominations. This camp was the first or a protype for the rest of the concentration camps. The first prisoners lived in an abandoned amunitions factory while they built their camp. Originally, the camp was not set up as an extermination camp to murder Jews. The political prisoners were rehabilitated and released. Before WWII, the prisoners were treated well, fed well and activities were planned for them. After the war started, more prisoners came to the camps and they soon began to fill the camp. The camp was built to house 5,000 prisoners. Since it was war time, building supplies were scarce causing the living conditions to become overcrowded. The bunk houses eventually housed over 1,600 people but they were originally built to accommodate only 250 people. Many died here because of malnutrition, disease and suicide. The crematoriums were used to dispose of the deceased. When this camp was liberated on April 29, 1945, more than 32,000 people left through the gates. Ironically, after the war ended, this camp was used to house SS officers waiting for their trial. It closed in 1960 and eventually the memorial was created at the camp site.