Munich
23 to 26 June 2025
Julie and Anthony in his fancy hat, at the Marienplatz
On Monday, Julie and Anthony arrive in Munich with our friends from the Little German Band and Dancers (LGB&D). Leslie, our friend and benevolent leader for the trip has booked us in an excellent hotel, a short walk from the train station.
Tuesday finds Julie and Anthony in the Marienplatz. This is the scene of the crime where in 2001 Anthony drank an indeterminate amount of beer at the Hofbrau House, then proceeded to purchase an expensive but exceedingly cool hat (which to this day remains his most prized and pricey item of tracht.) In the intervening years, Anthony lost the feathers that were meticulously chosen to adorn his hat 24 years ago. Sadly, the cute hat shop had been converted to a coffee shop. Julie found tracht shops close by, where Anthony got some nifty replacement feathers, as well as two new trachten shirts.
For not the first or last time, Julie and Anthony take the right train, but in the wrong direction. Quickly realizing the mistake, they get out at the next stop. Waiting for the right train/direction, Julie makes a friend. Sometimes mistakes work out.
That afternoon, Julie and Anthony along with Maria and Catherine (from the LGB&D) take a short train trip + bus ride to Dachau.
The first guard tower that you see
Inside the gate
There were two intact barracks, once of which you could enter (pictures later). The foundations for the other thirty barracks are still there.
Dachau was originally meant to hold only 6000 prisoners, but eventually held more that 60,000 people. Same number of barracks.
The Monument to the Unknown Prisoner
The Monument to the Unknown Prisoner seems to be just a statue of a man. Julie came across the following, which makes this statue amazing.
He stands tall and proud - because the prisoners were required to keep their heads bowed and eyes averted. He has his hands in his pockets - because the prisoners were forbidden to do so. He is not wearing a hat - because the prisoners were required to wear a hat on the penalty of death.
The inscription reads “To Honor the Dead, To Remind the Living”
The shower room
Shower heads
Prisoners were stripped naked then sent to the showers where, instead of water, poisonous gas would be used to mass murder the people.
The thing that struck Julie, in fact stayed with her since the time she first visited in the 70’s, was the curved racks inside the ovens. Curved specifically to keep bodies from rolling off.
Jewish Memorial
The Russian Orthodox Chapel
The Catholic Mortal Agony of Christ Chapel
Jewish Memorial
The inscription reads: “Place, Oh Eternal One, a warning for them! May that the nations learn that they are mortal.” Psalm 9:21
Prisoners bunks. The bunks get much smaller as more prisoners are brought in
Symbolizes the barb wire and how some chose death over torture
A monument to remember all the groups that were victims of the Third Reich
Propaganda posters
In addition to the Jewish people, the Third Riech imprisoned and killed Romany, homosexuals, handicapped and political enemies. This picture caught Anthony’s eye because the political prisoner in the front of this line is wearing pretty much the outfit that he wears in the German Band, down to the split socks. Anthony wondered if this man had any idea that when Hitler took over the German government he gained the power to murder his political enemies.
The Death March
In the last days of the war, April 1945, the Nazis tried to move as many prisoners as they could from the concentration camps. Many prisoners died on these death marches.
Anthony left Dachau early to go to the show at Augustiner-Keller beer garden, a short walk from the hotel.
Above: The band on the stage at the Augustiner-Keller beer garden. Anthony in his snazzy new green shirt. If you look closely, you may see his fancy new feathers peaking out of his hat.
LGB&D is a volunteer organization, and the members get paid in food and beer. For this gig we got a pretzel as big as Cyril’s head and half a chicken. Not pictured are the 1 liter beers. Anthony may have had too many at this point.
On Wednesday, Julie and Anthony, Maria and Catherine headed South to Linderhof palace.
Our first real look at the Alps in Germany.
King Ludwig II is known for the incredible castles that he built. Neuschwanstein may be his most famous, but Linderhof was his favorite. It was hard to get to, so he could hide from his finance ministers here.
One of the things that makes Linderhof so amazing is the cave that Ludwig had built (in 1885-1887)!!! Based on Wagner’s opera, Tannhäuser.
Features of the cave include an artificial waterfall, a rainbow and a working boat..
The Grotto even has fake stalactites!!!
A boat for Ludwig to float around on
Hunding’s Hut
Yes!! A tree in the hut.
Moorish Kiosk
A statue in Oberammergau
Oberammergau is famous for its yearly Passion Play. Julie, Anthony, Catherine and Maria had lunch here.
Wednesday evening, the band had a gig south of Munich. On the way to the show a series of unfortunate events occurred (not the least of which was Anthony not understanding/following instructions) and he missed the show. Anthony was very sad, since the gig turned out to be one of the best.
Author’s Note: Getting Around in Germany. On the advice of council (Leslie), Anthony and Julie bought the Deutschland-Ticket. At 58 euro each, this pass allows travel on local public transportation for a month. This was perfect for us, we didn’t have to worry about tickets for local trains, trams, busses, subway and some ferries. Caveat: It was not good for Intercity or Intercity express (IC, ICE) trains. Also, you have to cancel the card before the 14th of the month or you will be charged for the next month.