September 1, 2018
Sunny and Pleasant
New York, NY
After a good nights rest, we got up early as we had a full day. We met our guide at 9am at the hotel and took a taxi to our first stop – Dachau. It was an emotional and somber experience. I thought i knew everything about concentration camps but realized during the visit, I have much more to learn. For example, I did not know this but Dachau was the "model" concentration camp. It was here that the Nazi's experiemented the "process" and "model" of running a concentration camp and replicated elsewhere. In addition I learned it was not an extermination camps. The extermination camps were killing centers where people were immediately killed. I was horrified to learn the number of extermination camps that existed during the Nazi regime. Dachau as a concentration camp was a working camp, where people worked in horrendous conditions with very little food. Over 30000 people died in this camp. I was overwhelmed with horror on the size of the camp and also saddened to think of how many people died and suffered in this camp. Today, its a peaceful and an educational site, so that people never forget how "easy" evil can take over.
The infamous sign at the Gate: Arbeit Macht Frei – Work sets You Free…..
After an emotionally draining morning, we then took a taxi to go to one of Germany's most famous palaces – the Nymphenburg Palace, the Versailles of Germany. It was Jackson's first visit to a European palace and it did not disappoint and was a good way to end the day. It did not disappoint as it was an over the top baroque style palace that both Jackson and I enjoyed. We ended the day hanging out in the executive lounge at the hotel and had an early night as we had to get up early to catch our flight to the next destination – Prague!
The hall of beautiful women