August 15, 2003
It rained last night. It didn't seem to cool our room any, but it was cooler outside. Laurie and I took the train and a bus to Dachau. There is a memorial tour of the original concentration camp. It was built in 1933 long before WW II started. It was a camp for Jews, political prisoners, homosexuals, and other "undesirables". More than 30,000 died at Dachau and many prisoners were transferred to other death camps.
We watched a 30 minute film documenting Dachau concentration camp. It was a very sad and depressing film and it just blows my mind that people could do such cruel and inhumane things to others. The barracks are not there any longer, but the Bunker and two of the crematoriums are there. There is a gas chamber there, but it wasn't supposedly used. We used head sets and many of the displays were also written in English. We spent about four hours there.
We caught the bus and train back. We got off at Marien Platz so we could watch the Glochenspiel. The square was filled with people to watch it go. It wasn't much, but the crowd gave ooh's and aah's. The church chimes and bells were off key. I think it is kind of neat because it was built so long ago and it still operates.
That's about it for today. I am sitting in the sitting area of the hostel. I came home after having pizza from next door. I will be going to the room soon. We have three new people from Canada in the room. The other three left today. These people are young with their stuff spread all out all over the place. My first impression was bad, but they seem very nice.
Tomorrow we are off the Austria
