Bayern

We took a trip to Dachau on our way back from Garmisch. We didn't actually go to the town, just to the concentration camp memorial outside of town. It was an experience that I'm glad to have. It was sombre, but it was one of those things I wanted to do before leaving Europe. We went there with three other people, and we all sort of split up and explored the grounds. We paid for and audio tour (in English) and saw the sights. There was a main building with information about what took place there, a large empty area where the barracks used to be, three chapels (Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant), the old wall and watchtower area, and the crematorium. We didn't stay long because it started to rain and we had a 7hr train ride to get to, but I was glad we decided to go.

We went to Füssen to see the Neuschwanstein castle, and while we were there we also saw the Hohenschwangau castle. We bought tickets for a guided tour of both, and it was worthwhile. It was the first time we'd actually been INSIDE a castle and not just looking around the exterior. Hohenshwangau was almost more interesting than Neuschwanstein because Neuschwanstein, though a national icon from the outside, was never completed on the inside, and while it had a few impressive rooms, Hohenschwangau had serveral impressive murals and objects. From Hohen schwangau we had to either walk, take a bus, or take a horse-drawn carraige to get to Neuschwanstein. I took the bus, and it was a good choice because it dropped me off at Marienbrucke, where we could view a waterfall on one side and an amazing view of the castle from the other. It rained a bit while we waited to get into Neuschwanstein, but it was all in all a great trip.

We've now been to Garmisch-Partenkirchen twice. On our first trip there, we mostly saw the surrounding area and didn't really stay long to enjoy the town itself. Instead went to Füssen to see Neuschwanstein, stopping by Wieskirche on the way back to Garmisch. The next day we drove to the Dachau concentration camp memorial before leaving from the Munich train station. We stayed at a really nice little bed and breakfast that was privately owned. It was like staying in someone's house. We went to a little restaurant downtown where Nate enjoyed a liter beer. We also stocked up on some supplies at the base there. All in all it was a very nice, romantic little trip. Then in July-August 08 we went back again. Nate was there on TDY and I got to go down, all expenses paid, to work at a marriage retreat at Edelweiss. I stayed there 3 nights and at Quirrin (the same B&B from last time) the other 4 nights. During our free time we walked around town and by the mountains. We walked up to Riessersee and Badersee, and on Saturday we went to Munich. We had a good time and got to see more of Garmisch--and the Alps--this time.

During our most recent stay in Garmisch we made a day trip up to Munich. We left on a Saturday morning, and the train ride was about an hour and a half long. The first half of the ride skirted the Alps though, so it was pretty enjoyable. Once in Munich we were a bit overwhelmed. There were people everywhere and just crossing the street to get into the old town took almost 10 minutes. We walked around and saw a church or two. We didn't have a map or a plan, we just wanted to see the Marienplatz and enjoy the city, but were having a hard time enjoying much of anything while pushing a stroller through throngs of people. We eventually went to a park and let Caedmon play, and then we discovered the the rathaus and Marienplatz were on the other side of the park. So we saw it, took some pictures, and walked on to a quieter street, where we settled down and had some beer, bretzeln, and wurst. We left kind of early, and without seeing much, but I had wanted to see Munich, and it was nice as a 30euro, hour and a half trip from Garmisch instead of a 4hr drive from Wiesbaden.