Experiencing the Best of Europe
Day 6: Contrasting a Sobering Experience with Happy Moments
“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu
Best Moments
1. Descriptive guide at Dachau that provided insight into the unique history of the camp
2. Seeing the memorial sculpture of individuals jumping onto an electric fence to end their suffering
3. Hearing birds sing at Dachau
4. Beautiful stops along the way to our destination including Wieskirche Church
5. Paying for sanitized toilets (I didn't really appreciate this until we reached Italy)
6. Buddy introductions that delved deeper into the people we recently met and would get to know even better
Daily Recap
*The morning in Rothenburg was much quieter than the night before. The streets were fresh with a morning rain.
*Dachau left us all reflective and keeping to ourselves as we digested the sight and stories. Dachau was a working camp with a dark history. Although it has gone through several changes over the years, they have set it up in a way that allows visitors to imagine what it was like. Looking at the ovens, it appeared that ashes still remained from over 60 years ago.
*I found the memorial sculpture to be moving. What a horrible place.
*The final stop in Dachau was the museum. The flow and setup of the exhibits kept me wanting to know more. I wish I could have read every plaque, but there was not enough time. Luckily they had a companion book to bring home.
*One last stop on the way to Reutte was an over the top baroque church. It was a little break that is another example of how we continue to learn about places even when we mostly just need to stop for the bathroom.
Personal Connections
*Believe it or not, I did not get pictures of any people on this day. I think it is reflective on the kind of day. The picture shows a foot from the memorial at Dachau.
*Although I didn't take any pictures of people, that doesn't mean there weren't connections on this day. One of the people that made Dachau come to life was our English guide, Roy. He provided enough detail without overloading our brains.
*After spending 6 days with our travel partners, it was time for buddy introductions. We all did our research on walks and the bus. That night, we shared the lives of our friends with each other. We rationed Thomas' ice wine as we learned about the paths that led everyone to this trip. Much tragedy has happened and what this trip means to everyone is unique. One theme that stood out was healing.
Stub Hub
Dachau was the first concentration camp. It is a much different kind of camp than one like Auschwitz. It was not used as an extermination camp, but as a political prison and work camp. Many that walked through the gate opposed the beliefs of the Nazi party and were there to be set straight. Although they were not sent there specifically to die, it would not have been any easier of an experience.
Reutte's hotel had a lovely patio and sweet dog. His little stub of a tail wagged with excitement each morning.