The Internet is a Fickle Friend

6.7.18

The city of Salzburg wasn’t what I had expected at all. You might have imagined a city that was still based on ground salt, yet they really diversified. In fact, I wouldn’t have even realized it if I did t know the name of the city. There are many things to see with too little time

My group (Jacob, Jack, Jay, & Lance) was able to see the oldest graveyard in Germany. All of the gravestones were very religious, something which really reflected the views and values of the people back then. The size of the graveyard also marked the large growth of the city. There were only about 100-500 gravestones Iwould guess. Where as now the city is home to thousands of people. 
-Harrison

Today our group participated in a professionally guided tour through the Dachau Concentration Camp near Munich. This was the first concentration camp built by the Natzis. It started out as a prison camp for people with different political views than those at power at the time.

Being inside the memorial borough about a lot of feelings. The camp was a lot smaller than you might think. Most of the area was not used by prisoners. The captives lived with extremely strict conditions. It is hard to imagine how humans could ever treat each other in such disrespectful ways all for things they can’t control about themselves. We walked through the barracks where prisoners slept. There definitely was not enough space for the amount of people who would eventually be in the camp. People were punished for just about everything they possibly could. The worst part is the fact that the German people knew about the prisoners and did not do anything. I think it is important to learn about this time to make sure this kind of ignorance does not spiral out of control again because the consequences can be dire. To quote Frau Moody, “it was amazing in the most terrible way”.

-Taylor

We visited the Dachau Concentration Camp. We had a guided tour of the camp. We started out visiting the main gate. The main gate states “Work Makes Free”. From there we went to the ovens and gas chamber. We explored the rooms of the building where they had showers and clothes disposed. We then went into a gas chamber with a door leading to the ovens. A lot of greenery has grown since the camp was shut down. I was sad to think of such a beautiful place with such a miserable and horrifying past. We talked about escaping and defenses. The camp had electric barbed wire fences and guard towers that would shoot anyone who stepped foot into the neutral zone. There was only one successful escape which was in the first six weeks of the camp when it was still being built.

They set up memorials for all of the different religions for the people held in the camp. To finish the tour we got to go inside where they stayed and then a large museum with lots of different artifacts.

-Jay

6.9.18

The food here is truly an experience all on its own. Until now, I have never wanted to eat strawberries for weeks on end. I feel as though people who have not eaten food here need to - it’s truly fruitful (see what I did there) adventure waiting to happen.

-Zona

I thought that it was cool to see what my great grandpa was fighting for. I thought it was sad that so many people suffered there.

-Lance

6.8.18

Imagine: lush green hills dotted with tiny yellow flowers. Swans and their babies floating peacefully in a crystal clear lake. I’m the background is an elaborate, elegant castle built by a sad king. Sounds like a Disney Movie, right? Nope. This was a real excursion our group took to Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany.

The architecture was absolutely exquisite with good and wood structures adorned with gorgeous renaissance style paintings in every room. The walls of each room told of the King’s favorite stories as a beautiful way to escape his life. King Ludwig II had Neuschwanstein built as a stunning representation of his deepest desires. Unfortunately, the king was only able to spend around 73 days in Neuschwanstein before he was declared insane and killed along with the doctor who diagnosed him. People are attracted to this castle even though it was never finished. Between the beyond-amazing fairytale setting romantic tragedy of the late king, and astounding architecture Schlöss Neuschwanstein is a must see on any scenic trip to Germany.

-Taylor