Today’s blog starts on a more somber note. On 14 April we visited the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial in Dachau, Germany. Located about 20 minutes NW of Munich, Dachau was the first Concentration Camp built by the Nazi Party in 1933. It was a male prison work camp primarily for political and business opponents to the Nazi ideals. There were ethnic prisoners as well starting in the 1940’s, however most of the prisoners were Catholic/Protestant, rather than Jewish. Many of the campers were part of the ethnically despised Gypsy race.
Photo of the barracks in 1938 
Photo of the same path today
The prisoners built the camp facilities themselves by working 16 hour-long days under the direction of the SS. It was the hardest labor camp in the area and many men died of exhaustion. Though there was a small gas chamber it was never used. Interestingly some prisoners were released after serving time there, but their spirits were broken by means of physical and emotional torture.
Main hall built by the original 1933 prisoners
Two bunkhouses are still standing 
2-4 men slept on straw mattresses in each bunk
I visited the camp 26 years ago and it is a place I’ve always wanted to take my children. It changed my life and perspective, especially regarding the cruelty of human nature. I believe it did the same for Robert and the kids. The facility and museum is in much nicer condition now. The various presentations and the Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish memorial buildings are a humble reminder that cruelty happens across all ethnic and religious groups. There were prisoners from as far away as Greece and Russia in the camp.
It was a cool day, and as you walked through the museum, roll call courtyard, and bunkhouses your blood was chilled and your heart humbled. May all who suffered in any concentration camp always be remembered!
The kids lighting memorial candles inside the Protestant Chapel 
Footprints of the old barracks and a guard tower
The gate to the Dachau Concentration Camp simply read “Arbeit Macht Frei” or “Work Makes You Free”.
In the afternoon sunshine we drove 2 hours to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a quaint medieval village on the Tauber River. I’ve been to this amazing little village a couple of times and one can’t help but feel in awe of the beauty of the place. It was completely different than Dachau.
The village dates back to the 11th century and is one of a few villages that is completely surrounded by the original 13th century medieval wall and gates. You can even walk the entire wall ramparts and look down into the medieval streets of the village. All the homes were built between the 13th and 17th centuries. There are absolutely no modern structures within the walls of the village.
Map showing the walls 
Part of the original moat
The kids really enjoyed walking along the walls and exploring the towers. Since it was a Sunday, the village was very quiet. We were the only people up on the walls. It was truly magical! We also explored the village streets admiring the homes and their gardens. On the main high street a few restaurants were open and we found a charming little café to eat dinner. The waitress was very friendly and enjoyed practicing her English as much as we practiced our German!
There were several homes built right into the wall! 
Main high street: The green building on the far right is where we ate supper.
After a hearty supper we once again took to the walls and enjoyed listening to the church bells of St. Jakob ring the hour as the sun cast it’s brilliant orange glow over the rooftops of the old village. The stones and wood of the walls were bathed in a warm light… evening sunlight those walls have witnessed for 700 years!
Wall house in the evening sunshine 
Magical 13th century walls of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
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