Tour Day 6

Today we said "Auf Wiedersehen" to Rothenburg as we were headed into Austria's Tirol. On the agenda for today was a visit to Dachau Concentration Camp, a famous beer hall, and a beautiful Rococo church. One of the best parts about a Rick Steves tour is the variety of experiences scheduled during the trip. 

Our first stop was a sobering visit to Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. I truly believe that everyone should visit a concentration camp memorial at least once in their life. It's one thing to learn about the Holocaust but it's another thing completely to see where the horrors occurred. Our guide, James, delivered the content in a tactful yet direct way. There is simply no sugar coating the tragedy of the Holocaust in a place like Dachau. The main message of the site is clear: never forget.

With the mood still somber, we boarded the bus with a lot of information and a lot of history to process. We had plenty of time to reflect on our way to Andechs Bier Hall. Andechs is true monk made beer. The monastery brews the beer and serves food to the masses. When we arrived we had quite the scene to take in. There were separate lines for food and beer and a huge outdoor seating area. We saw several portions go by us and they were huge! Kelsey and I decided to share a pork knuckle, potato salad and a pretzel.

Pro tip: find a friend and try the pork knuckle! They only sell whole knuckles but they can be sliced in two for sharing. 

There was some time after lunch before we boarded the bus. I wandered up the hill to see the church. It was beautiful! You could climb the bell tower for a fee but I wasn't sure how long that was going to take and I didn't want to cut it too close to leaving. Next time! 

Our next stop was the Wieskirche, or Pilgramage Church of Wies. This church is a UNESCO world heritage site and is simply stunning on the inside. It is done in the Rococo style that was popular in the 1700s. While not for everyone in terms of style, I thought the contrast of the plain exterior balanced the frill and fluff on the interior. 

The Wieskirche was not too far from our hotel. We were also really excited because this hotel had washers and dryers in the basement. I was never so happy to do laundry in my whole life! It took some planning and coordination to make sure everyone who wanted to got to do laundry but it all worked out. 

Pro tip: don't be intimidated by doing laundry in another language. Google is your friend, trust me! 

We had time to settle into our room before it was time to have dinner. Because we had a big late lunch, the hotel kept it light for us with soup and a salad bar. It was a nice change of pace from all the meat and potatoes!

While the laundry was spinning, we gathered outside on the hotel deck to hear some traditional Tyrolean music. Our performers were energetic and fun and it all felt like we became fast friends. Parts of this performance required audience participation, so you've been warned! It was a beautiful evening to sit out and enjoy music with new friends.