Europe: Germany

Berlin | Munich | Frankfurt | Heidelberg | Dachau | Bavaria

Germany has always interested me, as my dear husband’s uncle has lived there for decades as a missionary and has always described its beauty and culture. So in 2019, when I first went to Germany, I fell in love with Berlin. I met up with a group of fellow educators to tour different school models. I also heard accounts from people who grew up on opposite sides of the Berlin Wall and attended a poetry circle of Syrian refugees. Impactful. Read on to find out more about my later adventures in Germany and places–like Heidelberg and Frankfurt— that YOU should visit!

Berlin Wall

Dividing East and West

Not only did I visit the parts of the Berlin Wall that still stand as a memorial to a historically difficult period, I also was able to purchase one of the certified pieces from the rubble of when the wall first fell. These are, obviously, a limited commodity, but for now, they can still easily be found.

Checkpoint Charlie

Crossing Point

Checkpoint Charlie was the crossing point for residents of the West to venture into the East. Eastern residents were not afforded the same type of treatment, as they often did not wish to stay in the East.

Wall memorial

In Remembrance

There is a wall of photos, along with statues like this one, that memorialize the 140 lives lost as people attempted to cross the wall to reunite with loved ones or pursue opportunities elsewhere.

Munich

We visted Munich in 2022 on a tour I custom planned with the support of EF Tours. We started with a walking tour, which included visits to the Munich Cathedral, New Town Hall, and Hofbräuhaus (a brewery with history dating back to the 1500s). We stood in the Marienplatz while the clock tower chimed musically, which was so special. Some of my group attended a soccer game, while others stayed out late and learned to use public transport.

Frankfurt

This was a last-minute, unplanned stop on my last trip to Germany before I caught a flight to Barcelona. This charming city was fun and beautiful, and I wish I could have spent more time here. Isn’t that view picturesque and just so German? I took some great photos of the town square and enjoyed the view from the bridge before loading up and heading to the airport for the next country on the agenda.

Heidelberg

Heidelberg is one of the safest places to wander around. I had students with me, but I was able to let them go wander in small groups around the square, visiting cafes and getting Nutella crepes made to order. We also visited the castle, featuring an apothecary museum and massive wine barrel.

City Streets

Heidelberg

Wine Barrel

Look at the person in the top right corner for scale!

Apothecary

Heidelberg Castle

View from the top

Heidelberg Castle

Dachau

While the world became aware of Auschwitz and similarly infamous concentration camps, one of the first in Germany was actually Dachau. This was honestly a very sobering experience but one of the most impactful journeys on which I ever led students.

After all these years, the gas chamber still has an odor and metallic taste to the air. The crematorium is filled with ash. The barracks, rebuilt as a memorial, tell the story of the inhumane treatment endured by those held here during that terrible time. The museum portion listed names of victims, deceased and liberated, although so many records were burned that we may never truly know them all.

Bavaria

We took a drive through the Bavarian Alps past the Black Forest, which was a great contrast after the heavy morning at Dachau. This also boasted great views, especially considering we had seen the Swiss Alps a few years prior. My kids played in the snow (a rare treat, as we are from Louisiana, land of the swamp) outside the Linderhof Castle, and then we were treated to authentic Bavarian cuisine at a restaurant we came to know as Conrad’s Place (in honor of the owner, Conrad), where we learned about local festivals and customs. Germany is definitely somewhere I plan to visit again in coming years!