For some reason I posted this yesterday and went to bed while it uploaded and decided it didn’t want to post for some reason so here it is now.

I’ve never actually hated clouds until today. One of the biggest attractions I was looking forward to the most this whole trip turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments. After 2 bus trips up the nearby mountain called the Kehlstein I made it to the infamous Kehlsteinhaus, also erroneously known as the Eagle’s Nest. At just over 6000 feet up it can provide…like everything else the best views of all of Berchtesgaden National Park (basically all over) Königsee (the massive lake) and even a great view of Salzburg 12 miles away with its huge castle easily visible, but today was not a kind day. It was a mostly clear day everywhere except the mountain peaks, at the Eagle’s Nest and the others was a very dense fog cover, completely eliminating the nearly 360° view of the surrounding mountains and valleys and cities below for dozens of miles. I picked this day as it was the only day this week that was forecasted to not be completely cloudy. This actually makes me angry.

There was no clouds most of the way up where I was able to get a couple good pictures on the bus, but nothing like what you can see at the bus landing area, or at the peak, or on the extensive hiking trails behind the Kehlsteinhaus.

Some random tidbits:
-12 people died during the 13 month day and night non stop construction to complete it in time for Hitler’s 50th birthday
-Hitler visited it barely over a dozen times, as it is believed he was afraid of heights and tight places.
-There is a grand mirrored and glass elevator that takes you up the last 400 feet directly inside the home from the bus landing below
-It is now privately owned by a charity and it is a restaurant/bar and is closed from mid October to the Spring as the steep road are unsafe for vehicle traffic then, so at least I made it just in time
-Adjusted for inflation it would take approximately $175 million dollars to construct today
-There is an elegant Italian marble fireplace gifted to Hitler from Mussolini
-Then former study is now the restaurants storage room
-It was used mainly for hosting foreign dignitaries and leaders to showcase the Nazi’s grandeur and permamence.

After the nest I went to the Documentation Center which is a museum for the rise of Hitler and the history of the Nazis in the Berchtesgaden/Obersalzburg area. Obersalzburg is a large hillside community above Berch where many of Hitlers top Nazi leaders had homes, such as Hitler’s Berghof, and Göring’s and Bormann’s villa estates (most of which were buildings that were forcibly taken from the original Berchtesgaden residents who were forced out to make way for the Nazis). It also contained offices and SS barrackses, all where much of the war and genocidal activities were planned. Obersalzburg also has a very extensive underground bunker system connecting the buildings and offices which you can visit from two different areas. The bunker system was neat. There was also an old car show outside the center.

After the museum center I walked though a WW1 and 2 German soldier cemetery. In all seriousness the sign said those buried there were victims, and I don’t know what is implied by that. Whether they were truly innocent soldiers, or punished for disagreeing with the Nazis or what I don’t know. Obviously the Germans are not going to hold a place of honor for the fallen SS troops or other baddies. Afterwards I walked around the shopping district until it got dark.