Gruss Gott!
As soon as I arrived in Munich, my first German class dialogue test came back to me:
"Guten Tag!"
"Gruss Gott!"
"Ich heisse Christine, wie heiss du?"
Bavaria is Gruss Gott country!
I'm sorry Munich, I enjoyed you very much, but I think I had a few distractions that prevented me from absolutly loving you as a city! With only one day to see Munich and one to see Fuessen, combined with being nudged in between visiting Elizabeth in Berlin and getting to finally see Vic in Prague, Munich really did not get a fair chance to make the impression as the best city in Europe. All that being said, I did enjoy myself and made my way all through the city in my day that I had.
If anyone is reading this waiting to hear exciting European transportation stories, you might be upset to hear that I had an incredibly easy time finding my hostel. It was right across from the gigantic hauptbahnhoff.. with any food you could want at a train station... and only took about five minutes to walk to. My gosh, what a relief. I have realized that being in a hostel next to a train station does have its advantages--Five minutes to find as opposed to two hours, for example-- but I have also found that the areas next to the train stations are dirtier and a bit dicey. Apparently the section I stayed at in Munich was supposed to be next to some dicey "erotica" centers, but the only thing I saw were tons of African men always standing right outside my hostel... which happened to be next to a "Call to Africa" calling cafe... I'm not joking. By the way, I think that Munich must have stolen all the internet cafes from Paris. They are everywhere! Every other store is an internet cafe of some sorts. You can also buy underware, books, gadgets, and other random finds at these internet cafes.
Rather tired, I didn't venture out until Thursday morning. I actually considered taking one of the Free Tours that many of the hostels, or cities provide. I have never taken one, because to me, they seem somewhere inbetween a U-Guides UVa tour and a Colonial Connections or Maximum Ghost tour. I realize that many of you don't know both, or either of these groups... but just think of an excited, show-off cheerleader type giving out false information. So anyway, I have yet to take a tour... but on Thursday I had a blast following a few minutes of several different tours. There were tons of groups and individuals, (like myself... although remember I was floating between the groups,) all staring up at the Glockenspiel waiting for what my book called "The most overrated show in Europe." Yes, highly overrated, but coming out the clock were dancing coopers!! Yes, the highlight of the clock's little play were dancing coopers... will someone please pass this info. on to Marshall?
I climbed the St. Peter's Church Tower. I'm always up for a good tower climb, and this had to be one of the highest... and best. It was a lot safer than the climb to the top of the Church Tower in Amsterdam, (where my guide said that he was sure climbing to the top would not be allowed in the US, given the conditions,) and I think higher as well. I have found that towers are great for orienting yourself to the city! I found my next stop from it, the Viktuelien Markt. (I hope that spelling is close, I am not looking at my book right now.) It's a huge permanent farmer's market, with lots of... bier, pretzels, and sausages! I was proud of myself for getting the Bavarian/Munich musts of food-- a weisswurst, (white sausage,) pretzel, and a bier. I did get the small beer- which I think is about two pints in the US... or for those that know the Leafe... a mug on mug night. So, obviously, Christine did not opt for the classic beer stein size. The "small" one I had at noon though, was enough to send me off to Munich for the rest of the day with a bit of a buzz. I walked down to Odeonplatz where I thought it might be wise to get a large thing of water, and perhaps another bready pretzel. The University in Munich is beautiful... although to me looked very much like Stanford! No, I swear it's not just because I was thinking how I would see Vic in two days... all of the red tile on the roof looked like Stanford's buildings. I walked through the main Garden, where I didn't see any swans, and I'm positive I was supposed to see Swans! Although I made it up to the Olympic Village, there was nothing going on there except for a "Spain Expo," and I decided that I would simply wait for two-three weeks before seeing Spain. I thought perhaps the huge park where they have Oktoberfest might be nice for sitting and reading... but it seemed more like a huge, empty torn up field waiting for throngs of drunks celebrating Oktoberfest! I guess one would have to be there in Sept/Oct to actually get any use out of the park.
I saw very few dogs in Munich. Jenny, this is obviously not the place for you.
I did see the most amazing street musicians I have ever heard. I heard everything from Spanish guitar, to string and woodwind ensembles to a guy playing on a grand piano in the middle of the street!! And, they all had their CDs for sale! Munich is obviously very serious about their street musicians. Jared, perhaps a place for you and the band;)?
On Friday I went to Fuessen, but only for a few hours, as I was able to return to a hostel in Munich for Friday night, (to catch my 6:45 am train to Prague this morning.) Fuessen was beautiful... a little less crowded and ritzy than Heidelberg, but just as touristy. Mom and Dad, I think you would really like it there. The castle was an easy bus ride from the train. (EASY bus ride!! I know, the transportation on this trip was not too good to be true... because it was true.) Unfortunately for the Japanese tourists, they still struggled and asked ten billion questions to everyone. (But, then again, nothing different here;) I figured out how to get to the castle by following tons of other tourists who were going the same way. Now I hope that I would have done this no matter what my previous experience... but after working for Rev. City and listening to the question from the stupid person that asks, "where's the next scene?" while a hundred other people in front of him are all moving in the same direction to the next scene, I knew it was best to just follow the crowd.
Thanks to Chris, Rachel, and Paul for putting it in my mind to go and visit the "Cinderella Castle" the Neuenschweinstein Schloss. The castle was gorgeous, but even better was the walk and hike around it. Finally I saw tons of Swans, (hence the name of the castle--schwein.) I also thought about how lucky I am to have grown up in such a beautiful area as well. I think I took the mountains for granted when I was little!
It was as I was about to go into the castle that I had a huge scare. Many of you (non CWers) will not understand this fear--but count yourself lucky. I was positive I heard Felix's voice giving a tour! There was someone who sounded exactly like him! I quickly shot my head in every direction, (trying to figure out what direction I should NOT walk in,) until I calmed down when I saw that it was not, in fact, Felix. But he sounded just like him... maybe he has a voice-alike giving tours in Bavaria!! Ahhh!
Well, I have arrived in Prague. Had a wonderful train ride in with a bunch of the ditziest Irish girls I have ever met. Transportation to here was okay, not nearly as easy as Munich... but after walking in the wrong direction... only once... I made it:)
So closes the first leg of my journey. I imagine that the second will be quite different... with Vic here for fifteen days and Ellen here for nine... but I'm sure just as many adventures!
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