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Published: February 14th 2010
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Cathedral Munich was beautiful! It is a city full of history, and is the beer capital of the world! The real reason we came to Munich was to pick up Deanna’s student visa. Germany is extremely organized. However, the Spanish Consulate in Munich is as unorganized as Spain. They are also only open from 9-1:00. Siesta is very important, even if you no longer live in Spain I guess. We arrived around 11:00, and didn’t get helped until ten minutes before they were going to close. We were also the only people there. When we finally got her visa, we had about 5 minutes to get across town to make it in time for the free walking tour. We made it just in time!
This was a tour that took us all around Munich, and lasted about 4 hours. It was one of the best tours I’ve been on. Munich is so full of history. The majority of Munich was destroyed in bombings, but it was built back up, and looks just as it did before the war. Our tour guide told us that the people knew that the town was going to be destroyed. So they went out and
drew up blue prints or the buildings, painted pictures of the buildings, and didn’t miss a single detail. They even drew a blue print for the way the cobblestones in the streets were laid out.
We also went into several cathedrals. By this point I had been in so many cathedrals that they were all starting to blend together. They’re all creepy, cold, and beautiful in there own way. Our tour guide talked quite a bit about Hitler, and the time of the concentration camps. It was a very sobering experience to be standing where he gave his speeches, and hearing about the horrible things that happened. It wasn’t something I felt comfortable having someone talk about loudly in the streets of Munich, but it is a part of history unfortunately. I’ve taken quite a few history classes in my day, but nothing really compares to learning about the history of something where it actually took place. The only thing I can tell you about what I learned in my history classes is how much the books cost (too much is the answer to that one), but I remember a lot about what I learned while I was
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Beer hall in Germany.
Since that was a bit of a depressing tour, our next tour was a beer tour. It was also a contest, and the winner would win a free tour voucher. The point wasn’t to see who could drink the most beer, but to be the most personable, and of course drink some beer. Well, I won! We went to about four beer halls on this tour. Keep in mind that the beers here don’t come in anything smaller than a pint, so it was a good night. But since I’m a small person Deanna and I shared a pint at each beer hall. It was some of the best beer I’ve ever had, and probably ever will have. You can only get that beer in Germany, they don’t export it. We also learned a German drinking song. I don’t remember it, but our tour guide taught it to us outside. While she was teaching it to us a group of German guys about my age had come out of one of the beer halls. When they walked by us, they started singing along at the top of their lungs. We could hear them singing for blocks.
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Prost! (toast) At one of the beer halls, the first thing I saw was a table full of traditionally dressed Bavarian men. It turns out these are very respected men, and to get to their position, you have to go to the beer hall at least three times a week for 15 years. Now that’s dedication!
The tour ended at a hostel that was right next to ours, so I collected my prize, said good-bye to the Australians and we headed next door to our hostel. Deanna went up to take a shower, and our roommates were already back and sleeping so I decided to have a drink at the bar. Here I met a guy from the Caribbean. He was a very interesting guy. We talked a little bit about his story. He is currently traveling around Europe with an ending destination of Africa. But by this time I was ready for bed, so I wished him luck on all of his travels, and in life. To this he responded: “Well Miss Katie (in a heave Caribbean accent) I don’t really need luck. I was born with all the luck I need, but thank you.” I just
thought that was an interesting way to look at life and luck.
The next day we had to get up early to go see the Castle Neuschwanstein. Or better known as the Disney Castle. Yep I got in for free (well 20 euro because of transportation ☹, but I still won). We had to take the train to get there. Once we got there it was about a 45 minutes uphill hike to get to the castle. This was King Ludwig II Castle. Still to this day it isn’t finished. Kind Ludwig died very mysteriously, and to this day no one knows how he died. He was also best friends with the composer Richard Wagner (for those of you who don’t know this person think about the music that plays when Elmer Fudd is trying to find Buggs Bunny, or better yet just look it up he’s a brilliant composer). This castle was dedicated to him. The inside of the castle is incredible. You’re not allowed to take pictures of the inside but I’m sure you can find pictures on line, but it really is a fairy tale castle. Every room has swans in it (King Ludwig has
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On the train to the castle an obsession with swans, one of his favorite operas by Wagner featured swans), and every room is decorated after a different opera of Wagner.
With this our stay in Munich came to an end. I blew out a flip flop in the hostel, I didn’t step on a pop top, but it was time to go. We had one more day in Garmisch, and decided to take the bus from the castle back there. Simon and Garfunkle had been constantly playing in the background through this whole trip (they really like them here in Europe), so I put them on in my ipod, and against my better judgment fell asleep. Next thing I knew, I was awoken by the bus driver yelling at us in German (well she wasn’t yelling, but German in general is a very harsh language). I had no idea what she was saying, was really confused, and I had know idea where we were. Turns out she was just telling us that we had to switch buses to get to Garmisch. We finally made it back to Garmisch, and that is where our trip ends.
Never in my life did I think
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The castle from a distance I’d get to see half of the things I saw in these eight days. Jaimie and I finally got to see each other in Europe; I met people from all over the world, and saw some beautiful parts of both Germany and Austria. But it was bitter sweet. While I was in Munich I would have given anything to be having a pint with my dad at one of the beer halls; walking through the cathedrals with my mom; going on tours with Sean; and seeing the sights with Jaimie. But that’s why I have this. So I hope you felt like you were right there with me, and I wish you were all here!
Back to the rolling hills of Spain ☺
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Auntie Kasha
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deja vu
Again Katie you are taking me back to my time in Europe - you should see Munich during October fest time i- the beer halls are completely filled and the beers are flowing - some Americans go to Europe just for the Munich October fest. . I am so glad you got to see neuschwanstein - one of the most amazing castles in Europe - probably because of all the mystery surrouding King Ludwig. I know what you mean by the churches all melting together which is so amaing because each one has so much history and beauty but it seems our brains can ony hancle so much. I am so glad that soon you will be seeing your mom and dad during their first trip to Europe - that will be priceless. p.s. did you get to try any schnitzle in Germany?? Love Auntie Kasha