Munich Part II

Continuation on Munich..

Tonight is the time change which means..I get an extra hour of sleep before my 7am flight..oh gosh I hope i dont miss my flight!!! This whole time change thing can really cause confusion when I am on an entirely different time zone than the norm.

Munich originated `san francisco coffee company`..

So I went to the infamous beer hall today..Houfhaus..what chaos! Locals dressed in their cultural threads..costumes of sorts watching Japanese tourist try to chug beers haha..they serve beers in these giant liter size mugs AND beermaids run around selling pretzels the size of my head times two! The mens bathroom by the way has a vomitorium..i will leave it to your imagination as to what that is..!

Munich is such an awesome city..so big yet so small..Germany is a third of Texas in terms of size but as three times as much ppl..or was it six times as many ppl? I didnt do too much today..I fell asleep at the park listening to a guy play his violin..many others fell asleep too..it was nice. I had a chai tea latte at this coffee joint called `san francisco coffee company`.. now I am almost certain that no such thing exist in san francisco..a coffee company yet it is one of the most popular places here..there are three within a 2 mile radius of me..which means..when Germans come to visit SF..they must be really pissed that there isn't a `san francisco coffee company` *chuckle* but there are two starbucks on every block!

My trip is coming to an end and so much has happened in three weeks..aside from me being all over eastern europe..much has changed back at home..a few of my coworkers i will no longer be working with as they have decided to leave the company/area..Barack Obama has appeared to be a heavy democratic candidate for office..there has been a timeline set for Iraq to take charge of their country..I have become a happier American :). Many ppl ask me why I travel so much..and to me its not that much..I make it a point to go on one big trip a year and it just makes me happier. It broadens the mind and opens up your eyes bigger. It always a humbling experience when I travel..keeps you more grounded..I think anyway..

Alright..dinner time..I will write reflections on each town/city when I get back home..

I finally made it to my last stop- Munich

I arrived in Munich- my final stop of a three week journey before I head home to good ol San Francisco! I am not looking forward to my very long flight home but for the time being..I will enjoy and take in what I can of Munich.

Munich is a very livable..yuppish kind of city. It is clean..large pedestrian only zones..I mean..can you guys imagine Union Square being pedestrians only?? HUGE beer jugs everywhere..understandably this is the home of Oktoberfest! Pretzels taste so much better here than home..lots of asian ppl live here..it was so cute this morning when I saw a Chinese little boy speaking (with conviction) in German with his German friend..it was too cute! There are so many asian ppl that live here..I often get spoken to in German..unlike other languages such as Italian or Spanish..German is not easy to pick up. I know Guten Tag!

Munich or is it Munchen?

Munich is full of ppl..trams..bahns..parks..naked german ppl in the parks..beer gardens..beer halls but locals prefer beer gardens to the halls. H&M, Zara and Beneton fill the streets but North Face must be doing well here as they are relocating to a HUGE space off the pedestrian zone.

I am enjoying autumn here in Europe..I call it Fall but locals call it autumn..ok fine they win..more to come on Munich soon..I must go enjoy mv evening now..

I am in a real castle!! Holy Moley!

I made it to Munich and took a day tripto visit two castle- Linderoff Palace and Schloss Neuschwanstein- the castle that the Disney Castle is mirrored to!! I boarded a bus at about 8am and traveled with about 60 others in a two level bus..not too bad. We had our own time once we arrived at our destination.

Schloss Neuschwanstein- this IS the disneyland castle!

Schloss Neuschwanstein was HUGE! Well..from the outside anyway..the inside never got finished as King Ludwig II died in the middle of construction work so it never got done. But we did see the few rooms that were finished which included his bedroom which happen to have a theme of Tristan and Isolde. When the guide told us that..I thought `I LOVE that movie!` Of course, I had to buy a postcard of his room! Around the castle grounds, I hiked up major steepness to get to Marienplatz which is this bridge that gives you a great view of the castle and the countryside that surrounds it..beautiful!

If you ever get a chance..do make a visit!

Damn windy in Nurnberg!

So after a rainy day in Rothenburg..I find myself in the town of Nurnberg..a quick hour away from Munich where I will be tomorrow. So I have been keeping up with the US news via CNN..the only english channel available..and all they show is coverage on the war..oh and am I glad I got out of Budapest before the protest got into full swing over by the parliament building!

Nurnberg is a cute little not so touristy town. This town houses the Nazi Document Center which is where Hitler based out of during his time. The town itself is a strolling town..lots of pedestrian only streets..many open markets..during Christmas time..this town holds the largest Christmas market!! I walked all the way up to the castle today and from there..saw a fire! Police and ambulance sirens filled the sounds of the town as we saw smoke coming out from the east side of town. so what brought me to Nurnberg?? Aside from it being an hour away from Munich on an express train..their Holy Ghost Hospital..which is a sight in itself by the river..

Its not raining here but it sure is crazy windy!

Its not raining here but it sure is crazy windy! I thought the wind was going to take me out at one point! I hope the rain keeps away though..until the next town!

Everyday is Christmas in Rothenburg

I arrived in Rothenburg today after a five hour journey and what should mark my last long journey before heading home. Rothenburg lives up to my idea of a medieval town on the Romantic Road of Germany. There really isnt anything big to do here but roam the streets and take in all the Christmas shops--yes it appears that everyday is Christmas in Rothenburg..oh and eat pretzels! I think like paella in Spain..by the end of this trip..I am will be pretzeled out for a long time! I took a NightWatchman`s Tour last night which was extremely entertaining..this guy..tall guy dressed in medieval gear gave us a walking tour of the city at night..telling us some entertaining tales of the very old city of Rothenberg.

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Today..I took it easy here..woke up..went downstairs and had some breakfast (salami and cheese on a bread roll)..so simple yet so good! Went to the laundromat..love the feeling and smell of fresh new laundry..and then jsut hung out in the town. Walked along the country side for a bit..and just it in. It is raining a little bit here but nothing that my travel umbrella can`t handle..

Everyday is Christmas in Rothenburg!

The msot interesting thing to me about Rothenburg are the buildings..the architecture and whs its built the way they are built..things like so they can transport their food in the attic so it wont get wet. The wall that surrounds Rothenberg bears names of donors who helped the funding of the wall..nowadays if you made a donation to help maintain the wall..your name too can be carved up there..minimum of 1000 euros. The most recent one I saw was from a guy in New York..1995.

Tomorrow I go to Nurnberg..

Salzburg..all about Mozart..

I arrived in Salzburg from Hallstatt in the late morning and discovered that I had entered the world of Mozart and left as a fan! Huge fan! It is Mozart`s 250th birthday and Salzburg happens to be his birth place and where he resided though he is buried in Vienna. Everywhere you go..Mozart is what you are reminded of!

Salzburg is a tourist town all around! Shops line historic streets with characteristic signs..house carriages everywhere..cafes..pastries..shopping.. tourist town!

I became a Mozart fan in Salzburg!

I bought one of the last two tickets for the Best of Mozart concerts to see what it was all about. I´ve always been more of a jazz fan than a classical music fan..have always prepared my Miles and Coltrane tp 102.1 FM. I attended to the concert..a bit under dressed though I was not the only one and had one of the best experiences ever!! The concert was magnificent and I was engaged in every single second of it! It was awesome and I recommend it to everyone! I mean..if you´re ever going to watch a classical music concert..what better city than Mozart´s birthplace??

Hallstatt..can a place be this unbeliable??

I arrived in Hallstatt later afternoon today and the time started out a little frustrating because October is the start of their down time here..places were closed including the Tourist Info office but that didn´t stop me from going in anyway!! I needed their help in finding a place since I didnt have any luck..the lady was kind enough to help me out..maybe she saw the desperation on my face!! She found me a zimmer (room in a family home) for 25 euros which was fabulous! I spent the rest of the day doing nothing but roam the streets of Hallstatt..its amazingly beautiful here..any colors that exist in trees was witnessed!! Lake is calm..reflections of the scenery in it..I recommend it to anyone who needs a little R&R..now if only they had a spa here..I would be so there and be willing to pay $$ as well!

Lake is calm..reflections of the scenery..