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We left prague yesterday for our most anticipated city---munich. after our border crossing, which was cake, we stopped at dachau concentration camp for a moment of education and reflection.
Kirsten and I were amazed with the monstrocity of the whole camp. It was huge--housing at one point over 2000 people in each bunker. what was even more ghastly was walking into the gas chambers disguised as showers......i cannot even begin to describe the feeling. we both had shivers up our spine knowing that at one point in our human history thousands of people were being burned, gassed, or starved to death. What was even more frustrating was knowing that we, in a very small way, treated the japanese the same way during world war two and our eradication of the native americans......its just frustrating to know that of all the good we try to do in the world, there will always be one race, one family, one religion that is not regarded as equal to everyone else.......just something to think about. Instead, most people walk through Dachau and head to the huge McDonalds located 50 meters away.
After Dachau, we finally made our way into munich. We followed our tour group off to the Hofbrauhaus---a local traditional beer garden. I was amazed to see that one beer was 6 euros but that was before i realized that it was one LITER of beer........oh my! Our group kept the party going until midnight and then it was off yet again to pub---this time we chose an irish pub called Killians. I chose to stay away from more beer as my stomach was still digesting the one liter i had just consumed....but it was still fun, especially watching all the girls in my group "snog" with some local germans......oooh laa laa. i finally ended my night sharing a room with two brothers from nashville---josh and dan. did i mention they both have southern accents and sleep in boxers......yehaww!
I was deliriously confused however when i woke up to kirsten pounding on the door at 9 am....apparetnly, i overslept my alarm---again---and was about to miss our bike tour of munich.....however this worked out much more in my favor. while everyone was riding bikes for six hours, i slept in until 10:30 woke up and enjoyed getting lost by myself in the streets of Munich.
I wandered around the marienplatz and saw the glockenspiel and continued my journey like a true local cutting down alleys and sidestreets to avoid the mania of tourists and their vicious umbrellas. I stumbled upon a little park with a river and delighted myself with a little beer break. After being stopped by some german guy who spoke no english but knew french I conversed horribly about the dangers of surfing.....weird, i know.
Continuing my journey I found the most beautiful catholic church and decided to head in. I sat down, in jeans, and prepared myself to watch what I thought was going to be mass......oh no, i look to my left and what do i see? a bride!!!!! I got trapped at a german catholic wedding!!!!! Nonetheless, I enjoyed myself and quickly left after the ceremony was over.....
I wandered around the Englicher Gardens which is the most amazing place I have ever seen!!!! I took time to stare at the river, enjoy the broken sunshine and watch the river surfers---yes, they surf in the river......I dont know how they do it but these talented german men captured my attention for a whole hour!!!!
Nonetheless, I had to continue my journey and stumbled across the ZAM, a museum of unusual things---it covered everything from the history of octoberfest, easter eggs, bunny rabbits, christmas trees---everything! after that, I wandered to the deutsche museum of science and technology and was shocked with how much information it had.....you could spend a whole week there and still not cover it all.
I continued too venture home but not without stopping for a new piece jewelry and postcards, and of course some INDIAN food.....My stomach feels at home with some tikka masala and naan bread.......
Finally, I made it home. I gave myself just enough time to change shoes before meeting up with the nashville brothers to thank them for letting me crash with them and share all the little dirty secrets about my fellow girlfriends.....
Munich has been amazing....I am thinking about learning german and moving here. it is so rich with culture, history, and seems like such a peaceful place to be. In all my travels, I have never enjoyed a city more. PROST!
Tonight we will party one last time at beer garden before we head of for white water rafting in Austria and then finally to Venezia!
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