I don't even know where to start. Everything has been chaos so right now my mind in chaos. We made it to the airport at 9:45 (15 min. ahead of schedule) so we thought we were doing pretty well. We got in line to check in and.... hell began. Apparently we were NOT going to still take 2 bags each with us as carry-ons, no matter that Lufthansa reps had told our professors otherwise. Ignore the fact that they had both busted their butts for a week trying to get written and signed confirmation, which of course didn't happen. But thats not even the good part. We were working 3 different lines (all right beside each other) and no one was on the same page. Some of us were getting through with 2 carry-ons and others weren't. To make it even better, it wasn't even different people following different policies. Individual people were letting some through and not others. Those of us who got through went ahead to security. Wouldn't you know.... same scenario. The same security guard asked me how many bags and when I told him 2 motioned me through. He made another girl right behind me turn around and go check her 2nd bag. Are they seriously that oblivious that we're all in the same group? Finally everyone made it down and through security and we were extra discreet slipping onto the plane with 2 bags hoping we wouldn't be confronted by any more sketchy Italians. Now for the best part....

We finally, finally made it to Munich. The airport was clean and shiny and open and organized. We were finally relaxing, rejoicing that we were finally out of an Italian nightmare. But then we had to collect our bags. The trolly finally started to turn and one bag came off, two bags, another bag, one more and so on. About 2/3 of us had our bags. And then.... none. Maybe it was ignorant neglect or maybe it was an Italian vendetta, but 1/3 of our groups' bags had been left on the cart, outside the airplane.... in Florence. After making ourselves comfortable in the airport while it got sorted out, Dr. W informed those with missing luggage that "the Germans had it under control." (Don't ever leave anything in Italian hands). They're luggage is being flown to Munich on another flight and will arrive at our hotel this afternoon. The comforting part is that their luggage is coming in on a flight that first has to connect in Frankfurt before finally landing in Munich.

Minor details: We left the airport in a bus and 2 vespa riders had a near death experience because they thought it would be a good idea to putter into the middle of an 8 lane highway where I'm pretty sure there's no such thing as a speed limit. At least this bus driver chatted on the phone through a wired speaker system, unlike in Florence where our driver had a lovely conversation on his cell phone the entire time he chauffeured us around. We made it from the bus to 3 cabs and finally to our hotel, which does NOT have free WiFi. So here I am, paying $14.95 euros on my Visa for 8 hours of Internet time. Looks like I'll be doing a lot of reading this week.....

Update: Its now 11:45pm here and still no luggage for the poor souls. It was supposed to be here between 7 and 8....

I already love Munich so much more than Florence. Everything is modern and sleek and clean. But you can find all the German tradition you want in beer halls. We went to one tonight to watch USA play England, we tied. (We're headed out tomorrow night to see Germany play Australia) I'm not a big beer drinker. I don't care much at all for the taste, but German beer is excellent. I had a beer called a vice. Its a 30% wheat beer and the taste is phenomenal. Everyone is loud and cheery and fun. All the decorations in all the restaurants and beer halls remind me of Christmas :)