Munich - Bros, Biers, and Bavaria
We last left off at Prague. Woo that felt like ages ago so I'm going to try to do my best to remember everything that has happened since then (or at least what I did in Germany). It was a fairly interesting couple of days especially since I had lost my pal Jacob.
I set off for Munich because I was told that I couldn't say that I had been to Germany without having visited Munich. It was the true Bavarian experience. To really top of my German cultural moments, I was arriving in Munich just as a Bayern Munich game was happening that night. You just see a swarm of people standing on the sidewalk just to catch a little glimpse of the game. As soon as I rolled up to my hostel I was greeted by the chattiest Texan who insisted that I come out for a beer tasting or pub crawl. Surprisingly, up to this point I had yet to go on a pub crawl. I know I'm impressed too. I said I'd think about it but not 5 minutes had past and I met her at the bar along with like 8 Dutch guys. Our guide Angus, a Scot, was a hoot and a half. He could really tease just about every European, especially the Germans. First stop was a Hofbrauhaus. This was special cause it was my first biergarten. Wow did I fall in love. Not for the booze aspect but mainly the ambience. The Germans really have this nailed down pat. It's so relaxed. There are kids playing and people singing and there's a nice nature aspect to it. I received a stein not realizing that I needed literally two hands to hold this thing up. Proud to say I finished that whole liter of beer but man it took some efffort (especially if you're eating a brezel that can feed a family of 4). We moved on to various different biergartens, some more modern with modern brewing techniques and some more classic. It was such a great night and I think with each day passing beer is starting to get better and better. Sorry mom and dad (maybe this is a good thing?)
The next day it was kinda dreary and drizzly so I hung low. I walked down to the old area to see the church and the old clock but noticed that literally every store was closed. It was astonishing because I could not find a single place that had food. It felt like a post apocalyptic world. I had come to the English gardens, still hungry, but was already beginning to relax because this park was unreal. The English gardens are apparently three times the size of Central Park and are full of streams and big grassy areas. The true gems of the park are the nudists that roam around freely. I was able to spot a couple right in the middle of the packed field with all the picnickers. Germans killing it yet again with the picnic spreads. Towards the start of the park there's a wave that surfers come to ride. Kinda cool! After following my nose and the sounds of oompah oompah I made it to the Chinese gardens, one of the most famous Munich biergartens. Every stereotype you ever had about Germany was here. Old men dresses in laiderhosen, giant steins, and massive portions of some form of meat and potatoes.I had another moment of moral conflict. I was standing in front of the schnitzel and spatzle line. I was given the biggest portion of my life of schnitzel and frites. I was already standing out like a sore thumb not getting a beer so I thought better make the most of this. To be fair they had a veggie section, a very empty section. You just don't really come to a beer garden to munch on a falafel hummus salad now do you. The old couple sitting across from me watched me smash my schnitzel and frites. I proceeded to fall into a heavy food coma and passed out under a tree by the stream.this was certainly time not wasted because This was probably the nicest park I've ever been too. Again, the ambience was killer and I think Germans really make the most of the parks they have.
I met another extremely friendly American guy from Oklahoma ooh. It's funny cause I haven't Really crossed paths with lots of Americans up until this point. It's refreshing in some ways to connect with someone who comes from your home. It's also like oh boy I hope everyone I've met doesn't put us all under the same umbrella. I woke up at the crack of dawn the next day to head out to Füssen to see Neuchwanstein, the iconic Rapunzel castle. Well, let me just start by telling you this was not my day. It was raining all day. My romantic train ride and hike up to the castle ended up being cloudy, grey, wet, and cold. I also made the mistake of walking to the castle which on the signs said it would be an hour and a half. I thought this included the hike up to the castle. No. it was a stroll along the highway that got you to the entrance of the park. Classic alex. I've made this mistake too many times. Once I made it to the top, the darn thing was covered in scaffolding. Well ya can't win them all. I've been really lucky with traveling mishaps or more lack of mishaps. It was still beautiful and I imagine on a lovely spring day it would be magical.
I decided, after being highly advised by my top traveling agents Deb and Steve, to spend the evening in Heidelberg. I also decided, illadvised by Deb and Steve, to spend my first night in the train station/trains. I got to Heidelberg just as the sun was setting and proceeded to walk and walk and walk. It was serene. The town is extremely well preserved with a gorgeous bridge and a castle that overlooks the town. On top of that, it's a university town so it's got great energy and a strong biking and cafe culture. It's also an insanely romantic place. At 10:30 all the streets were filled with students hanging out outside drinking coffee. I spent my hostel budget on some baller apple streudel before setting back out to the train station. By now it was already 12 so I only needed to last another 7 hours beforehand heading to the airport. Instead of sleeping in the station I just took trains to different towns. First to Frankfurt, then to Freiburg, Mannheim, and then back to Frankfurt. Would I recommend this...certainly not. I actually didn't sleep but did watch an amazing documentary on the Russiandoping scandal so bonus. The roughest part of the whole night was actually when I got to the Frankfurt station at 7. Death by German on their way to work. It was time to part a brief good bye to Germany as I was headed off to Iceland for the week to be reunited with two dudes who have been featured in this blog. What's up Jacob and Tim?!
I set off for Munich because I was told that I couldn't say that I had been to Germany without having visited Munich. It was the true Bavarian experience. To really top of my German cultural moments, I was arriving in Munich just as a Bayern Munich game was happening that night. You just see a swarm of people standing on the sidewalk just to catch a little glimpse of the game. As soon as I rolled up to my hostel I was greeted by the chattiest Texan who insisted that I come out for a beer tasting or pub crawl. Surprisingly, up to this point I had yet to go on a pub crawl. I know I'm impressed too. I said I'd think about it but not 5 minutes had past and I met her at the bar along with like 8 Dutch guys. Our guide Angus, a Scot, was a hoot and a half. He could really tease just about every European, especially the Germans. First stop was a Hofbrauhaus. This was special cause it was my first biergarten. Wow did I fall in love. Not for the booze aspect but mainly the ambience. The Germans really have this nailed down pat. It's so relaxed. There are kids playing and people singing and there's a nice nature aspect to it. I received a stein not realizing that I needed literally two hands to hold this thing up. Proud to say I finished that whole liter of beer but man it took some efffort (especially if you're eating a brezel that can feed a family of 4). We moved on to various different biergartens, some more modern with modern brewing techniques and some more classic. It was such a great night and I think with each day passing beer is starting to get better and better. Sorry mom and dad (maybe this is a good thing?)
The next day it was kinda dreary and drizzly so I hung low. I walked down to the old area to see the church and the old clock but noticed that literally every store was closed. It was astonishing because I could not find a single place that had food. It felt like a post apocalyptic world. I had come to the English gardens, still hungry, but was already beginning to relax because this park was unreal. The English gardens are apparently three times the size of Central Park and are full of streams and big grassy areas. The true gems of the park are the nudists that roam around freely. I was able to spot a couple right in the middle of the packed field with all the picnickers. Germans killing it yet again with the picnic spreads. Towards the start of the park there's a wave that surfers come to ride. Kinda cool! After following my nose and the sounds of oompah oompah I made it to the Chinese gardens, one of the most famous Munich biergartens. Every stereotype you ever had about Germany was here. Old men dresses in laiderhosen, giant steins, and massive portions of some form of meat and potatoes.I had another moment of moral conflict. I was standing in front of the schnitzel and spatzle line. I was given the biggest portion of my life of schnitzel and frites. I was already standing out like a sore thumb not getting a beer so I thought better make the most of this. To be fair they had a veggie section, a very empty section. You just don't really come to a beer garden to munch on a falafel hummus salad now do you. The old couple sitting across from me watched me smash my schnitzel and frites. I proceeded to fall into a heavy food coma and passed out under a tree by the stream.this was certainly time not wasted because This was probably the nicest park I've ever been too. Again, the ambience was killer and I think Germans really make the most of the parks they have.
I met another extremely friendly American guy from Oklahoma ooh. It's funny cause I haven't Really crossed paths with lots of Americans up until this point. It's refreshing in some ways to connect with someone who comes from your home. It's also like oh boy I hope everyone I've met doesn't put us all under the same umbrella. I woke up at the crack of dawn the next day to head out to Füssen to see Neuchwanstein, the iconic Rapunzel castle. Well, let me just start by telling you this was not my day. It was raining all day. My romantic train ride and hike up to the castle ended up being cloudy, grey, wet, and cold. I also made the mistake of walking to the castle which on the signs said it would be an hour and a half. I thought this included the hike up to the castle. No. it was a stroll along the highway that got you to the entrance of the park. Classic alex. I've made this mistake too many times. Once I made it to the top, the darn thing was covered in scaffolding. Well ya can't win them all. I've been really lucky with traveling mishaps or more lack of mishaps. It was still beautiful and I imagine on a lovely spring day it would be magical.
I decided, after being highly advised by my top traveling agents Deb and Steve, to spend the evening in Heidelberg. I also decided, illadvised by Deb and Steve, to spend my first night in the train station/trains. I got to Heidelberg just as the sun was setting and proceeded to walk and walk and walk. It was serene. The town is extremely well preserved with a gorgeous bridge and a castle that overlooks the town. On top of that, it's a university town so it's got great energy and a strong biking and cafe culture. It's also an insanely romantic place. At 10:30 all the streets were filled with students hanging out outside drinking coffee. I spent my hostel budget on some baller apple streudel before setting back out to the train station. By now it was already 12 so I only needed to last another 7 hours beforehand heading to the airport. Instead of sleeping in the station I just took trains to different towns. First to Frankfurt, then to Freiburg, Mannheim, and then back to Frankfurt. Would I recommend this...certainly not. I actually didn't sleep but did watch an amazing documentary on the Russiandoping scandal so bonus. The roughest part of the whole night was actually when I got to the Frankfurt station at 7. Death by German on their way to work. It was time to part a brief good bye to Germany as I was headed off to Iceland for the week to be reunited with two dudes who have been featured in this blog. What's up Jacob and Tim?!
You are really winging it now. Yes, Icarus, good one!
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