Munich part 1

Hey Everybody,

I love Munich. I love everything about Munich. I had heard it was a great city, but I had no idea. Not even in the slightest.

On one hand, every international person told me that Berlin was better. They questioned why I would even think about going to Munich. Berlin is the capital they say, Why bother with a city that isnt the capital?

On the other hand, every American I talked to before and during the trip has said that Munich was better. They say the culture and the history is unmatched. Though I havent been to Berlin, I cannot possibly believe that it is better then this.

Originally I was staying for 3 nights. I was supposed to go to Salzburg tomorrow. The one thing that Salzburg is famous for is "The Sound of Music". To put it simply, "The Sound of Music" isnt aimed at 21 year old males who are travelling Europe. Yes, I imagine its beautiful. Yes, I imagine that alot of people love the movie. Finally, yes... I imagine the residents of Salzburg hate the fact that the one thing most people associate with their city is a movie. Especially one that involves singing, mostly singing. Sorry Salzburg.

So, what have I done?

Munich is awesome for many reasons. The first night I went to a bier hall in order to get my German on. Munich is known for its bier halls and bier gardens. A bier hall basically is a place where the beer is brewed, and there are long picnic tables. One can order a mar beer, which is a liter of the sweet nectar.

Simply because it was my first meal, I felt that I needed to go big. I ordered pork schnitzel. I had never had schnitzel before, but I enjoyed it thoroughly.

They put me at a big table with these two 17 year olds from the Netherlands. I had told them I had gone to Amsterdam, and we all had a big laugh.

The next morning I did a free walking tour throughout Munich. This was in order to get a lay of the land. Most major cities offer this tour, and you simply tip the guide at the end of the tour.

I have to assume that the historical knowledge of most Americans of Germany ends and begins with World War II. Though I knew that Germany had had lots of history, I didnt know that Munich was almost 850 years old. The third reich lasted only 12 years.

I believe one of the reasons that I love Munich so much is the fact that instead of hiding the dark 12 years of Hitler, they embrace it fully. In other words, they have built hundreds of memorials to everyone who was affected by Hitlers terrible reign.

On the other end of the spectrum. Most Americans arent taught about the Japanese internment camps in California. The American curriculum seems to want to hide the fact that we held people aganist their will because of their race.

Munich was where the Nationalist Socialist (Nazi) party formed. The Germans knew it was going to be attacked, so they tried their best to take blueprints of the whole city in order to rebuild once the war was over. The city had been rebuilt in the 60s and 70s to its former glory.

On the free tour, I met this American girl named Lauren. We ended up in the Bier Garden in the English Garden. According to our tour guide it was the largest municipal park in the World.

The park has a huge river that runs down the middle of it. Some people surf it, others use it as some type of lazy river.

After getting our fill of Weiner and other pork products, we seperated.

That night I met a Jewish Australian couple who were planning on going to Dakau. Dakau is the "model" concentration camp. Apparently, all other concentration camps were based off of the model of this one.

It shakes you at your core. Every American has read about the concentration camps. Every Jew knows about the concentration camps. It is very different reading about it and actually seeing it. Its hard to fathom what one human could do to another.

That night I kept it easy, I was pretty spent from the day.

This morning I woke up and went to the BMW museum. Pretty cool, but if you go, dont get a tour... what a waste of money. I also went to Olympic park.

See you all in a matter of weeks!

Zac